“It’s looking good,” he said.
“Thanks,” I replied, reaching into the refrigerator to grab a bottle of beer. I’d bought a pack of four the day I’d moved in, saving them for the day that he came back to me. To our home.
I popped the lid and walked back to him, handing it over. He nodded toward the papers strewn across my coffee table.
“Working hard?”
“Yeah. Who knew nursing was so difficult?” I took a swig of my own beer and laughed. “Can’t believe you survived the stitches I gave you.”
He smiled at that. “You signed up then?”
It had been one of the things he’d asked me to do when he’d left me with Charlie and Rider.
“Yeah, thought it was about time that I did something with my life.”
“Somethingyouwanted to do,” he corrected firmly, and I nodded.
We stood awkwardly for several moments. We were inches apart, yet it felt like miles. All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and press my lips to his. But that wasn’t what he’d come here for.
“I’m leaving for a while,” he said, putting his bottle of beer down. “I just thought you should know.”
I picked at the label on my bottle and looked away from him. “Is it something I’ve done?” I asked.
“No. I need to go help another club out is all.”
I frowned and looked up at him. “How long will you be gone?”
“I’m not sure. Couple of months, maybe more.”
I hesitated but eventually decided to ask the question that was on the tip of my tongue. “And then what?” I looked back up at him.
No other man ever had the effect on me that he did. His woody scent wrapped around me, his dark eyes pulled me in, and my body responded to his before he’d even made a move. My nipples were hard, my breathing shallow. I wanted him to kiss me. To grab me and pull me to his chest, dragging kisses from my lips until they were swollen with the pleasure he gave me.
“And then I’ll be back.” He shrugged.
“Will you be back…here?” I asked, hesitant.
He raised an eyebrow at me, his mouth tugging in a smile. “Is that what you’d want?”
“Yes,” I responded immediately, my cheeks feeling hot.
He chuckled. “Eager.”
I rolled my eyes. “Arrogant.”
We both laughed.
“I miss you,” I said.
“You hardly know me.”
I shrugged. “I know you enough to know that I want to be with you.”
“You need to live first, Penny. Find your own way, find yourself. I’m not going to be good for you, but I’m not willing to change who I am for you either.”
“Love finds a way,” I said breathlessly.
He straightened up. “Is that what this is?” he asked, his dark eyes grazing over my lips.
