Pieces of Us (Confessions of the Heart, #3)(74)

All those things scrambled around in my chest, calling out their claim.

Overcome, I cleared the emotion from my throat, knowing I needed to change the subject and get the hell out of there before I admitted things Izzy didn’t want me to admit.

I glanced at my phone. “We’d better get you two cleaned up. We need to be at your mom’s work in fifteen minutes.”

Dillon shoved the rest of his ice cream cone into his mouth, barely able to chew around the mess, grin stretching wide around the pink smeared all over his face. He held his hands out to the sides.

“All done.”

I managed to laugh. “Think I’m going to have to dunk you in the sink.”

He giggled the cutest sound.

Everything clutched and sped.

Fuck, I’d gotten in deep. So deep. Sinking in surrender.

Slipping out from behind the hard booth, I helped Dillon jump down and reached out for Benjamin. He took my hand, and I helped him slide out, kneeling down in front of him so I could help him put on his forearm crutches.

“There we go,” I whispered low, glancing up at him, time freezing for a second when I met the depth in his eyes.

Did he know? Could he feel it?

Sucking it down, I straightened and led them both to the restroom to wash their faces and hands. Then I led them back out to the truck where I helped both of them buckle into their booster seats, Benjamin’s a special one with about fifteen latches.

Whole time I was clicking him into his seat, I could feel a thousand questions coming off of him.

I drove out of Charleston and headed to Broadshire Rim. The shopping center where the dentist’s office was located was in the newer area closer to Charleston, and the drive went by fast, even faster with Dillon chattering the whole time.

Kid nonstop.

Perfect in his disorder.

Just like his mom.

Just like his brother.

Benjamin laughed at something he said, and lightness weaved its way into the air, and I was shaking my head with a chuckle as I turned on my blinker and slowly pulled into the parking lot.

I started to whip into a spot in front of the building.

Second I did, my spirit chugged.

Nothing but an assault of jealousy that flamed and lashed.

Coming on bright from that dark, dark pit.

Possession slammed me, a jumpstart in my veins that made every inch of me shake.

Izzy was outside the door, key in the lock.

The prick who’d been all up on her on Monday was leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

Looking like a pompous douche.

Eyes grazing her flesh like he was figuring out how long it was going to be until he got to taste it.

He reached out, touched her arm as he said something that I wished I could hear, and she swiveled her head that way, that blonde flowing around her back and a smile on her face as she said something back.

Would pay a pretty penny to hear that, too.

Head craned to the side, his mouth moved as he adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder where it had started to slip.

“Oh, fuck, no.”

“That’s a really bad word, Mr. Mack. Don’t tell me you really are a troublemaker, too. Mom’s already got her hands full with the two of us.”

Shit.

Didn’t even realize I’d said it out loud, but I couldn’t stop it.

Anger surging. Jealousy rising. Teeth grinding to dust as I put the truck into park.

I wasn’t about to sit there and watch this go down.

“Who is that cock—” Shit, I was slipping again. “—roach?” I fumbled to add on.

Great.

There I was, winning all kinds of points.

Dillon quickly unbuckled and flew forward. He held onto the headrest in front of him as he peered out the windshield. “That cockroach is Mom’s new boss. He’s a dentist. Do you like going to the dentist?”

That was her boss?

“Mom always thinks it’s sooooooooooooo good,” Dillon continued to ramble, “but I don’t like it one bit. That noise? Whaaaaaaaaaaaa.” He tried to mimic the sound of the water drill. “I don’t like it, Mr. Mack. Not one little bit.”

“Yeah, buddy, I don’t like it, not one little bit, either.”

And I wasn’t fucking going to let it happen.

No dentists for Izzy.

I hopped out, the engine still rumbling and roaring, and I strode their direction.

“Hey, Izzy,” I said as cool and calm as I could muster, a veneer to cover up the greed seething underneath.

Cockboy saw me first. His eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Perfect.

I grinned. “Boys are all buckled in my truck. Do you want to change cars or do you want me to take them home? They’re going to need baths. We stopped for ice cream after Benjamin’s appointment.”

Unease moved through that tight little body, Izzy swinging her gorgeous face toward me.

Could almost see her mind jumping right back to Monday night.

Knew she could still feel it, my touch burning on that lush, pink skin.

Knew she could still taste my kiss on her tongue, same way as I could still taste her.

I’d gone to sleep every night swimming in the remnants of the girl.

This stunning girl who was watching me like she was terrified to take one step closer because when she did, there was going to be no going back.