Page 84 of York

With a sigh, I let my leg fall and he slipped away to pull his pants back into place, then fetching my panties and shorts for me to slip back into.

“I never do that,” I admitted once I was dressed again.

“I’ve never done that,” he confessed.

“Never?”

“Never. I’m sure it didn’t escape you that I wasn’t exactly a virgin when you rolled into town.”

“I heard stories about the club girls.”

“Yeah. And to keep shit fun, you keep shit wrapped. Some sage advice I got from my old man when I was a teen. Think it was why learning I had a kid out there was so shocking.”

“I know. No one was more shocked than me. Speaking of, we should probably head back in case Denny is looking for us.”

It was usually the moment when things shifted, got awkward or uncomfortable.

But after locking the gate again, York slung an arm around me, keeping me close the whole walk back to the clubhouse.

And when he came into the room I shared with Denny, I didn’t object to him being in bed next to me.

I slept better than I had in years with him beside me.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Runa

“For the record, I still think this is absolutely insane.”

“I’m not disagreeing with you,” York said as we walked toward the private jet. “But Teddy overheard me talking about getting plane tickets and insisted. He said it’s been sitting around doing nothing for long enough. And also suggested that kids on planes aren’t always fun, so having one all to ourselves might make it easier.”

Denny had been less than enthusiastic about the idea of flying. I’d never really talked to her about going on planes since our lives never allowed for that kind of adventure.

Admittedly, I was even a little nervous. I’d only been on a plane twice in my life, both times when I was a kid.

We’d spent the last few days casually trying to ease her fears by watching movies where families went on planes or reading books about it.

She still had a death grip on my hand. And, judging by the way her other little hand was white, she was holding York’s hand just as hard.

“York told me there’s a whole bedroom in this plane! With a big bed!”

Her glance said she wasn’t interested in hearing about the plane’s features.

“I almost feel like we should have—”

“Thirty-two hours compared to six,” he reminded me.

We’d debated the road trip thing when we first realized Denny wasn’t too keen on flying. But thirty-two hours drive time would, realistically, be something more like six days. Six hotel room stays. And I just wasn’t feeling that. I was already too anxious about this trip. I didn’t need six days of nothing to do but work myself into knots.

So, flying it was.

“Mommy?” Denny whimpered when we got to the stairs.

“It’s going to be okay, munchkin,” I assured her.

“I would never, ever do something with you that wasn’t safe, princess,” York assured her. “And, guess what I heard?”

I glanced over at him, confused by his bright tone.