your binoculars of time travel, enjoying a morning ride with his lover, Anne Boleyn.”
“So fucking cool,” she said. “You really think that?”
I laughed. “Who knows? I am merely assuming, but he was all over the countryside. He fled the city on numerous occasions to leave the chaos, to dodge the plague, or, more importantly, to flaunt his health and wealth to his people. He was a notorious show-off.”
“Health and wealth. I like that.” She looked back from where she sat up in front of me and touched her finger to my chest. “Sorta like you.”
“Do not compare me to Henry the Eighth.” I laughed.
“I’m comparing you to his young, healthy, and happy years.”
“Awe, that makes it all the better. Even better for you keeping your head on your shoulders,” I said with a wink.
She relaxed against the tree. “Do you have family out here? Or in the states?”
“Maybe it’s best we put the time-traveling binoculars back on and search for another monarch.”
“Answer the question, King Henry.” She laughed.
If it weren’t for her bold and adorable way of speaking to me, I would have clamped my mouth shut on something I’d never shared with anyone outside of my close friends and what my family knew.
“My father passed away after I graduated from college,” I said.
“Oh, God.” She covered her mouth. “I’m sorry. You look like you’re maybe about five years out of college. Was it recently? I’m so sorry.”
“Ten years now.” I smiled. “It’s okay. His legacy lives on well through the business he started. My brother and I have done everything we can to honor him through our actions. I think, hopefully, he would be proud of us.”
“And your mom?”
“I don’t speak that woman’s name.” The words came out harsher than I expected they would. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. She was and still is a nightmare at times. Jake, my younger brother, was too young to remember when she was physically abusive and brought drug-addict dickheads into our house, so I’m the one who got stuck with that.”
“That’s awful,” she said, her eyes wide. “I’m really sorry. You both were young, then. Just you and your brother?”
“Yeah. I was seven, and Jake was five. I’m glad Jake didn’t remember her as I did. Thank God my dad put us before everything. He had a surveillance system secretly installed and caught her fucking druggies in our home, forcing Jake and me to stay outside until she got her goddamn drugs and whatever the fuck else she wanted. It was a nightmare.” I shook my head. “Sorry about that. I never speak about her to anyone, not even to my brother. She’s a piece of shit, and I should’ve left it at that.”
“Is that why you took the phone from me on the plane? I’m guessing you must’ve heard me mention Derek being an addict?”
“I heard enough to be reminded of a horrible parent with a poor kid involved to want to intervene impulsively. Again, I’m sorry I did that, and if it does cause you further issues with your ex, I’ll be sure to give you my private number, and I’ll help in any way you need.”
“Derek’s all talk,” she said, but I could tell he was a lot more than that. I wasn’t pressing, though. “I do appreciate what you did.”
“I’m glad for that.” I stood. “How about breakfast in the little town you appeared to be enamored with before we arrived here?”
“The storybook town?”
“Yes,” I said, turning to walk toward home. “It’s a lovely village, and after losing my shit about my dirt bag mother, I think you might need a cleansing that only the peace in that town can offer.”
“Give me a break.” She leaned against me as an old friend would, and I loved the gesture. “I get it. I’m just sorry you and your brother went through that. You had a great father to get her out of your life.”
“Just like you’re an amazing mom for working on getting an addicted parent out of your daughter’s life.”
“Don’t go that far. In Derek’s opinion, I’m the same piece of shit you see in your mom.” She laughed.
“If only Derek’s opinion were of any value to me.” I smirked, prompting her sexy little giggle to lighten up the demons of my past I’d brought into play.
I needed to slow down, I was getting too close, and it was just through simple conversation with a woman I enjoyed.
Chapter Six
Avery
Jim brought me into the most adorable town, and