She stops talking and the pregnant pause. Is. Killing. Me.
“He kissed me. We kissed. A few times.”
My fingers curl.
Her lids flutter closed. “Thank goodness I’m not the girl to go beyond that.”
The clench releases.
“On Monday morning, one of the legal secretaries who’d been with the firm for decades came in and shut my office door—and dropped the bomb. Married with three kids in Tennessee.”
“Oh, Everly.”
“I went into the bathroom and threw up. I just…I couldn’t…”
I hold her hand as tight as I can without fear of hurting her.
“I hope his wife finds out what a louse he is, for her own sake, but I pray with all my heart she never knows my name.”
I roll onto my side and brush my fingers along a tear trail flowing from the corner of Everly’s eye to the bedspread. “I am so sorry, sweetheart.”
Her glistening eyes become huge. Yeah, I said what I said.
I rub my thumb along the curve of her lips and make sure I have her full attention. “One broken engagement. Zero wives. Zero kids.”
Her mouth sweetens into a soft curve.
“Plus one healthy bank account. Oh, and one-third ownership in a private jet.” I narrow my gaze into a deep squint. “So, what do you say. Could you date a guy like that?”
Everly glides magic fingertips along my cheek. “You drive a hard bargain, mister.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I suppose I should also throw one annoying older brother and a questionable future sister-in-law onto the balance sheet.”
She giggles. “Hey, I’ve got two annoying little sisters. You’ve already seen what a chore one of them is.”
“I’ll find a way to cope.”
Her fingertips press. “I apologize for Oakley. I’m so sorry she gave you a hard time.”
“She was only looking out for you.”
Everly’s eyes, winter blue, roll high.
I steal a peek at the door. “But, for the record, she isn’t looking now…”
Everly’s teeth dig into her soft lip, pillowing it up on the ends. Good golly, I have to kiss her.
She doesn’t make me ask. She wraps her long, lovely fingers around the back of my head and pulls my mouth to soft, soft lips.
I’m not lying to myself, the open door is critical in keeping me honest.
Before the exploration moves beyond her sweet mouth or the curve of her neck, a throat clears.
“You are so lucky Dad sent me instead of coming himself.”
Everly and I are on our feet in a millisecond. Likeminded guilty consciences, I guess.
Oakley, with her long blonde hair back in a braid, is pretty but nothing in comparison to my blushing kissing partner combusting beside me.
