The Summer Deal (Wildstone #5)(70)

“And Deck?”

She bit her lower lip and shook her head. “That’s . . . over.”

“Why? Because you don’t know how to let someone love you?”

“You don’t know everything, Eli.”

“I know that he loves you enough to deal with your bullshit, and that whatever you’ve done to push him away, you could fix. Talk to him.”

“No. He deserves more than what I can give him. I want him to find the woman who can be his forever.”

“And you?”

She dropped into a chair and rested her cheek against her bent knees. “I’m going to live alone with a hundred cats. We’ll eat ice cream and curl up on the couch together. No talking about feelings required.”

“You’re allergic to shellfish and cats, and ice cream makes you gassy.”

“Hey, the ice cream thing’s a secret.”

“It’s no secret.”

She sighed.

He laughed and then, with a quick but warm hug, left her alone.





Chapter 21


At work the next day, a bunch of supplies got delivered to Brynn’s classroom. Construction paper, colored pens and pencils, tissue boxes, tape . . . literally everything she’d had on her wish list. There was no note, but she knew it was from Eli. She called his cell at lunch, and Max answered from a boat in the marina, telling her that Eli was on a dive.

When she got home, she slid out of her car to find Eli and Mini waiting for her, and several reactions hit her at once. Affection. Deep affection, the kind that comes from knowing someone to the core over a long period of time. And there was definitely comfort in that. But it wasn’t comfort racing through her veins. Nope, it was hunger and need, both of which made her ache.

But there was also a little bit of hesitation.

She understood what he’d done, and she could also admit that if she’d been in his position, if it’d been her closest friend’s sister who’d shown up, she would’ve let it play out between them too.

So she thought maybe she’d have to revise her new one-strike rule slightly.

He was leaning against the porch railing, arms and feet crossed, but he straightened when she walked up to him.

Mini leapt to her feet, tail going back and forth with such force it could’ve generated electricity for the entire state. Because the dog was so cute, Brynn bent low and hugged her, getting her chin licked for her efforts. Because the man was so hot, she straightened and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Have a good day?” he asked, his hands going to her hips.

“Yes, since it was Christmas.”

He cocked his head.

“Don’t look so surprised. Santa.”

He still didn’t say anything, and she shook her head and smiled. “Thank you,” she murmured, going up on tiptoe to brush another kiss to his cheek. But he turned his head and their mouths met. “It was really sweet,” she whispered against his lips.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She smiled. “No?”

“No. I’d never try to bribe the woman I’m falling for into falling for me too.”

Her breath caught. “Falling?”

“Fallen.” He pulled her into him, threading a hand in her hair, palming her scalp, lightly kneading. Comforting. “All you have to do is let it happen.”

“But . . . there’s stuff to consider.”

“Stuff like . . . I screwed up,” he said, nodding. “I know. My plan is to never hurt you again and also to be as irresistible as possible.”

She looked up at him. “I like that plan. But . . . I don’t think it’s all you. I’ve failed at every relationship I’ve ever had.”

“Me too. But when you think about it, it only takes one time. The right time. Brynn . . . you’re so good at caring for others. You’re even better at keeping all your wounds buried deep. But you don’t have to do that with me. Ever. I like all your pieces.”

“Even the odd ones that don’t quite fit?”

He lowered his head and rubbed his jaw to hers. “Especially the odd ones.”

“I like all of your pieces too,” she whispered, and held her breath. It was a safe admission as admissions went, but it was still a big admission for her.

Looking genuinely touched, he stroked a finger along her temple, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, watching the movement. “I’m not sure anyone’s ever felt that way about me before.”

Her heart squeezed, but then his smile faded. “There’s something else.”

She inhaled a breath. “Something’s wrong.”

He gave a slow shake of his head and reached for her hand, slowly pulling her into him, giving her plenty of time to resist. She didn’t, and ended up against him for a warm hug that stirred all her emotions into a complicated mass. Affection. Desire. Hope.

Because in spite of all that had happened, she really was falling too. “Tell me.”

“In this instance, showing is much better than telling.”

“That sounds promising.”

He laughed softly. Sexily. “That too hopefully, but this first.” He opened the front door and took her inside. There were three boxes stacked in a corner, with Kinsey and Max standing next to them, looking unusually nervous.