Footsteps sneak up behind me and I whip around. “Beck. You scared me.”
He rubs at the back of his neck, shielding his wet eyes from me, and there’s an instant ache in the center of my chest. “So, I’m gonna go.”
It’s a silly question, but I ask it anyway. “Are you okay?”
There’s a moment of silence. He pinches at his eyes with his thumb and finger and deflects the question. “Do you need me to drive you to the airport in the morning?”
“No, Stella’s already offered.”
“Oh…okay.” He takes a step backward. “So?” I ask and wait, looking intently at her. “Have you thought more about moving to Golden Harbor?”
“I have. And I can’t.”
A grumbling sound escapes his lips as he drops his head.
“I need to go back to Seattle and let Charlie finish her last week of school and get some other things straightened out. I need to talk with West in person. And tell him that Charlie has met her father. I can’t have this kind of conversation over the phone. I also need to reschedule appointments for my clients with other stylists. Then Charlie and I will come back to Golden Harbor once she’s on summer break.”
Beck lifts his gaze, and we lock eyes. His chestnut brown’s glaze over and he doesn’t speak.
“It will give Charlie some more time to make memories here at Dottie’s…and with you. And it will give me time to pack this place up and get it listed.”
Sadness washes over his expression.
“Don’t give me that look, please. For now, it’s the best I can do.”
His eyes appear heavy. “I guess that’s something.”
“Then we’ll make plans for you to come visit Seattle in the fall. Charlie will be in school, so maybe over one of her breaks. Or Thanksgiving. Maybe start looking at hotels now.”
“I guess,” he mutters.
“Well, you weren’t expecting me to offer you a room at West’s, were you?”
“Honey, if you’re living there, planning to marry the guy, maybe it’s best time you start calling it your place too?”
I narrow my eyes. So we’re back to the nickname again.
“Seems like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“I have.” I try to push confidence in my tone.
He takes a step closer and his short beard and mustache have me imagining what it would feel like having it touch my bare skin. His defined chest is visible in the solid black T-shirt he’s wearing.What is he doing?
“So you’re sure this is what you want?” His voice is gravelly and sexy.
What am I saying—sexy?
I nod once and swallow. “It is. It will be best for Charlie.”
“And what about you?” He takes another step closer.
Heat races straight through my core and I mindlessly trace my fingertips over the front of my throat. “What about me?”
“What do you want, Rosie?”
My eyes search his, just trying to place what I’m seeing reflected in his darkened brown stare. Craving? Tenderness? “What I want doesn’t matter.”
“That’s BS and you know it,” he mutters.
