Chapter Thirteen
BAZ LISTENED TO the peaceful rhythm of Emerson’s and Brennan’s breathing, his feelings for them intensifying with every sweet sound. While they’d rested, he’d spent the last hour and a half ruminating over the things Emerson had said, and fuck . He wanted to be her anchor in this storm. But to do that, he needed to understand her past, to know what her family was like, what had happened with Gwen’s parents, and why she’d chosen to move when she had. And somehow, while discovering some of the most intimate and important things about her, he had to keep his deepening feelings to himself, for his sake as much as theirs.
He was standing on a razor’s edge, and none of them could afford for him to slip.
Emerson’s feet jerked in her sleep, as if she were running, and she made a pained sound. He cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over her soft skin, whispering, “Emerson.”
She made another anguished sound, breathing harder.
“Em, wake up .” He shook her shoulder. She wrenched out of his grasp, her eyes flying open. The terror in them gutted him. “Emerson, it’s me, Baz . You’re safe. You were having a bad dream.”
Her frantic gaze moved over him and Brennan, and relief washed over her features. She squeezed her eyes shut, rolling onto her back with her hand over her heart. “ Sorry. ”
“It’s okay. Do you want to talk about it?”
She opened her eyes and shook her head.
He fought the urge to push for more, knowing she might shut down or try to send him away if he did. He reached over the baby again and placed his hand on her arm reassuringly.
Brennan stirred, and she turned to look at her little boy, unease lingering in her eyes. She glanced at Baz, and she rolled her lower lip between her teeth. “Sorry about how I acted earlier. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Please stop apologizing. There’s no reason to be embarrassed. From what I’ve been told, being exhausted and frazzled is a given for new parents.”
Brennan’s arms twitched, and his face contorted into a slow-motion cry. Emerson shifted to reach for him.
“I’ve got him. Get comfortable.” Baz picked him up, nuzzling against his cheek, breathing in his familiar scent, which had already become a part of him. “What is it about that baby smell that makes the world seem better?”
“I’m starting to wonder if it’s trickery. They make babies cute and cuddly and give them a scent that wraps around your heart, so when they’re inconsolable, you get mad at yourself and the world around you instead of taking it out on them. It’s really kind of brilliant.”
“Not every kid is as lucky as Brennan to have a parent who feels that way. Exhausted or not, I hope you realize how special you are.”
“There you go again, tossing that charm around like a weapon.” She reached into her shirt, opening her nursing bra. “I love nursing him, but I feel like Bessie the cow.”
“Cows wish they looked as good as you.” He pushed to his feet. “Scoot over here so you can reach your water.” She moved over, and he handed her the baby. “I’ll give you privacy.”
“You can stay. It’s not like you haven’t seen all my naughty bits at their worst.”
“Some might say at their best. You did bring a beautiful little boy into this world.”
“That I did.” She smiled down at Brennan.
He sat beside her. “Motherhood looks good on you, Lockhart.”
“ Pfft. I’m a freaking mess.”
“No, you’re not. You look great, and every time you look at him, your whole face lights up. It’s pretty spectacular.”
“You don’t need to charm me. I lost my mind in front of you when you got here. I’m sure you think I’m psychotic, despite all the nice things you’ve said.”
“Because you felt powerless to help your baby, and when you opened your mouth, your heart slipped out? That’s called vulnerable, not psychotic.”
She blushed and lowered her eyes.
“I know you miss your parents, and I can’t imagine what that feels like. Especially now that you have Brennan, but wherever they are, I’m sure they’re proud of you.”
Her eyes teared up, and she blinked rapidly. “I don’t know about that. I know nothing about motherhood.”
There were no tissues by the bed, so he handed her a clean burp rag to wipe her eyes. “You don’t give yourself or your parents enough credit. You were a teenager when you lost them, but they obviously taught you how to love and how to put your child’s needs above your own, because you’re doing it.”
“I’m trying.”
“And you’re doing great because they raised a strong daughter. You chose to keep your baby and to raise him alone knowing it would be hard, and you had all the things he needed ready and waiting.”
“In boxes .”
“That’s a technicality, and they were very organized boxes.”
“I get that from my mom.”
“See? You know more about motherhood than you think. I’d love to know more about the people who raised you to be brave enough to move at eight months pregnant.”
She seemed to think about that for a beat.
