Chapter 8

Audrey

Hands on my hips, I glanced around the kitchen. I had completely forgotten I’d been in the middle of prepping to make chicken dumpling soup last night. That’s how thoroughly Dallas had wiped my mind clean. Obviously, I never returned to the kitchen and finished. I sent up a silent thanks I hadn’t taken the chicken out yet because that would’ve been a smelly waste. As it was, I had left chopped carrots and celery out on the counter overnight and nothing more.

I smiled a little, my cheeks getting hot. I couldn't quite believe last night had happened. My pulse kicked up a notch just thinking about the feel of Dallas buried inside of me. I'd woken this morning, warm in his arms. He’d been curled up behind me, his palm resting on my belly. The air outside the covers had been cool as it always was during the winter here. I’d felt his arousal pressing against my bottom. Perhaps I should've felt uncertain about what might happen next, seeing as he’d made it quite clear sex was all we could have. Yet, he hadn't said just once.

So, I spun in his arms and rolled over, sitting astride him. When his eyes had opened, sleepy and hooded, that rich blue gaze locked on me. We tumbled back into another heated interlude. We’d showered together, and he was presently in the dining room working. His work phone had buzzed insistently on the nightstand this morning.

I told myself that perhaps he had put a limit on what we could have, but he hadn't put a limit on how long that could last. I intended to wring every last drop out of this that I could.

It was snowing and blowing outside, so I shifted gears, cleaning up what I started last night with plans to make the chicken dumpling soup for dinner tonight. For breakfast, I prepped omelets. Once the coffee was ready, I poured a cup and carried it out to Dallas.

He glanced up from whatever he was working on, flashing me a quick smile and taking the cup from me. His fingers brushed against mine, and electricity zinged through me. I spun away, my belly fluttering, and returned to the kitchen. I had one omelet in the pan when there was a loud knock at the front door. I heard the scrape of Dallas’ chair before he strolled into the archway leading to the kitchen.

“Expecting anyone here?” he asked.

“Aside from you and Sherry, nobody knows I'm here.”

He arched a brow and shrugged. “I’ll go see who it is.”

As he stepped away, it occurred to me he was quite right I needed to call my parents and let them know where I was. I didn’t need them to get confused and worried if they found out from someone else I wasn’t in Italy and I’d called off my wedding. I heard the sound of the door opening, Dallas’ low voice and then Matthew's voice.

Oh no. This could not be happening. I didn't hear the door close, so I waited. I wondered what Matthew was going to try to say to Dallas. They had never met, although Matthew would likely connect the dots if only because he knew Thea and knew Dallas was her brother. I heard the murmur of Dallas’ voice and Matthew sounding slightly belligerent, but not raising his voice too much.

Cold air blew in from the front entrance. After a moment, I heard the door close and then one set of footsteps in the hallway. Dallas leaned into the archway between the dining room and kitchen, his eyes on me.

“That was Matthew,” he said, his voice clipped.

I could sense his anger and couldn’t help the flare of satisfaction it gave me. I was angry with Matthew for the most obvious of reasons, yet a part of me savored the protective quality of Dallas’ anger on my behalf.

“Does he know I'm here?”

Dallas shook his head sharply. “No. I'm glad we put your car in the garage. If he’d seen it, I think he’d have tried to make it ugly. I hope it's okay I told him to stay the hell away from you.”

I stared at him, my mind spinning, my gut churning, and my heart clenching. It infuriated me to have Matthew come up here. I didn’t know why he was chasing me. Yet, it was Dallas who made my heart clench. I didn’t quite know how to react to his protectiveness.

I took a breath, staring at him across the room, and nodded.

“Of course it's okay. I don't want to talk to him. There's nothing to say.”

Dallas was quiet, his eyes considering.

“My advice?” he asked, only a hint of question in his words.

I laughed a little. I’d heard him offer unsolicited advice to Thea many times over the years, and he always led with that question.

“Sure, Dallas. What's your advice?”

“I know I just told him to stay the hell away from you, but you might want to go ahead and talk to him. My guess is he’s going to keep after you unless you do. He strikes me as pushy and entitled. He doesn’t get it.”

Dallas couldn’t have known just how accurate he was in his assessment. But then again, he probably knew quite well. His job relied on him reading people very, very well.

“Now? Is he waiting on the porch?” I asked, my eyes widening.

My gut was tying itself in knots, anxiety blooming in my chest. I wasn’t up for this. Not now. This morning had been too good, and I didn’t want Matthew to ruin it. He had no right to think I would talk to him. About anything. He’d lost that right when he fucked one of my friends after sweet-talking me into giving him another chance.

Dallas shook his head, laughing a little at my expression.

“Nah, I sent him off and told him you weren’t here. He whined that he didn’t know where to stay, so I suggested a few places the next town over. He said he flew into Bangor. Seemed to think he’d find you here and said he had a ticket for you to return with him.”

