What?I needed that? I did. But that seemed so inadequate.
One night with Preston had made me feel things I’d never felt before. And it wasn’t just about feeling wanted and desired. It went deeper than that.
But I couldn’t type that in a text.
Could I?
Why not?
I focused on the screen again and finished the text.
…needed that.
I hit Send before I could talk myself out of it and tossed my phone down right as there was a knock on the door.
Chapter Eighteen
Preston
It took Summit and me most of the morning to hike out of the trails and back to town. I could have blamed it on the mud from the rainstorm, but it wasn’t the muddy conditions that slowed me down. It was my thoughts causing my feet to drag.
I replayed every moment from the night before with Jess and how good it had felt to have her in my arms. How right it had been to kiss her. To hold her and touch her and make her feel good. The sound of my name on her lips when she cried out.
But then there was the sharp contrast of the morning, where shethankedme for being there for her. As if that’s all it had been. A friendly helping hand from one friend to another.
Oh, you ran away from the altar and you’re having a bad day? Here, let me give you so many orgasms that you can’t think straight. That ought to help.
Fuck me.
I know I’d agreed to only one night, a one-time thing, buthow on earth was I going to be able to walk away from that? Fromher?And pretend it was nothing?
The puppy must have picked up on my mood as we walked, or maybe he, too, was feeling the absence of Jess. He dragged behind me, needing almost constant encouragement to keep hiking. I couldn’t blame the pup; I would have sat down on the path and given up too, if it had been an option.
By the time we got back to the plaza, we were both wrung out and ready for a nap. I stopped by the shop long enough to drop the gear I’d borrowed. Thankfully, Brody wasn’t working. I don’t know if I could have dealt with him right then.
No doubt the runaway bride was the only thing anyone in town was talking about. I was a terrible liar, and the last thing either of us needed was for anyone to find out that we’d been together. No matter how badly I wanted to shout it from the rooftop.
And I did.
Because it had been more than just one night for me.
A lot more.
Not that I could ever tell her that. I wasn’t a total asshole, ready to pile even more on her shoulders.
What I really needed to do was take Summit home, have a hot shower, a cold beer, and forget about everything for a little?—
“Uncle Pres!”
I froze. There was only one person who used my favorite name.Uncle.I spun around to see Quinn. She dropped to her knees to pull Summit, who, all of a sudden, was full of energy again, into her arms.
“Hey, kiddo.”
She looked up at me. “It’s a nice day for ice cream, don’t you think?”
“Is that your way of asking me to buy you an ice cream?” Ilaughed. “Because I will. In fact, an ice cream sounds like exactly what I need right now.”
We crossed the plaza to the Sugar Shack, leaving Summit tied to a tree out front. Most of the shops were puppy friendly, but I was pretty sure I’d be pushing my luck with Craig Carlson by taking the dog inside. “We’ll be back, little guy.”