“If you don’t want to talk about them, I understand.”
“It’s okay. It’s just…I didn’t move because I was brave. I moved because I was scared.”
He knew he needed to tread carefully and waited for her to say more. When she didn’t, he said, “Did something happen?”
“Not to me directly.” She glanced down at Brennan, and Baz feared she’d shut down, but then those chestnut eyes found his again. “Gwen and I had been roommates through college and after graduation. When she got married and moved away, it was the first time I’d ever lived alone.”
“That must have been unsettling.”
“It was, but I stuck to my regular schedule, getting coffee every morning and doing my editing at the coffee shop around the corner, but suddenly I felt vulnerable. Gwen and I used to joke around about that creepy barista I mentioned, but once she was gone, even though he didn’t change or do anything to me, I became uncomfortable going there and I started working from home all the time. That’s when I got lonely, and Gwen convinced me to try a dating app and I met Brennan’s birth father. At the same time I went back to therapy to try to overcome my fears, because I knew what was happening wasn’t healthy.”
He was glad to hear that. “See? Your parents raised you to be smart. Did the therapist help?”
“He did. He asked why I stayed in the city, and that got me thinking about leaving, but then I found Ollie, and he helped me get out of the apartment and feel safer. I wasn’t in a rush to run away from the city, but walking him at night and coming home to an empty apartment was anxiety inducing. That’s when I started thinking more seriously about leaving New York, but part of me worried I’d lose some of my memories of my parents if I left, which was more fodder for our therapy sessions. I had vacationed here with my parents, so I started looking through listings and getting excited about raising Brennan in a small town for reasons other than fear of the city. Then Brennan’s father called and told me he got mugged.”
“Jesus. Was he okay?”
“Yes, but that was too close to home for me. The next day I saw the listing for this cottage, and I figured it was a sign to get the heck out of there and start fresh.”
“It sounds like you made the right move. How do you feel living here?”
“That’s the most amazing part. I had arranged to have the locks put on my doors the day I moved in, but I don’t need them to feel safe like I did in New York. From the moment I walked into my cottage, I felt like I was supposed to be here. I feel closer to my parents, not farther away.”
“That is amazing. I wonder why.”
“I had a few telesessions with my therapist after moving, and he thought removing the fear of the city allowed those feelings to come through, because I only have happy memories of them here.”
“That makes sense. And do you feel safe outside your cottage?”
“Yes. I love walking Ollie on the trails and at the beach, and I’m excited to get into a routine and find a new coffee shop where I can bring Brennan and do my work.”
“I’m glad to hear that, and I know just the place. My friend Gabe owns a coffee shop called Common Grounds. It’s where we hold our annual Suicide-Awareness Rally to honor Ashley. I think you’d like it. It’s a great atmosphere. I’ll take you there as soon as you’re up to it.” He was leaving for his trip the week after the rally, but suddenly he wasn’t quite as excited to go.
“That would be great.” She gazed down at Brennan. “I know I made the right move coming here, and I found the right place to raise him.” She looked at Baz, conflicting emotions swimming in her eyes. “I just wish he could have known his grandparents.”
“He can know them through you. Through pictures and memories and stories you share.”
“I know, and he will. I want to be the kind of parent they were to me. I could talk to them about anything, and we laughed a lot. Gwen and I used to talk about how great my parents were all the time, because her parents were not like that. And it’s weird, because our parents had been best friends for years. Our dads had gone to law school together, and they were business partners in their practice, but they were so different. We never understood how they worked so well together.”
“Sometimes that’s why people work well together.”
“I get that, but they were different in every way that mattered. They both made a lot of money, but Gwen’s house was like a museum, with rooms you didn’t enter, and her parents always had an agenda. They had strict schedules and active social lives, and they traveled often, leaving Gwen with the housekeeper. And while we lived in an expensive brownstone, nothing else about our lives was fancy. Our house always looked lived in, with blankets and dog fur on the couches. It was comfortable. Inviting. The recliner in the living room was my dad’s favorite chair. I could cuddle up on it with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of cookies and not worry if I left crumbs because our dog, Sammy, would get them. She sat on the couches and slept on my bed, like part of the family.”
“Like Ollie.”
“Exactly. And my dad was all business when he was at work, like Gwen’s, but the minute he walked through our door, he was just Dad .” She teared up but kept talking. “He’d get home and holler something silly like, Time to trade in my business suit for my superhero cape or Who ordered a pizza with a side of bad dad jokes ?”
