Priceless (Forbidden Men #8)(48)

Julianna must’ve still been embarrassed; she didn’t have any kind of parting shot to spew at him. As her gaze followed his stroll toward the exit, the strangest expression crossed her face, as if she were trying to figure him out. But then she caught me watching her watch him, and she shook her head before rolling her eyes. “Is he always that irritating?”

I grinned. “Always.”

“Shame,” she murmured before clearing her throat and focusing on my face. “So about Monday night,” she prompted, flashing a grin my way.

With a wince, I shook my head and glanced toward the door, wishing we could get some business right about now. And though some customers had trickled in, none of them were approaching the bar yet.

“I...I’m sorry,” I said, turning back to Juli with a regretful cringe. “I kind of wanted to do something with Sarah so I could help her get over her shitty date last night.”

And...now that those words had left my lips, I realized Juli’s date the night before hadn’t ended any better than Sarah’s had. Damn. She was going to hate me.

Surprisingly, all she did was send me a soft smile. “Aww, that’s sweet of you. Did you ever find out what that guy did to her?”

I froze, gritting my teeth. “Yeah, he, uh...” I couldn’t tell her the truth; Sarah would be humiliated beyond reason. “He just said some inappropriate stuff that made her uncomfortable. No biggie. But it kind of dented her confidence so...” Yeah. I was suffering from my usual urge to step in and make everything all better for her again.

Just as I had last night when I’d thought giving her her first kiss would help.

Help?

I was such a f*cking idiot.

I should probably stay clear of Sarah for a while, because that kiss...damn, that kiss had rattled me, made me want and ache, and nearly beg her for more. It never should’ve happened. And seeing her again so soon after it had happened was probably dangerous.

But I was craving more time with her. Plus, I really did want to help with the blow her confidence had taken. So, screw danger. Tomorrow night, Sarah was mine.

*

Monday evening, I’d just taken a shower and was changing into some jeans and a comfortable white shirt when a dark-headed two-year-old toddled into my room.

“Bwandt wanna pway with me?” my nephew Beau asked, gazing up at me with big blue, pleading eyes.

He was such a cute kid, I hated to turn him down, but I wanted to get to Sarah’s house while there was still some daylight left. I hadn’t talked to her since the kiss, but I already knew she’d gotten off work at the writing center half an hour ago. So she should be home by now.

“Sorry, little man.” I picked him up so I could plop him onto my bed where he promptly started to jump on the mattress. “I gotta go see Sarah tonight.”

His eyes lit with hope. “Sarah wanna pway?” he asked. I swear he was half in love with her because she let him ride on her lap in her wheelchair. And she always went faster when he begged her to.

But, “No, sorry. Not tonight. Where’s Colton? I bet he’d play with you.”

“Cole gone,” Beau announced, still jumping contentedly.

I rolled my eyes, wondering if Colton had stayed in one night since Aspen had grounded him. Yeah, probably not. The punk. He knew she’d never do anything too severe to him. Aspen was too much of a softie when it came to us. And though Noel might growl more than she did, he was too.

Which was probably why I was still living at home at twenty-two. My life was too cushy here for me to want to move out, even though I knew as soon as I did, Beau could have my room and Noel and Aspen could move his crib out of their room. But this was my home. It was the first place I’d ever lived that had felt like a home. Call me sentimental, but I was a little loath to leave my home. Besides, the university was practically walking distance away. There was really no reason to go anywhere else just yet.

I think Noel and Aspen understood my need to stay; they’d never once suggested it was time for me to leave, though I knew... I should start looking for a place of my own someday. I was going to have to grow up soon.

“Where’s your mom and dad?” I asked Beau.

“Kissing on the couch,” he answered, still jumping.

Jesus. I rolled my eyes. Noel and Aspen had been married eight years now, yet sometimes, they still made out like newlyweds. It was odd. Though I had to admit, if Aspen kissed anything like Sarah, I didn’t blame Noel for jumping her every chance he got.

And why the f*ck had I just thought that about Sarah and kissing? God.

“Hey, you two!” I yelled toward the opened door of my room. “Get your lips off each other, already, and pay a little attention to your son, why don’t you?”

My call worked. Seconds later, both Noel and Aspen appeared in the doorway.

“What’s he done now?” Noel asked.

“Nothing.” I shoved my wallet into my back pocket as I slipped my feet into my tennis shoes. “He’s just lonely. So stop trying to make him a new brother or sister and play with the one you have. I’ve got places to be.”

After grabbing my phone and keys, I started from the room, pausing to kiss the side of Aspen’s head in farewell.

As I left, I heard Beau inviting his parents to come jump on my bed with him. The little shit. He had no idea how lucky he had it. Two parents who loved the f*ck out of him and provided him with a good, stable home. Noel had been a kickass brother, but he was an even better dad.