Shifting in my seat, I turn toward her, giving her my full attention. Then again, my attention has always been solely focused on her, even when she’s not there. The damn womaninvades my dreams every night and occupies my thoughts every day. It’s a beautiful torture.
“How so?”
Shrugging a slender shoulder, she gives me that fucking smile that makes me stupid.
“Can’t explain it. It just feels different somehow,” she replies.
The SUV slows and makes a right turn onto a private drive, and her effulgent expression displays her happiness when her house comes into view.
The two-story modern farmhouse sits nestled amid a sprawling green lawn dotted with majestic Southern magnolias in bloom, their large white flowers in stark contrast to the dark, glossy green leaves.
Painted a pristine white, the house’s clean lines and symmetrical design are accented by pops of deep blue from the shutters and matching front door. A wraparound veranda circles the outside, and I smile when I see the large porch swing and rockers. Very Elizabeth. So are the white picket fence, hedgerows of gardenia bushes, and flower beds filled with a rainbow of colors.
This is ahome. One built with love and filled with the memories of Ry and Elizabeth’s life together. A life I was never meant to be a part of, and one I don’t have the right to intrude upon.
Practically bouncing in her seat, Elizabeth asks, “Will you stay for dinner?”
I know her kids have missed her, and I’ll just be in the way if I stick around.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Xander eases the vehicle to a stop and parks behind a black Hellcat on the wide driveway. Not Ry’s old one that he would race. This one is newer.
Elizabeth doesn’t wait for Xander or me to help her out of the vehicle.
“Get out of the car, Fallon.”
She sends me a challenging look before she shuts the car door behind her, then sashays her pert ass around to the back.
Most men are terrified to challenge me because of my reputation. Cross me and bad stuff happens. Not only to you, but to everyone you care about. But Elizabeth has never had a problem standing up to me or putting me in my place.
“I really like her,” Xander says, his brown eyes grinning at me from the rearview mirror.
He chuckles at my severe glower.
Xander has been my bodyguard-slash-friend for over ten years. Where I go, he goes. A bit of a necessity considering some of the places I’ve been. He mostly stays out of sight, and you’d never know that he was there.
“You don’t have to stick around. Take a few days off.”
He twists his bulk around in the seat to look back at me. “You sure?”
I nod and open the passenger-side door to get out. He rolls down the window.
“I’ll drop your stuff off at the house.”
“Appreciate that. I’ll be in touch.”
We bump fists.
I walk to the back of the SUV to help Elizabeth retrieve her luggage from the trunk, but she’s already done it.
Slipping the strap of her messenger bag off her shoulder and onto mine, I grab the handles of her two small suitcases.
“I can carry my luggage.”
“I know you can,” I reply.
I press the button that closes the power liftgate and rap the glass with my knuckles. As soon as we’re clear, Xander slowly backs out of the driveway.
