Page 22 of Sterling Heat

“Why?”

My head snaps up. “Because I kissed you.” Because I wanted you to touch me. Naked beneath his shirt, prancing around without underwear when I’ve never done anything like that in my life, and he was so close . . .

“I kissed you,” he counters, like he wants the credit for doing it first.

“Either way. . .” I dismiss before I do something foolish like ask him if he would like to kiss again. “I just haven’t been back to the bakery.” My defense is weak.

Sebastian watches me, puzzled, wounded even, although I don’t know why he’s so upset.

“Anyway, I need to find my car and find a place to live until my house is ready. And I need to get out of here.” I glance down at Adara. “When I don’t want to leave.”

“I can help you with your car.”

I look up again as Sebastian starts typing into his phone. “My oldest brother Stone is the county sheriff. He’ll get you out of any parking tickets.” He glances up and gives me a wink. “It’s probably been towed to Perry’s.”

I swear my ovaries do a little flip. As messed up as they are, they are suddenly dancing a giddy jig over a simple eye-twitch. I feel like Sedona, the nurse he couldn’t remember who floated out of my room upon first seeing him, and whose breath still hitched every time she re-entered, and Sebastian was present.

“You don’t have to do that.” He’s already done so much. “But I’d appreciate knowing where my car is, if it’s been impounded.”

Sebastian exhales. “Okay, that solves your car issue. So, you need a way out of here and a place to stay? How long until your place is ready?”

“About two weeks.” I jiggle Adara in my arms, and I swear she smiles, when I know it’s probably only gas in her belly. As she came early, my tightly scheduled plan to finish the house and move in before her birth was foiled.

When I gaze back at Sebastian, he’s watching Adara again. His brows pinch, a deep crease forming between them. Finally, he lets out a breath, and his shoulders fall. He lowers one arm to his thigh and reaches forward to stroke a finger over Adara’s head.

“You can stay with me.”

“What?” My gaze snaps up from watching his finger sweetly stroke my daughter.

He shrugs. “My place isn’t big, but I have an extra bedroom. It’s over the bakery, so it’s an easy commute to the hospital.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask. I’m offering.”

“That’s so sweet of you, but I can’t encroach on you. You’ve already been so generous”—I lower my voice, eyes shifting to make certain no one else is close enough to hear me—“Pretending to be Adara’s dad so you can send me videos of her has been more than I could have ever hoped for.”

“Yeah, pretending.” His voice is tight, deep and hollow. He swallows and sits upright again. “Well, at the very least, I can be the friend that springs you from this place.” His eyes never leave Adara as he offers me one more olive branch of assistance.

“I do consider you a friend.” I never want to lose touch with this man who has done so much for Adara and me. I might have a flickering desire for more kisses and him to hold me to that strong naked chest of his like he cuddles my baby, but I can tamp down my fantasies in favor of his friendship. I don’t know anyone else in Sterling Falls.

“Friends,” Sebastian mumbles, like the word tastes bitter on his tongue.

“You know what?” Unhappy with his tone, I counter. “You’ve done a lot for me, and I’ll always be grateful, but I can figure out how to get out of here on my own.” I glance down at Adara, shifting her a little against me. “I’m going to be going it alone anyway. I need to start right now.”

Seated in a recliner, I struggle to push my legs against the extension that supports my feet but eventually the chair abruptly snaps closed. Shuffling to the edge, my feet hit the floor and I stand in a rush, swaying a bit from the suddenness.

“Whoa.” Sebastian catches me at the waist, steadying me. “Are you lightheaded?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Isn’t that a side effect of the blood pressure medication you’re taking?”

“I . . .” How does he know that? “It passes.”

“What do you mean ‘it passes’?”

“Just that.” While the medications settle into my system, I can experience dizziness and headaches. I’ve only had a few incidents, but I’d self-diagnosed the lightheadedness from exhaustion and my out-of-whack emotions. Thankfully, the medication is safe for breast milk.