It felt strangely easy to talk to him. Like they’d never run out of things to say, and even if they did, she’d talk about nothing just to keep hearing his voice. To keep his eyes on her and keep him with her in this moment.
When they’d both finished their teas, it felt far too quick.
He rose from her small kitchen island. “I should go. Avery will be in bed, but sometimes I do that stalker-dad thing where I just watch her sleep.”
A tinge of jealousy weaved through her chest that he got those moments with her whenever he wanted. “Give her a kiss for me.”
A flicker of some emotion she couldn’t name shone in his eyes.
Clearing her throat, she walked him to the door. She’d just opened it when he touched her arm.
“Hey. Will you do me a favor?”
She turned and looked up, way up, into his ice-blue eyes. If the man asked her to sign over everything she owned to him, she’d probably agree just because of the way he looked at her. “Sure.”
He stepped closer. “If Scott returns…tell me.”
“He’s—”
“Harmless. I know you think he is. But when a man loses something, and the realization of exactly what he’s lost finally hits him, he can become dangerous in the fight to get it back.”
Her heart rippled in her chest. Because he was sayingshewas worth fighting for.
“Eastern…” His name was a whisper on her lips, and she wasn’t surewhyshe’d said it, just knew that she needed to. “I’ll be okay.”
His gaze roamed over her face. “I don’t know what it is about you that makes me want to risk everything to kiss you.”
This time, her heart stopped, and the air in her throat became stuck. “Would it be so bad to kiss mewithoutcalling it a mistake or a risk?”
That familiar frown tugged his brows together. “Avery needs me to do what’s best for her. She’s lost so much, and I can’t do anything to make her lose more.”
So he was assuming that if they kissed, if they allowed themselves to give in to what they both clearly felt, it would end in devastation. And then Avery would lose her.
Why was he so sure of that?
Swallowing, she nodded and forced herself to step away when what she really wanted to do was lean closer. Touch her lips to his. Taste him one more time. “You’d better get back to her then.”
A muscle worked in his jaw, and he dipped his head before stepping out.
The second the door closed, she leaned her temple against the wood, wondering how on Earth she was supposed to live in the same small town as a man who made her want him with such conviction…yet she was unable to have.
CHAPTER 10
Sadie rushed from her apartment building to her car. She wasn’t technically late. In fact, she was actually early to open Sugar and Spice. But she’d barely slept last night, which meant she needed coffee—stat.
It had been damn near impossible to sleep with thoughts of Eastern rattling around in her head. Of his beautiful blue eyes. His silky-smooth voice as he spoke about wanting her…
Oh, Jesus.
The sun was only just starting to rise as she slid behind the wheel.
Why? Why did she find everything about him so goddamn attractive? Out of all the men on this planet, she was crushing on the one who under no circumstances wanted to be with her.
Obviously, she just had to accept that she and Eastern were never going to happen. It didn’t matter how fast he made her heart race or how clammy he made her skin feel, he wasn’t for her.
He wanted to protect what she had with Avery, and how could she argue with that? She wanted what was best for Avery too. The difference was, she wasn’t afraid to see where their attraction could lead, because even if they broke up, they couldbe adults and remain amicable, right? Or was that naive of her to think?
She took a right turn, driving faster than she should have.
