kiss him slow.
The rapid banging on my door starts again.
He hears it and pulls back. “Who’s that?”
“Carmie! You’re missing it!”
My eyes narrow. “That’s a four-year-old child.”
Deacon is out of my bed in a flash. “I forgot to set my alarm.”
He’s in the bathroom pulling on his jeans and tee. I’m sitting on the foot of my bed, my heart breaking at the thought of him leaving me. Returning to my bedroom, he looks my way and pauses.
“Damn, girl.” His eyes are hot as he surveys me, sitting in my short shorts and nearly transparent tee. Crossing the room, he cups my cheeks and kisses me, looking deep into my eyes. “You are so beautiful.”
Could I love this guy more? Sofia starts to whine, and panic tightens my chest. She’s going to wake up the whole house if I don’t let her in, but I’ll be damned if I let her see Deacon here. That girl cannot keep a secret.
I stand, catching his arms and leading him to the window. “This is so risky.” My throat is tight as I watch him throw a leg over the balustrade. “What’s going to happen now?”
His lips press together as he looks out across the yard. “This isn’t how I wanted things to go.”
“I know. I’m sorry—”
“Sh…” He lightly touches my lips. “I told you no more of that.”
“I can’t help it.”
His finger slides to my cheek, moving a curl behind my ear. “I’ve got to go to Harristown and check in with my clients there. I’d wanted to take you with me, see if you liked the town.”
“I want to go…” I’m half listening, half worrying about Sofia’s ongoing noise.
“I’ll only be gone a day, maybe two. Will you be okay here?”
“Oh, sure. As long as I do what I’m told.” Like a child. I’ve got to get my own place.
Deacon’s lips tighten, and he pulls me close, kissing me firmly. “I’ll be back soon, and we’ll work this out. You have the burner phone I got you?”
“I’ve got it.” The box is on my vanity.
“If anything happens, call me. I’ll drop everything and come to you.” His hands are firm on my arms.
“Can I call you now?”
He traces his thumb along my jaw, resting his hand on my shoulder. “We’re going to fix this, Angel. I won’t let you give up your family for me.”
“Maybe they’re the ones giving me up…”
Exhaling slowly, he looks into my room. “Your brother obviously loves you. Look at this beautiful place—”
“It’s a beautiful cage.”
“Just give me some time. We’ll find a solution.”
Lourdes would say my boyfriend is so privileged, but I don’t want to be cynical. I was raised to believe. “We can try, I guess.”
One more kiss, one more longing look, and he’s gone, dropping fast behind the cottage and pausing to look back. We extend our hands in a wave… or maybe a wistful grasp… before he dashes across the tree line and off my brother’s property.
A feeling of dread tightens my chest. Deacon is so optimistic, and I wish I could be the same way. I’m afraid this is not going to end well. Sofia’s voice pulls me from my troubled thoughts, and when I open my bedroom door, she’s sitting with her back to it.
“Good morning, sunshine.” I reach down for her hand.
She pops up and marches into my room. “Watch Moana with me!”
Climbing into the middle of my bed, she props her little body against the pillows. The remote is in her hand, and she turns on the oversized, flat screen television hanging on the opposite wall to the channel she needs.
“I didn’t know Beto had Disney plus.” I climb in beside her, curling into the blankets and pulling Deacon’s pillow to my chest.
“He has all the channels.” Sofia’s tone is very duh, and she immediately starts singing. “You’re welcome!”
I bury my face in the down, inhaling deeply of rich citrus and sage. It’s almost like he’s still here, and I hug the pillow tighter, fighting my sadness, dreaming of his hard body, his soft kisses, his expert touch. His impossible dreams.
“I’m sorry you were hurt.” My brother stands in the kitchen with his arms crossed. As always, he’s in jeans and a white tank, feet bare, brow lowered.
“I’m fine.” I finish my coffee, ready to go.
Valeria reaches for my hand across the table. “We don’t have to discuss it right now.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.” Beto walks away from where we’re sitting. “It’s settled.”
I’m not in the mood for him. “How’s