I rolled my eyes and turned away to flip the omelet. Of course, Matthew would be that arrogant. My mind flashed to the sight of him in our bed with Alyssa on top of him. We hadn’t had sex in months. Our lack of intimacy was what led to me attempting to break things off with him. I was still annoyed I’d given in to his persuasion to give things another try before I called off the wedding. Although, I supposed I might never have discovered the truth about him cheating if I’d held firm. I’d chalked up our lack of sex and growing distance to both of us being busy with work. He’d been working long days and late into the night on a big case.

Just now, I realized his ‘big case’ might’ve been Alyssa the entire time. Nothing but regret twisted in my heart over that. I wished I’d had enough sense not to accept the personal compromise I’d made over Matthew. I’d known what we had was nothing like what I felt with Dallas, yet I’d figured it was the best I’d get. I shoved those thoughts away. Nothing to do about it now. I couldn’t change the past, no matter the folly of my choices.

I turned the burner off and slid the omelet onto a plate, spinning back to face Dallas. He was waiting patiently, his eyes on me. The moment was heavy and quiet, feelings crowding the room. I considered what to do. I couldn't quite believe I was in this situation. My ex-fiancé who'd been screwing one of my bridesmaids had chased after me. Meanwhile, the man I'd never quite forgotten stood before me. Years of unfulfilled longing had finally culminated in the most amazing night of my life. With him.
Dallas was here offering advice about what to do about my ex-fiancé. There were many things I wanted to ask, most of them nothing to do with Matthew. I knew Dallas was right though. Better to get my conversation with Matthew over with sooner rather than later.

“Where did he go if he's not standing outside?”

Dallas looked over his shoulder and spun around, walking through the dining room to the front windows facing the driveway.

“Still sitting in his car actually. I'm guessing he doesn't know where to go. Do you want to talk to him now or later?”

I considered my options. I'd rather call Matthew and meet him somewhere in town than let him sully this space with his arrogance. It felt as if Dallas and I were in our own little cocoon here, and I wanted to keep it that way.

“I'll call him later and maybe meet him somewhere in town for lunch or dinner.”

Dallas walked back toward me, glanced over his shoulder once more as he did.

“Looks like he's leaving.” His blue gaze landed on me again. “How about I go with you?”

“You mean when I go talk to Matthew?” I asked, puzzled as to why he’d want to do that.

He nodded as if it were a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

“Dallas, that's going to be weird.”

“Why?” he countered.

“Um, because he’s my ex-fiancé and last night, well, we…”

My words ran out. I felt my face get hot and wished I didn’t blush so easily.

His mouth curled at one corner, sending my belly into somersaults.

“We did a lot last night. And this morning,” he said, his low voice sending a shiver over my skin. “What does that have to do with Matthew?”

“I was engaged to him until a few days ago.”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah, and he was fucking one of your friends on the side. What does he have to do with us?” he asked.

I stared at him across the room, uncertain how to respond. “I guess nothing. It's just going to be weird to have you there. You guys don't even know each other.”

“So? I don't want him to be an asshole to you,” he said bluntly, his eyes narrowing.

My chest suddenly felt tight. I didn’t quite know how to handle his protectiveness of me. It felt so good, but I didn’t want to read too much into it. After a few beats, I shrugged. What the hell? It was going to be an awkward conversation no matter what type of spin I put on it. It was no less worse to have Dallas there than it was to try to do it alone. Dallas was quiet. His gaze was too perceptive, so I turned away, quickly pouring the eggs for the next omelet into the pan. I was restless and needed to keep myself busy and away from the disconcerting feeling of his eyes seeing right through to the core of me.

“I don't have to go,” he said, his voice coming from over my shoulder.

I felt his presence as he stepped closer. My heartbeat stuttered and then leapt when his hand slid down the center of my back, resting at the dip of my waist. That simple touch was both a turn on and a comfort. If only I’d known how much I would crave his touch, I might've had more sense than I did last night. I didn't quite know how to be with him in this space this morning. It was easier when we were tangled up in each other. I could lose myself in sensation, in the intimacy that ran so deep it shocked me.

I sprinkled shredded cheese in the omelet, flipped it quickly and then lined vegetables in the center and more cheese before folding it. I loved to cook and right now it gave me something to do other than think about how close Dallas was to me.

“How about you let me know what you want me to do?” he said softly.

I finally glanced to my side. His eyes were right there waiting, the heat in them sending a jolt of need through me. My sex clenched. Sweet hell. All we were doing was standing there while I made an omelet. For God’s sake, we were talking about my ex fiancé who'd been screwing one of my friends. There were so many reasons I should be anything other than turned on. That was how powerful my response to him was. For a flash, it occurred to me this was crazy. I shouldn't have let anything happen last night. Because walking away from this would be hard, incredibly hard.

I was still staring at him when he arched a brow, nudging me to recall he’d asked a question.

“You can come,” I finally said.

“You sure?”

I swallowed, willing my pulse to slow.

“Yeah. You pegged Matthew right. He's an entitled jerk. Honestly, I knew that and I just ignored it. He’ll want to badger me, but if you're there, he probably won’t.”

I glanced down at the omelet and flipped it again before turning the burner off.

“Are you ready for breakfast?”

He stared at me before his mouth curled at one corner. “Of course.”

My belly did a slow flip, and I wondered again if I was crazy.