“I’m glad you didn’t. It set you apart, made you different. Special.”
“Being a coward made me special?”
She shook her head. “Wanting more than sex made you special. At least that’s what I thought until he who shall not be named ruined it.”
At the reminder of all the bullshit that man must’ve put her through, I pulled her to me, kissed her forehead. “It’s ironic,” I said, holding her. “He tore us apart before. Tonight, in a way, he brought us back together.”
“I’d like to think this would’ve happened even without his hateful existence.”
I nodded. “Let’s not give him credit for anything.”
We went quiet, thoughtful, until she broke the silence with a question.
“Is this just for tonight?” she asked hesitantly.
“I hope not,” I said, determined to communicate with her this time around even when it made me feel vulnerable. “I want…more.”
“Me too.”
“Good.” I breathed out my relief. Those two words gave me hope. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted from this, from her, but I knew I’d be crushed if this was the last time we were together. “It’s tricky though,” I continued. “My time is already spread thin, between tree season, working on the barn, and Addie.”
She nodded. “I know. We’ll just…steal time when we can.”
“You’re good with that?”
“It’s perfect. I’m trying to build my business up and rebuild my life. We don’t need to jump in too fast, right?”
“Mm-hmm,” I said as I ran my hand over her curves, noticing at once the chill in the air and the stirrings of my body. “Would it be considered jumping in fast if we went for another round tonight?”
“I’d consider that…efficient. Smart. Making the most of what time we do have.”
“I need to take care of the condom. Suit up again.”
“You came prepared.”
“Believe me when I say I had no idea where our evening was going before it started, but I’m liking it so far.”
She kissed my lips, then looked into my eyes. “Me too, Luke. Hurry back.”
Chapter Eighteen
Magnolia
Monday evening I went to Presley’s house to work on her wedding. I was ready to tell her about Luke, but this was our first opportunity to talk in private.
“I brought refreshments,” I said, holding up a box of llama-shaped sugar cookies when she let me in.
“I happen to know those pair extremely well with a Riesling I have on hand.”
“Like peanut butter and jelly,” I said as I followed her to the sprawling living area that looked out onto the lake.
I’d only gotten to know Presley recently, when she moved to town. Her story and mine were opposite, with her growing up poor, then making a killing in her previous career, and me growing up with unlimited money, then losing it all. Something we had in common though was that our father figures, if you could call them that, were manipulative jerks. That and we’d opened our businesses around the same time and bonded over every challenge and triumph.
“Is West joining us?” I asked as we made a pit stop in the kitchen.
Presley took out two wineglasses as I grabbed a plate for the cookies. “He’s helping Luke tonight,” she said, and my pulse kicked up at the mere mention of his name. “His mom and Thomas took the girls to dinner so I could meet with you.”
“His stepfather’s doing okay?”
