Axel: Visiting or staying?
Me: Both?
I could imagine him shaking his head at his phone, a frown on his face. His little town was eccentric. Neon lights lit their streets, the nightlife in Midnight Valley invigorating as ever. During the day, Axel fit in. But at night? He came alive. The whole town did.
Axel: Wouldn’t have expected anything less. If you need anything, call me. I mean it.
I could tell Axel had been worried when he found out I was traveling solo. It was probably a normal feeling, having a teenage daughter and all, but I assured him I was okay. Just because the remainder of my close family was dead didn’t mean I had nobody left.
I shot a text back, then let curiosity get the best of me as I opened the account I was trying to ignore. My notifications had run wild with my silence, and the red bar at the top confirmed as much. Rather than scrolling through those, I clicked a few of my posts, glancing at some of the top comments. One in particular caught my attention. Stopped my heart for a beat, too.
The same man who’d left the comment about me onmy horse had typed:Anyone know where her family lives? Just wanna check in.
I reread the comment at least ten times before closing the app and tossing the phone on the other end of the couch.
No one online knew I was from Bell Buckle. I’d kept that part of my life a secret for a reason. Yet his interest had me gnawing on the inside of my cheek, worried someone with the wrong intentions would find me here.
Down the hall, Beckham quietly shut the door to his room and padded toward me in the living room, socked feet silent on the floor. His appearance had me wiping any trace of worry off my face and shoving the comment out of my mind.
“Does she sleep here often?” I asked from my spot on the couch, readjusting my legs so they were bent as far as they could go. The bulge of my belly pressed against my thighs.
Beckham grabbed two waters from the fridge before joining me. He plucked my phone from the cushion and set it on the coffee table before taking his seat. “I watch her for Sage and Callan when they have appointments or need a minute to themselves. Depends how tired she is from the day or if they’re late getting home.”
I glanced down the hall, noting he’d laid her in his bed and not the guest room. I assumed she stayed in the guest bedroom when I wasn’t here, which meant…
“I can take the couch tonight,” I offered, feeling bad that he had no other options.
He shook his head, his mouth afirm line. “No.”
My forehead scrunched. “I’m not going to let you sleep on the couch because I’m in your guest room. I’m appreciative of you letting me stay here, but I can’t upend you completely, Beck.”
His stare was hard, setting in stone that there was no room for negotiation. “You’re not sleeping on the couch, Parker.”
He held the water out to me, and I took it.
“Well, neither are you,” I declared defiantly.
He uncapped his bottle and brought it to his lips, eyes on me as he drank. I watched his Adam’s apple bob. His lips wrapping around the opening. His hand gripping the plastic before he brought it down to his lap.
The smirk on his mouth told me he noticed me staring.
“What do you suggest, then?” he asked, a cocky lilt to the question.
My eyes narrowed in challenge. “Sleep with me.”
He choked out a breathy laugh. “You askin’ or demanding?”
I crossed my arms. Cocked a brow. “What’d it sound like?”
His little half-smile nearly melted me to a puddle. “You got bossy, Park.”
“I got tough.”
His gaze roamed down my chest to my legs, taking his time with his slow perusal before meeting my stare again.
I swallowed.
“So what you’re saying is you won’t hesitate to throw a punch if I end up on this couch tonight?”
