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“We talked a lot.”
“In between contractions. The conversation never flowed smoothly.” He hardly turned his head but managed to move the patties to the side of the grill, away from the flame.
“So, you want to show off your smooth lines?”
Adam chuckled. “I want you to see me in the best light possible.”
I slowly shook my head. “Adam, even if I get to know you for the next fifty years, I don’t think I will ever see you in a better light than I did three nights ago. You were amazing.”
He set down the spatula and put one hand on my hip, and one hand on my cheek. “Zoe, you’ve got it all wrong. You were the amazing one.”
I huffed out a breath through my nose. “Yeah, sure. I was there, Adam. I know what I was like. I was needy, terrified, and out of control.”
He frowned down at me. “You must have been in a different truck. Now, I will buy into the terrified part, because I was too. But needy? Hell, Zoe, I was expecting you to shove me away at any moment and say you could handle things without me. Out of control? You were keeping my kid reassured while you were suffering excruciating pain, and cracking jokes with me the entire time. I saw nothing but a woman to like and admire.”
I slowly shook my head. “That’s your perspective. Really?”
“Really.”
I relaxed into his hold. Realizing that Adam liked and respected me, made it easier to trust him just a little bit, and trust was not something that came easily to me.
“Hey, you two, break it up. We’re hungry in here,” Drake called out. “It’s cheese for all three of us. Chop-chop.”
Chapter Seven
“Give my love to Karen,” I said as I hugged Drake. “Bring the rug-rats over anytime. I miss them.”
He gave me a long look. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“For the last time, I’m fine. Now scram.”
The big man sighed, then gave Adam the side eye. “Good meeting you, Beckett.”
Adam barely suppressed a grin as he held out his hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Drake. It’s good to see that Zoe has such a strong support system.”
Drake squinted as he shook Adam’s hand. “And don’t you forget it.”
“I won’t.”
Then Drake squatted down so that he was at James’ level. He held out his hand. “It was good meeting you, little man.”
James looked at my brother’s hand, which was the size of the boy’s face, then carefully shook it. “It was nice meeting you too, Mr. Drake.”
Drake stood up and looked at Angelica. “I suppose you’re staying?”
“Of course,” she said with a bright smile. “Somebody needs to get all the details of the other night. It has all the makings for a good movie.”
“You’re a nut.”
“A Brazil nut.”
Drake pulled her in for a hug, then left.
“I like Mr. Drake. He’s big.”
“That he is,” Adam laughed. “Is there any other reason you like him?”
“He’s nice, and funny, too.”
