And I’m not just going to go around and have babies with a woman who isn’t my soul mate. I see it all the time. Men who regret who they chose to be the mother of their children, and all of the hell that comes with that, and vice versa. I want to be sure about the woman I’m going to end up with.
“So you do want kids?” Clover asks.
I nod. “Yeah, of course I do. I love kids. With the right woman, of course.”
She smiles and relaxes back in her seat. “Okay.”
I laugh. “You satisfied now?”
“Yeah. And you know Felix has always spoken highly of you, and I’ve always liked you, so there’s that. I always felt good knowing he had you at his back. We trust you. What more can you ask for? Welcome to the group.” She grins. “Now tell us about why you are here.”
I turn to Cara, letting her explain since it’s her story. I know I told Felix the quick version of the story earlier, but Clover hasn’t gotten to hear it yet.
Cara looks around the table, fidgeting with her hands. “Wade had another child, a daughter. And she hired Decker to find me. That’s why he’s here,” she says.
Clover’s mouth opens, and then closes. “So you have another sister.”
“Something like that,” Cara murmurs.
“There’s a lot to unpack there,” Clover says.
“I know; I’m still processing it.”
“What are you going to do?” Clover asks, brow furrowing. “You know we are here for you no matter what.”
“I know. I’m going to worry about it later. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the night.”
“You sure?” Clover asks, skepticism obvious in her voice.
Cara nods and changes the subject, asking Felix about a case he had been working on.
We finish our meal, chatting and laughing, Cara’s warm arm pressed against mine.
This trip definitely took an unexpected turn, but a good one.
What a night.
Chapter Eight
Cara
I wake up feeling warm and safe.
Until I open my eyes. Then I realize I’m pressed up against an almost-naked male form. I’m spooning him from behind and our legs are intertwined, like we’re a married couple and completely comfortable with each other. I’ve never slept like this with Rhett; I usually prefer my own space when I sleep.
I’m still fully dressed, but he has nothing on except his underwear.
I slowly roll off the man and over to the corner of the bed, remembering how we got here. After eating, Felix and Clover dropped us both off at my house, because I told Decker that we could go get our cars together in the morning. Decker had offered to sleep somewhere else, but I told him it’s fine because I have a king-size bed that we could just share like any friends would. And normally I sleep very still.
But I’m an idiot, I know. We started off on opposite sides of the bed, and obviously in the night our bodies found each other. Still, nothing happened between us, not even a kiss. Yet somehow the whole night still felt so intimate.
And inappropriate and unfair to Rhett. Yeah, we might have ended it, but that doesn’t give me the green light to literally jump into bed, a bed I shared with Rhett, with someone else.
What a hot mess I have become.
My alarm hasn’t gone off yet, so it must be before six a.m. I get up and jump in the shower, letting the hot water run over my skin. It’s not like me to have drinks or go anywhere on a work night, and now the guilt is hitting me. At least I cut myself off at the right time and don’t feel too hungover. I think the water and food last night before bed definitely helped. I know I should have let Decker be dropped off back at his hotel and just let him catch a taxi to get his car, but I do pass by Rift on my way to work, so last night it had just seemed like a good idea.
Maybe I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye, I don’t know.
I clearly wasn’t thinking.
I head back into my bedroom in a towel and, seeing that Decker still seems to be asleep, quickly grab my clothes and take them back into the bathroom to finish getting ready. While I’m in there, I check my phone to find Rhett has sent me a text:
I know you went home with that guy last night, Cara. I got a security alert when you got home. What the hell were you thinking?
Not about him, apparently, and I feel awful. As much as he hurt me last night, I don’t want him to think I so callously brought another man to our house. I can’t believe I did this.
I don’t reply to him.
When I reappear in the bedroom, Decker is sitting up and groaning.
I grin, putting Rhett out of my mind. “Want some coffee?”
“I’d love some,” he replies in a deep, husky tone.
I roam into the kitchen, make two coffees and bring one to him in bed.
“I put a towel in the bathroom for you if you want to have a quick shower, and I’ll make us breakfast,” I say. “I usually have avocado toast and some eggs.”
“That sounds perfect, thank you,” he replies, fingers reaching out to touch the tips of my wet hair. “You know, the first thing I noticed about you is your hair. It’s beautiful.”
I clear my throat. “Thank you.”
He chuckles as I escape my own bedroom to make some breakfast.
I hear the shower turn on and picture him in there. I know his body is amazing—I had a quick sneaky glance when he undressed to get into bed last night. He’s muscular, with abs to die for and a little spluttering of dark hair on his chest.
Stop it, Cara. You just broke up with Rhett and you’re in the house you share. Keep the hormones in check.
I almost burn the eggs, chiding myself. “Concentrate, Cara.”
I’ve just placed his plate down on the kitchen counter when he walks out, shirtless of course, just to tease me a little more. He sits down and smiles. “Looks amazing, thank you.”
I try to stare at his face—just his face—but my eyes keep dropping to his broad shoulders, perfectly shaped arms and chest.
I can’t remember the last time I was this attracted to a man, and I honestly don’t even know what to do with it. I can’t think straight when he’s around.
“So, you going to be coming back any time soon or have we scared you off?” I find myself asking, forcing my eyes to my plate.
He gives me a cocky smile. “You kidding me? I had more fun last night than I’ve had in a long time. You guys are really lucky to have such fucking amazing people around you. And I tell you what; Clover would take a bullet for you any day. Loyalty like that is rare.”