“Now let’s get somethin’ straight—”
“Oh, this should be good.”
“For all we know, Cole could swing by tomorrow sayin’ he was high on whiskey and came to his senses. In which case, you’d be headin’ back to Manhattan, Sunset.”
“And if not?”
He waits a beat, twisting his neck like he’s got no choice. “Then it’s only right I pay you.”
“Pay me? To act like your wife?”
“To take care of Ellie,” he corrects, surprising me at how sincere he sounds. “Her eyes .?.?. lit up like I’ve never seen when she saw you step out onto the porch earlier.”
I’m quiet as I remember it. But my silence seems to make him nervous.
“Unless .?.?. taking care of her is a dealbreaker.”
“Ellie a dealbreaker? I’m doing thisforher,” I snap.
There’s a shift in his gaze at my response. Soft with curiosity, tangled with caution. Something raw tugs at my heartstrings. The natural protectiveness at anyone taking interest in his girl. But with a flicker of hope for the very same thing.
I sigh, giving him more so he doesn’t get stalker vibes. “And me.” I roll my eyes. “Suppose a bit you, too.”
“Oh yeah? That why you so attached to my hoodie?”
“While we’re on that, if I could just get me one of those woodsy detergents you use, I’ll happily be on my way.”
His brows shoot up like I’ve insulted him. “OK, so not me. Then .?.?. why you? And spare me your wit. I want the truth.”
My heart starts to beat loud against my chest. Because he’s right, I would have used my wit to blow this one off—Rose would have seen right through it. And if the way Dallas is looking at me is any indication—he would too.
Truth.
“Well, I told you I’d be temporarily moving in with my mother until I find an apartment .?.?.”
“And you’re far from excited about it?” he guesses.
My face twists and knowing my habit of rambling, I know better than to get into it. “I’ll spare you the soap opera recap, but correct.”
He nods slowly and I realize that wasn’t a fair response tothe truth.
I release a breath. “Maybe it’s because I see myself in her—” I mutter. “Ellie, I mean. I was never in a custody battle.” I scoff. “Not a conventional one anyway. I grew up with a parent who couldn’t be bothered, while the other made me feel like she was stuck rather than blessed with me.” I twist the ring on my finger, keeping my gaze on it. “When I was her age, no one fought for me the way you and Cole fought this evening.” I jerk at the understatement of that admission, then meet his eyes with my truth. “I had to fight for that kind of attention.”
His brows twitch as he watches the road, and I can barely see his eyes. Making it hard to tell if there’s compassion in them .?.?. or pity.
“And if that’s not honest enough, I don’thavemuch to rush back to.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “No one’s .?.?. well, let’s just say I’d be more of a nuisance back home. And while it’s not lost on me I’d be just as much a nuisance toyou—at least I can help you keep your baby girl.”
After a beat, he huffs, glancing over at me for a brief second. It’s enough to see the shift in his jaw, the warmth in his eyes. When he turns back, his chest lifts with a quiet inhale. But he still says nothing.
I sigh, easing the tension. “Plus, you know, my best friend is here. She’s one of the few I have, so .?.?. may as well make it a habit of stalkin’ her till I make a new one .?.?.” I chuckle, then pause when his eyes snap to me like I’m crazy. “What?”
“You don’t have friends?”
I roll my eyes. “I know, big surprise there, right? Who’d want to hang out with me and manage to get a word in with all my rambling? I’ll have you know I’m a fabulous listener. Not that you do a whole lot of talking—” I stop, eyes wide as I catch myself and sit back in my seat, watching the streetlights pass by as we head back up a familiar gravel road.
Dallas is quiet for a moment. “I just thought all you girls have .?.?.” He waves his hand around. “.?.?. friends, cliques, people you get all dressed up for on a Saturday night, ordering fireball shots.”
“Rose doesn’t do that. I sure as hell don’t. Must be a cowgirl thing.”
