Page 120 of Goode Tidings

If me giving them space will make Justin the best version of himself to Eden and Oliver, that's what I'll do.

Pulling on my jacket, I step out front and softly close the door behind me.

I make it one step away before it reopens.

"Not without a proper goodbye from me," Eden says, closing the door firmly behind her. She's shoeless, no jacket, and already shivering.

I open my coat, and she slips into the warmth, her arms going around my back. "Are you stepping on my feet?"

"Mm-hmm," she says into my chest. Then she sighs. "I'm sorry. This is your home."

"Not really," I say with a chuckle.

"Your name might not be on the deed, but you are all over this place. Your hands rebuilt this cabin. It smells like you in there. It feels like you. Masculine and rugged, but with softened edges."

She looks up at me, and my thumb grazes her lower lip. "Is that how you see me?"

She nods. "This morning feels like a lifetime ago, and when you were saying such nice things to me, I didn't get a chance to respond." Her brown eyes glow warm in the porch lights. "I'm all in, too, Callum. There is no halfway with me, either. And I know it's asking a lot of you, I mean"—she laughs softly—"today was an accurate snapshot of the baggage I carry."

"That's not baggage, baby. That's life."

The corners of her lips turn up, but it's not much of a smile. "I'm sorry about Justin."

"Nothing can keep me away from you. Don't worry about him."

She lowers her face and nuzzles it into my chest. "I don't want you to go," she whispers, the warm stream of her breath hot against my chest.

"I don't want to, either. But I do want Oliver to spend time with his dad, and I think that'll go better if I'm not around."

"That's only true because Justin's an immature idiot." Eden's voice is muffled.

"I'm going to talk to him. But not right now. We're all tired, and today was a lot for everyone."

Eden yawns loudly, proving my point. She covers her mouth with a hand. "Sorry."

"Don't be." I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll miss you tonight."

She grins impishly. "I'll miss you sneaking into my room when you think it's all clear."

I duck my head, pull her mouth to mine. "Get a good night's rest while you can. I'll be interrupting you again very soon."

She takes a sucking kiss. "Promise?"

That kiss, that gaze, that tone of voice, it makes me want to toss her over my shoulder and carry her inside, tell Justin that if he doesn't want to hear what's about to happen, he should put on headphones.

I grip her hip, haul her into me. My physical response to her is nearing painful. "Promise."

She makes a garbled noise in the back of her throat. I take a step back because if I don't put space between us, there's no telling what I might do. "You better go inside."

She lifts her chin. "Or what?"

"You know what."

She grins. Turns around. Shakes her ass. "Hiney farewell," she says, all sass.

I bite my lip and smile like a fool.

She wiggles her fingers at me. "Good night."