“He sounds great, and a lot like my old man.”
“Then you’re lucky, because he was the best dad. Anytime I did anything special or had a bad day, he’d bring me daisies.”
“That explains the pot out front.”
She nodded. “Some people say their fathers are their rocks. Mine was more like a tree because he was big and stable and strong, like you. When he’d wrap his arms around me, they were like thick branches, and his head and shoulder were like the umbrella of a tree. In his arms was the safest place I’d ever known.”
“That’s the mark of a great father.”
“Yeah. My mom used to say he was our biggest fan because he was always making a big deal over the things we did or said. She and I used to bake all the time. Whether we were having a good day or a bad one, baking always made it better, and my dad would go crazy for our cookies. He even taught Sammy to spin in circles when we gave her a homemade dog biscuit.”
“Ah, your passion for human and puppy treats started early.”
“It did, thanks to my mom. She started baking because of the cravings she had when she was pregnant with me. She said I helped her bake from the minute I was born, which really meant I was her excuse for eating cookies.”
He chuckled.
“I remember standing on a chair, helping her when I was little, stealing chocolate chips, and licking the spoons and the bowls.”
“Sounds like you have a lot of wonderful memories.”
“I do.” Brennan stopped nursing, his eyes closed. “Is it just me, or does he look drunk after he nurses?”
“Little dude knows a good thing when he’s got it. Give him to me. I’ll burp him while you tell me more about those memories.” Baz put Brennan on his shoulder.
“My mom and I were always trying new recipes for dog biscuits and cookies. Every week we’d drop a batch off at my dad’s office. We’d bring biscuits to the dog park and the animal shelter, and we’d give cookies to friends and shop owners. My mom sent her editing clients cookies to congratulate them on their publications, too.”
“She was an editor, too?”
“Uh-huh. She’s the main reason I went into it. It helps me feel closer to her.”
“And I bet you send cookies to your clients, too.”
“ Ding , ding , ding ,” she teased.
“I might have to start writing.” He patted the baby’s back. “What do you think, Little B?”
Brennan burped loudly, and they both laughed.
Baz changed his diaper and put him in the bassinet. Then he sat on the bed with Emerson again. “I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time, but you’re doing a great job with Brennan.”
“Thanks. The nightmare I had was all of my insecurities coming out.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was thrown back into the night my parents were killed, but when I ran home, I heard Brennan crying inside and couldn’t get to him. I know it wasn’t real, and I keep telling myself to buck up, because that’s what my dad used to say. Buck up, Em, you’ve got this, but if you have trouble, your mom and I are always here to help. ” Her lower lip trembled. “But that last part isn’t true anymore, and I hate it.”
“I hate it, too, and I’m sorry you had that nightmare.” He hugged her, holding her for a long moment. “I know nothing can replace your parents, but you’re not alone, and nothing is going to happen to you or Brennan. I’m here, and you’ve got everyone in my family behind you. You can lean on us anytime.”
She inhaled a ragged breath, nodding. “I know. Thank you.”
“What about Gwen’s parents? You said they took you in, and I know they were different from your parents, but did they treat you like one of the family?”
“Sort of, but I felt more like a responsibility they hadn’t prepared for. They weren’t mean or anything like that. They did all the right things. They got me into therapy, made sure I had a roof over my head, healthy meals, and clothes to wear, and helped me apply for college. Mr. Vasiliou was the executor and trustee of my parents’ estate, and he was my guardian. My parents left everything they had to me. Their life insurance, their investments, the house, half of my dad’s business. I didn’t know what that meant, and I honestly didn’t care. I couldn’t even think straight. I just wanted my parents back. Luckily, Mr. Vasiliou made sure everything was handled well, and he invested wisely for me. Brennan and I are set for life financially.”
“But they weren’t there for you emotionally.”
She shook her head.
His heart hurt for her, going from warm, loving parents to that type of situation. “That sort of explains why they’re not here helping you with Brennan.”
“They’re on holiday in Greece, visiting family. They called to congratulate me, and they sent a box of baby clothes and diapers and other things.” She shrugged. “That’s how they roll. Gwen calls their long vacations life hiatuses .”
