He suddenly stepped back, leaving me gasping as he roughed a frustrated hand over his face. “Think we should get out of here.”
Slowly, I nodded and followed him back inside.
17
Rex
What the fuck was I thinking? Inviting her there? Thinking I could handle this?
Friends.
I bit back bitter laughter and led her inside, trying to keep some distance between us when the only thing I wanted was to strip her from that dress and sink inside. We said our goodbyes, thanking Broderick. Lillith gave me a look that promised she would cut off my dick if I did wrong by her friend.
But that was the fucking problem.
I didn’t know how to do her right.
Had no idea how to give her what was so clearly building up between us.
A savage storm.
Brutal.
We stepped outside and into the night. Our footsteps echoed on the sidewalk. All the things we wanted to say roiled in the silence between us. I unlocked my truck and helped her into the front seat. My entire body went rigid when I was struck with another wave of that sweetness, the girl inundating me with every tempting, delicious part of her.
Sugar and spice.
Cherry fucking pie.
She was goddamned stunning.
I rounded the front of my truck and hopped into the front seat. But I didn’t start the engine. I just held onto the steering wheel, peering out front and letting her confused silence impale me.
“I’m sorry,” I finally said.
She smiled a tentative smile, graced with all that understanding. “For what?”
I scoffed out a laugh as I shifted into gear and pulled onto the road. “For always being such a dick.”
She laughed the faintest sound. “You’re not always a dick, Rex. I know there’s more to you.”
“How’s that?” I asked. The words flinging between us were almost playful.
“There’s no mistaking it when you’re with your daughter.”
Gruff affection rumbled in my chest. “That’s ’cause she’s the best part of me.”
“She’s amazing,” Rynna mused, staring out the windshield, her striking face filling up my periphery.
“Yeah. She’s all I’ve got.”
I could feel her gaze land on me. Hot and heavy. Demanding in her stare. “Is that the way you want it?”
Unease itched beneath my skin. “That’s just the way life goes for me, Rynna. It feels like most days I’m barely hanging on. Barely getting by. She’s my life. My heart. Don’t think I have room for anything else.”
“Because you lost the other half of it?”
Pain lanced through me, cutting me in two. “Lost myself a long fucking time ago. Not sure I’m ever going to get it back.”
