Putting my iPad and stylus on the table, I lean over to give Morgan a scratch behind his ears. “I don’t think so. I need to go home and get some things done.”
After staying up much too late binge-watching the latest season of Criminal Minds, we are spending a quiet morning on her deck, enjoying the warmth of the autumn sun. She looks adorable wearing flannel pyjamas with a cat print and one of my hoodies. The weather is fleeting, and we are trying to take advantage of every moment left before winter is upon us. I’ve been working on a design for a client I have scheduled for the beginning of the week. Hannah is reading something with a bare-chested, muscled man on the cover that I assume is for her book club. When I asked her what it was about, she winked and said she would show me later. Colour me intrigued.
“Are you sure? I know she would love to see you. She knows we are together again and has been supportive. Plus, there is always so much food.”
Hannah has seen her mom several times over the past few weeks, but I’ve always made excuses not to join her. Working on the house, late appointments at the studio, helping Carson on the farm, and I have even had coffee with Ryan once. But my time is running out, I can’t avoid this reunion forever. The very thought makes my stomach tie up in knots.
“I will, but I can’t today.” Taking her hand, my thumb leisurely strokes hers as I try to reassure her. “I have already asked Riot to come over and give me a hand installing the new washer and dryer in the laundry room now that it has been repainted, and the shelves are in place. How about you come over when you are done, and we can stay there tonight. I can make us dinner.”
“I won’t say no to dinner, but are you worried about seeing her again? She’s never said anything negative about you.” As she closes her book and sets in aside, I can see the confusion in her eyes, and I hate that I am the one that put it there.
“Not at all, I’ve just been busy.” Smiling, I bring her hand to my lips and place a gentle kiss trying again to reassure her. “Soon, I promise.”
Every day we are together it gets harder not to tell her everything. She has asked more than once that we not discuss the events surrounding her father’s death and our breakup. I’m trying to respect that boundary, but I feel it in my core that this is going to blow up in my face.
Rising reluctantly to my feet, I pull her to hers and bring her into an embrace. Kissing the top of her head, I murmur, “As much as I would prefer to do absolutely nothing, we should both get dressed and start the day.” Taking her by the hand, I lead her inside; Morgan trots happily behind us.
“I’ve been meaning to ask but did you know that our moms stayed friends for a while after she moved away?” she asks, wandering into the bedroom we have been sharing.
Leaning an arm above my head on the door frame, I watch as she rummages through her drawers picking out clothes. I just assumed that when Mom and Jackson left town, they made a clean break.
“How do you know? Did you see her?” I ask.
“No, I haven’t seen her. Mom told me after you bought the house. I was surprised but that’s really nice, don’t you think? She was so good to both of us when my dad passed. And I have no idea how I would have managed without her when there were problems with the sale of his office. She took care of everything.” Smiling, she piles everything she needs in her arms and carries it into the bathroom.
Following behind, I narrow my eyes. “What problems? I didn’t know there were any.”
“I don’t remember much about it to be honest, something about missing money; I had a lot of other things going on with Mom and everything.” She waves her hand up and down in the air and then towards me.
This is one of the only times she has really referenced our breakup, even vaguely, since I agreed not to talk about it.
“Anyways, your mom and the lawyer dealt with it, and I just signed what needed to be signed.” She shrugs, pushing her hair over her shoulder and searches the countertop.
Taking the elastic off my wrist, I hand it to her. “Do you think your mom’s still in touch with mine?”
She smiles her thanks, as I rest my hip on the vanity and watch as she pulls it up into a messy bun on the top of her head.
“I don’t think so. She said something about seeing her less now that she is remarried.”
“And do you think she has been back to Emerley?” I was under the impression that she hadn’t been back at all, and she just let the rental agency take care of everything to do with the house. I wonder how many other things I don’t know.
“I guess so, I never asked.” She shrugs again as she reaches into the shower and turns the water on.
When she is satisfied with the temperature, she hooks her thumbs in her waist band and wiggles to pull her pyjama pants down over her hips. As she steps out of them, she meets my eyes and asks, “What’s your stepfather like?”
“Seriously? This is what you want to talk about right now?” Reaching for her, she steps away from my grasp.
“What’s the problem? I told you I needed to get ready.” Her eyes dance as she smiles playfully, like she isn’t stripping herself bare in front of me. “So, tell me, what’s he like?”
My dick is already hard as I anticipate her losing her last piece of clothing that’s barely covering her pussy. I already know she’s not wearing panties. Does she have any idea how much she affects me?
“Umm, I have no idea. I have never met him,” I say distractedly.
Pausing, with her fingers on the hem of her top, she looks up at me with wide eyes and gasps. “What? Logan, that’s horrible.”
“I told you that I had limited contact with my family.” I reach for her again and this time she walks into my embrace and buries her face into my chest.
“I’m sorry, I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize it was that bad,” she whispers as she squeezes me tighter.