“Sorry to say this, but that’s shitty.” He took her hand in his. “After all you’ve been through, how can you doubt that your parents are proud of you? That they’re smiling down on you right now, because of how wonderful a mother you are?”
Her lower lip trembled, and she gazed down at Brennan. She was quiet for so long, he wasn’t sure she’d respond at all, but then she lifted tear-streaked cheeks and said, “Because I wasn’t nice to my mom the last time I saw her. One minute we were arguing about my curfew over spring break, and the next Gwen’s parents were waking me up and there were police in their living room, and her father was telling me my parents were dead. I ran out of their house all the way home thinking it was a nightmare or some kind of cruel joke. It had to be, because the truth was too devastating to believe. But there were all these police officers out front, and they wouldn’t let me inside.” She inhaled shakily. “And that was it. My parents were gone, just like that, and I never got to apologize or tell her I loved her.”
“Darlin’.” He pulled her into his arms, and she buried her face in his neck, crying. “I’m so sorry.” She cried harder, and he held her tighter. “I’m sure she knew you loved her. Kids argue all the time with their parents. That’s normal. It doesn’t negate your love for them.”
“It’s just that we had this thing,” she choked out, every word drenched in pain. “And I screwed it up.”
“What thing?”
“After we had a fight, I would write I’m sorry on a sticky note and leave it on the coffee machine, or on her desk, or someplace else where I knew she’d see it.” She sat back, wiping her eyes, her voice trembling. “I could always tell when she’d found it because she’d look at me in this way that made all the hurt just fly away, like it got caught in the wind. Then she’d hug me and tell me how much she loved me. I wrote the note after our last fight, but—” A sob stole her voice, and she struggled to get her words out. “I was in such a hurry to get to Gwen’s, I forgot to put it someplace my mom would find it.” Her voice cracked. “I left it in my bedroom with a pile of other crap.”
He gathered her in his arms again, rubbing her back, letting her get it all out of her system. She cried for a long time, and when her sobs finally eased, he continued holding her, trying to reassure her. “I know it hurts, but she knew you loved her.”
“I know that in my heart, but I wish I could have told her one last time.” She sniffled against his shoulder, her voice shaky, and her arms circled him, as if she were soaking in his strength.
He’d give it all to her if he could.
“I understand how you’re feeling. There are so many things I’d like to say to Ashley, but if we focus on what wasn’t said, it’ll eat us up inside. I know Ash wouldn’t want that, and I’m sure your parents wouldn’t, either. We have to remember all the good times and not let one negative incident obliterate them.”
“I’m trying,” she choked out, holding him tighter.
“I know you are. I think the key is that we can never doubt that they knew how much we loved them. They loved us through our best and worst of times. We have to trust and give them credit for the love they gave us.” That seemed to open the floodgates, and she cried harder. “That’s it, darlin’. Let it out. I’ve got you, and I know they do, too, wherever they are.”
The urge to lay her down and wrap himself around her, even totally clothed, and kiss her until she could no longer conjure the bad memories, was so strong, so different from anything he’d ever felt, but he knew better than to act on it. Her emotions were too raw, his too intense. It took everything he had to fight those desires as he forced them down deep, comforting her in the only ways he could, holding her tighter and stroking her back.
EMERSON COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time she’d cried so hard. She felt like she’d been holding in tears for years. Baz continued holding her, whispering sweet things, making sure she was okay. She didn’t know how long she cried on his shoulder, but when she finally stopped, she felt depleted and somehow also a little less burdened. As she moved out of his arms, embarrassment heated her cheeks.
“That’s got to feel better,” Baz said softly, and framed her face with his hands, wiping her tears with the pads of his thumbs.
“It does, but I can’t believe I told you all that.” She sniffled, breathing deeply, trying to regain control. “I’ve never told anyone about that night.”
“I’m glad you trust me enough to share. That means more to me than you can imagine.”
“I’m sorry for dumping my baggage on you.”
“We all have baggage, and you’ve carried yours alone for a long time. It’s okay to let me help.”
“I’m glad you’re not running for the hills, but you probably should.” She was only half kidding. “Save yourself from my drama.”
The warmest smile curved his lips. “We all have drama. Would it make you feel better if I shared a secret with you?”
“Maybe.” Her interest was piqued. “But only if it’s emotional, so I’m not the only one standing on a street corner naked.”
