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Mom slices a hesitant glance in my direction. “You think so?”
I nod enthusiastically. “A hundred percent.”
“See? I told you it was a good idea.”
Oz saunters towards us with his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his white slacks. His dark, chocolate brown eyes are all for Mom as he moves to press a kiss to the top of her curls. A shiny lock of black slips free to fall over his brow.
“Do it,mi amore.”
Mom nibbles her bottom lip, looking excited and apprehensive. “I’ll think about it,” she says at last.
Oz kisses the tip of her nose. “Good.” He straightens and turns those warm eyes on me. “We took your bags up to your room.”
At the mention ofwe,my gaze darts to the beautiful figure standing just over his shoulder.
His eyes are already on me, already so full of want and need. Every nerve ending crackles with an awareness that makes my heart pang to be with him. I have become so reliant on his existence in my life that his absence — even temporarily — feels like a physical wound. And he won’t take his attention off me. It’s knowing and dirty in a way it shouldn’t be given our parents are sitting right there.
But I bottle the prickling urge to go to him. I grip my armrests a little tighter in restraint. I try not to stare as Rhys moves to take the seat across from mine. Close, but so far.
“What were you ladies talking about?” Oz sits on Mom’s ottoman and drags her feet into his lap. Her black flats are gingerly removed and set aside and replaced by his long fingers drifting along her tiny toes.
I don’t miss the glance Mom darts at me, then Rhys. A subtle little shift that assures me the topic of mykisswith Rhys will be brought up again the next chance she gets.
“Just Addie’s job,” she says at last.
Mom and I tell each other everything. After her divorce from Dad, it’s been just us and our bond is unwavering. I know I can tell her anything and she will never judge me, but this is different. Mom may not judge my feelings for Rhys, but it would change something between us. For ten years, Rhys has been her son. One of her babies. I don’t even know if it’ll matter that we don’t share blood only that she considers us her children. This might be too much for her. For Oz.
I feel a light tap against my foot and I have to swallow hard to push free of my spiraling thoughts to look up.
Rhys cocks his head to one side and gives it a gentle shake as if to tell me to stop it. Like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
I swallow again, desperately calming the panic in my chest.
“Are they still giving you a hard time?” Oz asks, drawing my attention to the other two.
I clear my throat, giving myself time to lighten my tone when I wave a dismissive hand. “It’s really not a big deal. I’ve been looking for other employment anyway.”
“I mentioned Deloris’s retirement in a couple of months,” Mom chimes in slyly.
Oz’s eyebrows shoot up. His eyes widen with excitement. “Do you want the position? It would save me training someone new and you already know how I like my coffee.”
I laugh at that, the temptation overwhelming.
Yes! I want to come home so badly. I miss Pinecrest. I miss Mom and Oz so much. I miss the woods and the lake, and all the memories I made here with Rhys. Times and events that make up a large chunk of my childhood.
Inadvertently, my gaze shifts to the man next to me. His focus on me is resolute, but unhelpful.
Am I ready to come back? I have no reason to stay in the city anymore. Everyone and everything I love is here. Logically, it makes sense.
“Let me think about it,” I tell Oz, wanting to talk to Rhys about it before I make up my mind.
“You could come work for me,” Rhys drawls. “I’ve been thinking I might need a secretary.”
Heat explodes beneath my skin. “I don’t think they’re called—”
“I like secretary.”
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep my grin in check.
