Right, how quickly I’d forgotten. “Sorry. This will take some getting used to.”
“I know.”
“You could always stay here with Gran,” I said, wanting him to stay but hoping he’d say no.
When it came to Nathan, my heart and brain didn’t agree. My heart wanted him. My brain reminded me I couldn’t have him.
“Not gonna happen.” He attempted to grin. Unlike the Sheppards, whose lop-sided grins were genetic, Nathan’s was lopsided because of his scar.
I need to rein it in. There was no point in fantasizing about those gorgeous ice-blue eyes or perfect, kissable lips when I couldn’t have him.
“Ashley?”
Damn it. He caught me staring. Again.
“Yes, Nathan.” I used my best good-mannered tone.
“What time?” He already had his phone in hand, ready to message Jamie.
I shouldn’t have looked at Gran, who stroked Prince’s back in lazy strokes. A wicked gleam sparkled in her eyes.Nathan wasn’t the only one who noticed me staring.
“We’re meeting at Grannie’s at eleven.”
“Thank you.”
After thirty minutes of staring at my screen, I took a cold shower to freeze Nathan out of my system.
Chapter 26
Ashley
During breakfast, Nathan told me he’d drive me to meet Emily. Of course he would. I wanted to be annoyed, but who was I kidding? I barely put up a fight when he’d told me as he set a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, and a cup of coffee in front of me. Knowing I shouldn’t be drinking the coffee, I sipped slowly rather than tell Nathan I needed decaf.
He chuckled when Gran snuck Prince a bite of her bacon. I pretended not to notice. If feeding Prince bacon made her happy, who was I to stop her?
I’d just shoved my laptop in my bag when Nathan called down the hall, “Sammie’s here, we can leave whenever you’re ready.”
Sammie, a Weatherford cop, worked part time at SSI. I trusted her to watch the house and keep Gran safe while Nathan and I went to Grannie’s.
The ride over was uncomfortably quiet as Nathan and I stole glances at each other. He glanced. I looked. Admired. Tortured myself knowing it could never be.
The first thing I noticed when we walked into Grannie’s was Jamie leaning against the booth, talking to Emily. He made eye contact with Nathan and nodded. As I greeted Mary and Beth, Jamie leaned down and kissed Emily on the temple.
“Hey Ashley.” He gave me a quick hug.
“Hi Jamie.”
“You okay?”
I smiled, ignoring all the things in my life that weren’t okay. “Yeah, the big guy here made breakfast for Gran and me this morning,” I said, using Gran’s nickname for Nathan.
He raised his eyebrows. “Is that so?”
Nathan shrugged. “I was hungry, and Violet was up.” He turned towards me and asked, “You want a coffee?”
I’d only had half a cup, so I did, but I couldn’t tell him I needed a decaf. At the rate people were buying me coffee, it’d be my kid’s first word.
“I heard you’re drinking decaf in solidarity with Meg and Em. Is it true?” In that moment, I’d never been more grateful to Emily’s husband.