He searched her eyes. “Is that how you feel right now?”
“Pretty much,” she admitted.
“Come here.” He put his arms around her, hugging her as he said, “If you were standing on a corner naked, I’d be right there with you, keeping away the hordes of men who were lusting after you.”
She laughed softly as she sat back. “I’m definitely making you an appointment with an optometrist.”
“Don’t waste your money. It’s twenty-twenty. As for the secret, I’ve only got one that makes me feel like I’m standing on a corner naked. It doesn’t compare to yours, so please don’t think that I’m under the impression that it does, and it’s a tough subject. Evie is the only person who knows about it.”
“Is it about the two of you?”
“No. And in case you’re wondering, because everyone does at some point, Evie and I have never been together. I kissed her once when we were young and our hormones ruled our world, but that was it. One kiss and we never went there again.”
“Was the kiss that bad?”
“No. It was meant to get her out of my system, and it worked.”
“Like that doesn’t leave me with a million questions? Geez. Why did it work? Are you a sucky kisser and she didn’t want to take it further? Was it so good that it scared you? I mean, inquiring minds need to know. Do you think you’ll ever go there again with her? You’re two good-looking people who obviously like each other.”
He shook his head, amusement shining in his eyes. “I am a phenomenal kisser, and she and I are friends, not meant to be lovers. Not now, not ever. Do you want to know the secret, or do you want to dissect my friendship with Evie?”
“The secret, but just so you know, guys who are great kissers don’t have to brag about it.”
“ Jesus. I’m not bragging. I’m clearing up your confusion.”
“Uh-huh. Whatever you say,” she said sarcastically.
“Careful, Lockhart. The last thing you need is for me to prove you wrong and ruin you for all other men.”
Her pulse quickened at the idea of his lips on hers. She had to hand it to him. He sure knew how to take her mind off the sad stuff, but now she was thinking about kissing him. “We should get back to your secret.”
“Right. The secret.” He cleared his throat, averting his eyes for a few seconds. “When I was in college, I went out with this woman, and she got pregnant. I was really into her, and I thought we were headed for something serious, so I started making plans to introduce her to my family and rethinking my career goals. I couldn’t raise a kid if I was in vet school.”
“ Oh. I don’t know what I expected to hear, but it wasn’t that. You said you didn’t have any kids.”
“I don’t. A week later she told me she’d terminated the pregnancy.”
She thought about how loving he was with Brennan, and her heart broke for him. “Oh, Baz. That must’ve hurt, but it couldn’t have been an easy decision for her, either. If I hadn’t had that dream about my parents when I found out I was pregnant, I might have done the same thing. And there were plenty of times during my pregnancy when I questioned my decision.”
“I know it wasn’t easy for her, and yeah, it hurt, but I wasn’t upset that she’d made the decision. It was her body, not mine, and she did the right thing for herself. She wasn’t ready for kids, and the pregnancy would have caused problems with her family. What hurt was that she didn’t trust me enough to talk to me about it, or give me a heads-up before she did it. I would have fully supported her, but she never even gave me the chance.”
“Maybe she was afraid you wouldn’t support her decision. It’s scary enough finding out you’re pregnant when having a family isn’t on your radar. Having a boyfriend get upset or try to change your mind would make things a million times harder.”
He nodded, his gaze serious. “I get it, but she knew I’d grown up in a family where trust and communication were everything. There I was, thinking we had that special bond and were working toward something bigger, and come to find out, she was just having fun. When she told me what she’d done, she also broke up with me to get back with her ex. It was a blow to my heart and my ego, and I was crushed.”
“I’m so sorry. I’ve never cared about a boyfriend enough to feel that way, so I don’t know that pain firsthand, but I can imagine how much it hurts from seeing Gwen go through it while we were growing up. Is that why you used to hook up with women and not think twice about walking away?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t like that before her. You can’t get hurt if you don’t let people in.”
The truth in his words had her lowering her eyes, fidgeting with the edge of her shorts, and whispering more to herself than to him, “I feel so seen right now.”
“What do you mean?”
