The Best Goodbye (Rosemary Beach, #13)(42)

“Kipling, table for three,” the hostess said behind me.

“That’s us.” I took Franny’s hand.

“Yay!” Her small hand held mine tightly, and I kept it there as we followed the hostess to our table. I’d requested one by the window so we could have a view. Franny sat at the chair by the window and looked up at me hopefully. I knew where she wanted me. I took the seat beside her, and she beamed and looked back at the water outside.

Addy took the chair across from me. And I could smell her.

“Look, they’re playing volleyball out there,” Franny said, pointing to some kids on the beach.

I tried not to imagine things about Addy that I shouldn’t be imagining and tried to focus on my daughter. This night might be the longest of my life, but I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.





Addy


By the time Captain pulled into our driveway, Franny had fallen asleep in the front seat. He parked and looked back at me with a small smile. “We wore her out.”

“She wore herself out. I wish I had a fourth of her energy,” I replied, opening my door. “But she enjoyed tonight. Thank you for making it special.” I had the Key lime pie in my lap. Her eyes had lit up when it arrived at the table, and although she had barely finished one slice, it was important to her that he had bought the whole pie.

I climbed down just as Captain walked over to our side. He started to open her door but stopped and looked at me. “Did you have a good night?” His question was sincere. As if he wanted me to say yes.

I’d had a wonderful night, but there were times when I’d forgotten who we were and what we weren’t. The lines had blurred again, and the fantasy that we were the happy family the server thought we were was easy to buy into. I couldn’t let that become something Franny expected. “It was really nice. Thank you,” I replied.

He tilted his head and studied me for a moment. “Just nice, huh?”

The fact that this man needed reassurance was sweet. I wanted to kiss that look off his face, but I quickly snapped out of my giddy moment and stepped back.

Captain followed me with a step of his own. Confused, I watched him, wondering what this was. I couldn’t play teasing games with him.

“Don’t,” he said softly, when I started to move away again. “Just for a moment, let me be close to you. I know this isn’t what you want. It isn’t smart. But . . .” He closed his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth. “I just need to touch you.”

Oh, God. Oh. God. I was frozen, and moving was impossible.

He moved in closer, until our chests almost touched. We’d been here before. It hadn’t ended well. But although my head was screaming at me to stop, my heart was pounding, and the butterflies in my stomach had taken flight.

“All night, I’ve been drowning in your scent,” he said in a husky whisper, and he lowered his head, his nose brushing my neck.

I let out a shaky breath as I listened to him inhale deeply. “Incredible. My whole truck smells like you now. I’m not going to be able to get you out of my head. Not that I could before.”

His words made my brain go a little foggy. Not good. A hand touched my waist and ran down to settle on my hip.

“So good,” he said, still running his nose along the sensitive skin of my neck. “Nothing’s ever been this good.”

I should have moved. I should have said something. Instead, I grabbed his biceps to steady myself. I was an idiot, but at the moment, I didn’t care. I wanted more.

When his lips touched the base of my throat, I inhaled so sharply I startled myself and tightened my hold on him. “Just let me taste a little. I need a small taste of you. I swear, I’ll stop.” I wasn’t sure if he was begging me or convincing himself.

If I could talk, I would tell him I was at his mercy, and he could do whatever he wanted. It had been so long since I’d been touched like this. So very long.

His other hand slid over my hip and then behind my back, until it was pressed against my bottom. He pulled me close as his lips trailed kisses along my collarbone and back up my neck.

My head fell back, giving him more access to my neck. My body was becoming liquid heat, and I was sure he could do whatever he wanted at this point, and I’d let him.

His other hand slid into my hair and cupped the back of my head while he kissed his way up my neck, stopping to give me small licks where my pulse beat furiously. He pressed his tongue against one small point and groaned.

“I need your mouth again, Addy,” he said. Before I could even think to respond, he covered mine with his own.

I gave him what he wanted, because I wanted it, too. The plumpness of his lips drove me to shiver and cling desperately to him. He picked me up until our bodies were flush. The friction I’d get if I opened my legs and wrapped them around him was so tempting I had to fight not to do it. I had to stop this.

Franny was asleep in the truck, but if she woke up, she’d see us, and it would confuse her. She’d think something was happening that wasn’t. Because this didn’t change anything. He’d said he wanted friendship. So why was I giving him this?

I tore my mouth from his and pushed him away. To get space. To clear my head. God, I was so weak. Franny could have woken up and seen this. What was I thinking? When had I gotten so careless? Furious with myself, I shoved the lingering need back. Franny came first.