He drags a hand through his hair and lets out a sigh as frustrated as it is husky. “I have no idea, but I’m in a constant battle between pulling you into my arms and snuggling for hours or tying you to my bed and fucking you raw.”
I freeze.
He leans away as if concerned that I’ll bolt. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s okay,” I gently cut in, my cheeks burning and my pussy throbbing. “We’re both dealing with feelings too big to contain.”
He studies me for a beat. “What was he like?”
Every muscle in my body tightens. “I can’t talk about Simon with you.” My voice is distant and cold. I get up from the porch step and walk back inside, guilt eating me alive for wanting Murph as much as I do.
Chapter 7
Rose
Ben is still sleeping when I slip back into his room.
His hand is tucked under a pillow, and his small body takes up more space on the bed than should be possible. But he has always been a sprawler. It’s warm in here, even with a window I pushed open to air out before I started unpacking, so I don’t cover him.
I should wake him soon for lunch, or there’s a risk he’ll sleep so long that he’ll be up all night. But today was full of excitement, and he needs the rest.
Pushing the door closed behind me, I take off my sneakers and climb into bed beside him. And I just watch him, wanting to stroke his soft cheek but scared I’ll wake him if I do. I take in his sleeping face, marveling that I’m lucky enough to have him in my life.
He looks more like Simon than me, but Simon warned me that his family’s genes are strong.
“Hayes genes come with boxing gloves ready to fight,” he said with a grin soon after I told him I was pregnant. “He’ll have dark hair, green eyes, and freckles everywhere. Just wait.”
My smile is bittersweet.
We should have been on our way cross-country, visiting sights guaranteed to put a smile on my son’s face, but before that, I spent years dreaming about those same places with Simon. I thought the road trip would kick-start my will to keep going after losing the love of my life. Yet now we’re in a town where my son is being happily surprised with all his favorite things, and I’m running into my scent match, a man I couldn’t walk away from, even if I wanted to.
A soft hum draws my gaze to the nightstand where I set my cell phone before crawling into bed with Ben. I pick it up, smiling as I read the text message.
Sam
How’s my fave nephew?
Sam is Simon’s younger brother, and we visited him in upstate New York before we started our road trip. It was a short but sweet visit, and saying goodbye was just as emotional as saying hello. Ben loves his uncle, and his uncle loves him back just as hard.
I snap a picture of Ben and send it to him, typing:
Me
Napping. And for reference, you only have the one.
Sam
Never let a Hayes nap for too long. It’s like giving gremlins water. He will be crawling over your face all night.
I muffle my laughter.
Me
He needed the rest. He’s had an exciting day.
He’s not the only one.
Between Ben running off on his own and scaring me shitless, then moving into this new house, and all the excitement of meeting new people and playing with Win, it was a lot for him after we’d spent the last several days in the car driving from New York. It was a lot for me too.