She met his curious gaze. “I’ve never been able to connect with anyone other than Gwen on more than a surface level. It’s weird how alike we are.” As she said it, she remembered something her therapist had said years ago. That many people who suffered traumatic losses lived with the expectation that everyone they cared for might find a tragic end, but if that were to come true, he’d thought it would be even more tragic if the person who had suffered the initial loss hadn’t enjoyed them while they’d had the chance. At the time, she couldn’t imagine ever wanting to be closer to anyone, and she hadn’t taken it to heart. But it had lived in her head, like a tree that had always been there for her to hide beneath, giving her shade and shadows to blend in with. Baz was thinning those branches, letting sunshine into her hiding spot.
“That would make sense with all you’ve been through, but you and I have connected on more than a surface level.” He held her gaze, blue eyes boring into her like he could see right through to her soul.
She’d been telling herself their connection was only in her head, but there was no denying it anymore. It was buzzing between them like power lines, and she liked it. She liked him. He made it easy to be herself and to feel safe, but it wasn’t like it could lead anywhere.
Maybe that was why it was so easy to be with him.
What if he didn’t feel that same buzzing, and he just meant that they were talking about real things, not nonsense? He’d joked about kissing her, but it had been a joke, right? Oh boy. Now she was overthinking, getting nervous. She needed to circumvent this conversation. She needed to get him out of there before things got awkward and she started spouting more crap about herself she didn’t realize she was hiding.
“There I go again, airing my dirty laundry,” she said as lightly as she could, trying to play it off like she wasn’t twisted up inside. “I thought we were talking about you . How do you always turn the conversation around and get me talking?”
“It’s the dimples.” He smiled. “They work like truth serum.”
“Then how do I ward them off? Garlic around my neck? A silver cross?”
He chuckled. “I like garlic, and I kind of dig silver. But you can try cookies.”
“Nice try. Cookies make you smile more , not less.”
“How else can we test the full powers of my dimples?”
She felt heat creeping up her chest. “I was going to say your dimples should come with a warning label, but I think your mouth needs one, too.”
“You have no idea how wicked my mouth can be,” he said low and seductively.
“Ohmygod.” A breathy laugh tumbled out, but her mind was off and running, spinning naughty tales about that wicked mouth. “Are you always like this?”
“Like what?” he asked far too seriously.
“ Flirty. Able to put people in a better mood one tease at a time.”
“That wasn’t a tease. My mouth can be wicked.” He waggled his brows playfully.
“Would you stop ?” She threw a pillow at him.
He caught it, grinning as he set it down on the bed. “Would you rather I was a stick-in-the-mud?”
“No. Maybe. ”
“What does that mean?” he asked with a laugh.
“It means I’m a hormonal mess, and you need to go home.”
He splayed his hands. “Why am I being punished?”
“You’re not. Those dimples are punishing me , and I’m too tired to make good decisions. I can’t trust what’s going to come out of my mouth.” She climbed off the bed and headed out of the bedroom.
He followed her to the front door. “You had a rough day, and you were pretty upset earlier. I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone. Why don’t I crash on your couch in case you need help with Brennan later?”
There was nothing playful in his tone, and though she appreciated his concern, she’d get no sleep at all knowing he was just a few steps away. “That’s not a good idea.”
“I promise to lock down my dimples.”
She gave him a yeah, right look. “That’s impossible , and I’m feeling much better, thanks to you. I appreciate all of your help with Brennan, but I need to start doing this alone. Thank you for talking me off the ledge and letting me rest and for not running for the hills when I needed a friend.”
“I’m not a run-for-the-hills kind of guy. You’re stuck with me, Lockhart. If you need anything tonight, call me. I don’t care what time it is. If you have another bad dream or need help with Brennan. I’m five minutes away.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Okay. I’ll bring Ollie by in the morning, and we can introduce him to Brennan.”
Happiness bubbled up inside her. “Really? I miss him so much. Wait. Tomorrow’s Wednesday. Don’t you have to work?”
“I figured I’d be sticking around tonight to help with Brennan, so I texted Tori and Evie while you were sleeping and asked them to reschedule my early appointments.”
How was he still single? “Baz, you don’t have to rearrange your schedule for me. You can bring him over after work.”
“I have church tomorrow night.” Church was what the motorcycle club meetings were called.
“Oh.” She cocked her head. “Your club meets on Wednesdays?”
“That’s right, darlin’, and my schedule has already been rearranged. My morning clients are coming at the end of the day, and then I’m off to the meeting.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “See you in the morning.”
She closed the door behind him and leaned her back against it, trying to recover from the double dose of dimples and darlin’ .