too hard to resist falling back into the memories, and she’d asked Marie if she could store them somewhere. Marie had put them in her attic, and when Marie sold her house, Carly had been doing so well, she feared if she brought the pictures into her house, she’d end up going through them again and slipping back into that dark place of wanting answers she might never get. She’d hidden them here in the supply closet and had never once looked in the box.
But now she had the answers she’d always wanted.
She lifted the lid with a shaky hand, and her eyes sailed over several pictures of her and Zev as kids playing in a sprinkler, climbing the side of a hill with Beau and Nick, and riding their bikes in front of Zev’s parents’ house. A lump formed in her throat, and she closed her eyes as memories flooded her. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, startling her. She quickly put the top back on the box, pulled her phone from her pocket, and saw Marie’s name on the screen. Marie had texted last week from Venezuela to say she was leaving in a few days to go to Nassau to stay in one of Treat Braden’s resorts.
Carly opened the text, feeling like she’d been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. A picture of Marie’s feet in the sand, with the ocean in the background, popped up with the message Loving Nassau! I think I might stay for a week or two. Taking my morning walk and thinking of you. How was the wedding? She hadn’t wanted to worry Marie, so she’d played it cool and hadn’t let on that she was nervous about possibly seeing Zev.
She thumbed out, The wedding was great! Everyone loved the chocolates.
Marie responded with, Of course they did! Anything interesting you want to talk about?
Carly knew she was fishing for news about Zev. She didn’t want to open that can of worms, so she typed, Not unless you want a blow-by-blow of Cutter dirty dancing with every girl in the place.
Her phone vibrated a second later with Marie’s text. I hope you got pictures! Guess where I’m going tonight?
Relieved Marie didn’t push, Carly typed, A luau?
Her phone vibrated seconds later. Zev’s name appeared in a message, and a nest of bees took flight in Carly’s stomach. She stared at his name, wide-eyed. It was barely six o’clock in the morning, but he’d always been an early riser. With her heart in her throat, she opened and read the message. Morning gorgeous. What’s your address? I’ll bring over milk to go with your Lucky Charms. We can ring in the new day together.
Her body came alive in celebration with no cognitive effort. She was far too excited about the idea of ringing in a new day with him and was surprised to find herself actually considering it. She could spare an hour. Couldn’t she? An hour alone with Zev at her house to…Her mind went straight to the bedroom.
This was not good.
Well, it would probably be sinfully good, but watching a sunrise with Zev would not be conducive to protecting her heart. She needed her house to remain a safe haven, someplace that held no physical memories of Zev. There was no way she would let him get his enticing scent all over her furniture or her sheets, which she had a feeling was where they’d end up if he came over.
Before she could respond, a text from Marie rolled in. A coconut bar on the beach! They serve all drinks in coconuts. I’m going to have breakfast with friends. Love you!
Leave it to Marie to have already found a group of friends. Carly imagined a handful of fiftysomething women talking about how much they don’t need men.
And neither do I.
It was true. Carly didn’t need a man. But there was no denying that she wanted Zev.
Six days means five potentially steamy nights…
She rolled her eyes at herself and typed, My house is a no-Zev zone, and I need to keep it that way.
His reply came quickly. I’m in you, Carls, and you’re in me. I’ve been there with you all along.
The bells above the front door chimed, and Birdie’s voice rang out. “I’m here, and you’re supposed to be mattress dancing with Zev!”
Shit! Carly grabbed the box and hurried into the closet to hide it. Then she went to greet Birdie and bury herself in work.