Never Far Away (The Never #2)(30)

“It’s one of the things I love best about him; his ultimate selflessness.”

“Yes, it is admirable, but can be detrimental, especially the last couple of months.”

“Agreed. Listen, Tilly, I know this has been quite possibly the weirdest start to a relationship in the history of dating, but I need you to know that there isn’t anything in the world that is going to keep me from being with him. I know that before the accident I had my reservations about him and me, but there’s nothing like getting a second chance with Porter to make you realize that waiting to be together would only be wasting precious time. I was given a gift when my memory came back and I don’t intend to take it for granted.”

“That’s good to hear, Honey. He deserves someone to love him.” Ella reached across the table and grabbed Tilly’s hand.

“Consider him loved. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. Truly.”

“Thank you so much for helping me, Porter. You were always so considerate and helpful,” Ella turned her head to see the brunette, Amy, stroking her hand down Porter’s arm, the arm that definitely belonged to her.

“Baby,” Ella plastered a fake smile on her face, “aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

Porter looked like a poor deer with headlights headed straight for him.

“Uh, Amy, this is my girlfriend, Ella.” Ella tilted her head and made sure her smile didn’t look like ‘nice to meet you’, but more like ‘get your hands off him now’. Amy smiled and slid her hand all the way down his arm until it had nowhere else to go but back to her side.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she gave Ella an equally frosty smile. “Porter really hasn’t dated much, I mean, besides me,” she laughed and gave him a longing look.

Oh. Hell. No. Ella started to scoot out of the booth when Tilly’s voice stopped her.

“Amy, I’m so glad you’re here. I have someone I want you to meet. I know you’re always on the prowl for a new man. I know just the right guy for you to sink your teeth into.” Amy’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, not quick enough to find a way out of the trap Tilly had set for her.

“Um, ok, thanks again, Porter. I’ll call you,” she said over her shoulder as Tilly was pulling her across the bar towards what looked to be a mid-thirtyish man whose shirt was a size too small, and not in a good way.

Porter slid back into the booth next to Ella and placed his arm around her shoulders.

“Ella Sinclair, if I didn’t know any better, I would say that you were jealous just then.” Ella tried not to pout.

“She was touching your arm, Porter. She’s lucky she still has all of her fingers attached. How many ex-girlfriends of yours are roaming around this town?”

“You know I didn’t really date and I wouldn’t even call Amy an ex-girlfriend. We dated a few times. Nothing serious.”

“But you slept with her?”

Porter coughed suddenly, needing a drink of the water in front of him.

“Well, this is uncomfortable,” he mumbled when she kept staring at him waiting for an answer.

“Let’s grow up, Porter. We’re both adults here. We’ve both had sex before we met each other. Just tell me. What’s your number?”

“My number?”

“Yeah, like, how many women have you been with?”

“At one time? Or like, all together?”

“Shut up, Porter.” She sent him a withering look and he was laughing at his own joke. “Seriously, I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

“I don’t want to know your number. Honestly. Let’s just assume we were both virgins when we met.”

“That is ridiculous. Besides, you had to have learned your moves from somewhere,” she said, trying not to blush.

“You think I have moves?” He leaned in closer, his lips nibbling on her earlobe.

Ella groaned quietly.

“Porter, when we first made love, you blew my mind. I had no idea sex with someone could be so, well, intimate.” He used his index finger to turn her chin so look at him. He brushed some hair behind her ear and cupped the side of her face.

“It’s only ever been that way with you.” She sighed at his sweetness and leaned her forehead against his.

“I missed your words, Porter.”

“I think you took them with you. I’ve got no use for them unless I’ve got you to say them to.” She looked up at him again and leaned closer. Her lips came to rest upon his, not seeking heat or looking for instant passion, just a connection.

“I don’t want to be without you anymore,” she said against his lips.

“You’ll never be without me,” he countered and took their kiss deeper, using his hand on the back of her neck to pull her in to him. She let him kiss her and she gave as much as she got, but she pulled away eventually.

“I want to have a serious conversation about this. Tonight.”

“Whatever you want, Babe. Let’s just do it at home, without prying eyes or ears,” he nodded his head towards the bar where Tilly was serving drinks and spying on them simultaneously.

“Deal,” she said and kissed him quickly one more time.





Chapter Eight