Page 52 of Unplanned Target

“So do I.” I wish we had more time to spend together so she would feel less like what’s between us was simply created from intensity and destined to fizzle as quickly as it started. “But we can talk about anything you want as soon as I’m back.”

Maybe by then, I’ll have wrapped my head around all I want to say. This week apart might give me time to process the onslaught of emotions finding Miranda has caused. If I’m lucky, it does the same for her.

And hopefully we come to the same conclusion.

“I’m going to miss you.” Miranda’s admission is soft. Barely a whisper. “Just so you know, you’re the first man I’ve ever said that to.”

Hopefully, I’ll be the last. Am I fucking insane for thinking that? Maybe. But I’m not sure I care. Why the hell should I hold back? What purpose does it serve? As long as we’re both on the same page, who gives a shit what everyone else thinks?

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” I stretch up, pressing a kiss to her lips.

It’s meant to be a simple show of affection. Something to remind her how I feel and what I hope for.

I should’ve known better.

The second Miranda’s hands fist my shirt and haul me closer, a chaste meeting of mouths turns into my body pressing hers into the mattress as I attempt to touch as much of her as I can, as quickly as possible.

I have her shirt shoved up and am dragging my tongue across her stomach when we are once again interrupted by someone banging on my door.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Miranda lets out a growl of frustration. “I swear to God, no one in this place wants me to get laid.”

“That knock didn’t stop you from getting laid.” I press a final kiss to her belly. “I’m not fucking you for the first time when we’re on a time crunch.”

And I’m sure as hell not fucking her right before I have to leave. That would result in the longest, most miserable week of my life. At least now, the only thing I have to torture me is the feel of her mouth against mine and the memory of making her come.

Quickly.

“I’m starting to think you’re never going to be fucking me for the first time at all.” Miranda sits up as I go to retrieve my bag. “It feels like the universe is working against us.”

I disagree. I very much feel like the universe is on my side. If I hadn’t been the one with Butch when his phone rang, it could have been someone else who came to Miranda’s aid. Someone else who spent a night with her in the cabin.

Someone else she’d been missing for the next week.

If being the one who answered that call means I have to wait to have her the way we both so clearly want, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

The frown on Miranda’s face makes it seem like she’s not quite as willing.

So, as whoever’s come to collect me for our flight knocks again, I pull her close, running my nose along her neck as I inhale the last scent of her skin. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

NINETEEN

MIRANDA

“I don’t have a clue what any of this means.” I look over my daughter’s shoulder at the screen of her computer, trying to make sense of the equation staring back at me. “We should probably ask around and find out who’s good at math here.”

Allie is a few days into her online curriculum, and while she likes it, there’s definitely something to be said for having an in-person teacher to answer questions. She does have instructors she can reach out to, but it’s not quite the same as when they’re standing right next to her, helping work through a problem step by step.

“That might be a good idea.” Allie turns to me. “Can you ask Owen?”

“I can when he gets back, but I’m not sure when that will be.” He’s been gone over a week at this point, and every time I ask when he’s going to be returning to Nashville, I get a dodgy answer. Which tells me, no one else knows when he’s going to be back either. “Maybe we should ask your Uncle Tony.”

Allie wrinkles her nose. “I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know anything about math.” She rolls her eyes. “But he’ll totally pretend like he does.”

That does sound like something my brother would do. Not because he’s a know-it-all, but because he hates not being able to do something. Refuses to admit he’s ever incapable.

I can’t give him too much shit over it though, since I’m the same way. Except when it comes to math. I’ll totally admit I don’t know shit about that.

“I have no clue who we should ask then.” I straighten, rubbing at the corner of one eye in an attempt to ease the twitching coming on from staring at Allie’s computer for the past ten minutes. “I could maybe message Heidi?”