“And you forgot how to do things you loved.”
“Pretty much.” He pulled his hand away.
I knew there was more to the story, and the urge to deep dive his life on Google was terrifyingly strong. But I wasn’t sure I could see him wound around a gorgeous socialite without losing my damn mind.
I wasn’t exactly sure what that said about me.
I knew one thing, though. I was freaking exhausted. “I should go home.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m dead on my feet and it’s been a very long day.”
He backed up. “Take a nap with Gizmo.”
“I...”
“If you want to head home after that, by all means.”
Gizmo must have heard his name, since he trotted over to twine around my ankles. I bent down and picked him up. I was too tired to argue and a little cuddle time with my cat was exactly what I needed.
“Okay.”
“Good. There are shirts in the skinny cupboard if you want to get out of your dress. But feel free to wear nothing at all.” He grinned, then he kissed my forehead. He grabbed another water out of his fridge. “I’ll let you rest. I think I heard Archer’s truck pull up.”
Sleep naked in his bed? He freaking wished.
TWENTY-NINE
I escaped the trailer before I did something stupid, like try and convince her to let me back there with her.
A freaking baby.
My baby.
Our baby.
I didn’t stop until I hit the waterline and I dropped my head back. The late day sun bounced off the water and the warmth was welcome. Not the blistering heat we’d had for the last few weeks, but the steady summer warmth that soaked into your bones and healed.
Maybe this town had been exactly what I needed.
“What’s going on, man?” Archer called from the beach.
“So much.” I drank deeply from the can. It seemed as if I’d never quench my thirst. Like I needed to refill everything to be ready for this crazy ride.
Archer headed down to the shoreline and mirrored my spread apart legs. “What are we doing? Manfully looking out on the water for some reason?”
I laughed. “You’re such an ass.”
He bumped me with his shoulder. “Aww, you’re such a sweet talker. Makes all the backbreaking work worth it.”
“Fuck you. You love it.”
“Alas, you are correct. There must be something wrong with both of us.” He flipped his cap around backwards, which made a lock of his fluffy lemon-colored hair pop out like a bird. Just like Berry had said. “So, why did you kick me out? Did you finally get the fair Dahlia under you once more? Crab-ass.”
“Not exactly. And talk like that about her again, and I’ll break your pinky.”
He whistled. “Wow. Serious business. Has the mighty Nolan Devereaux finally fallen victim to the love-wasting disease?”
“Love-wasting? Wait until it happens to you.”
“Bite your tongue. So, it’s true.”
“Worse.”
“Worse than love?” He whipped off his sunglasses. “Oh, God did you buy a ring?”
“She’d probably toss it at my head right now.”
“She’s a hard woman.” He grinned. “I like her. I mean, if you gotta do the forever thing, at least she’s a cool chick.”
“More than forever. I’m having a kid.”
“I’m sorry?” The sunglasses fell to the stony beach.
“Kid. She’s gonna give me a kid. How about that?”
