Page 119

Regan and Abe walk off and I stand between them and Island.
“Regan forgot her toy.” She hands a stuffed giraffe over to me.
“Thanks.”
I pull back, but Island keeps her grip on the toy. Her voice is low and urgent. “I want you to know that I didn’t drink with the other ladies. And I didn’t take my eyes off Regan for a second. She was having a great time with Belle. She’s the only one in Belle’s age range, so they clicked fast. It was cute.”
I grunt my understanding and try to leave.
Island still doesn’t release the toy.
“Also, about Rosie and everything that happened with your mother-in-law… this is personal for me. I want what’s best for Regan and Abe, and I think that’s you. I won’t stand by and watch them try to take away the kids.”
Chaos brews in my heart.
In my head.
In my body.
As Island speaks, an image takes hold. It’s her flattened against the desk in my office, legs sprawling open, fingers digging in my hair. It’s her, buck naked against my steering wheel, her hair in my face—whatever color and whatever texture it is that day—the windshield fogging from the steam of her breath.
“I know what they mean to you and I’m not going anywhere until that’s settled.” She seems to realize how passionate she sounds and lifts a hand. “Before you get any ideas, I’m doing this for the kids. Not for you.”
A muscle in my jaw clenches. Would she scream if she knew what I was thinking? Would she call me a pervert? Smack me with her purse? Or would she be flattered if she knew how badly I wanted her naked?
“There’s actually something I wanted to run by you.” She glances past me, smiles at Abe and Regan who are getting into the car, and steps into my intimate space. “It’s about Abe.”
This feels like an important conversation, but she’s standing too close for me to focus.
“I think he might feel a little lonely. Maybe if you tried talking to him, it would help.”
My expression turns more severe as I struggle with self-control. Having her this close andnottouching her is difficult.
“This is not me trying to correct your parenting. I just think,” she leans in closer and her breath warms my face, “Abe’s really hurt right now. And he has a lot he wants to say, but he doesn’t know how to find the words.”
Is she standing right up against me because she thinks I have iron-clad self-control? Does she think I can ignore this…thingbetween us if she pushes me? I’ve been fighting it like a madman, but even a soldier has his limits.
“Is that your thinking-scowl or your angry-scowl?” Island squints her eyes and pushes even closer to my face. “I can’t tell.”
“Stop,” I bark.
She stiffens. “Stop what?”
“Stop.” I grab her hips and pull her against my body. The words scrape my tongue like sandpaper. “Testing my restraint.”
“W-what do you mean?” Island licks her bottom lip nervously and I want to suck it into my mouth. I want to taste every part of this stubborn woman.
Based on the way her eyes are locked on me, I think she feels the same way.
We stare each other down for a moment and then her face hardens. She glares up at me. “I was just trying to help, but forget it.” She pokes my chest with a long nail. “I don’t have time for you and your mixed messages and your growly voice and your—”
My restraint snaps loose.
Suddenly, I gather her by the small of her back, tilt her chin up and plant my lips on hers.
At the first touch, my brain shuts down.
Her mouth is soft. Her body even softer. My mind is absent of anything but the fact that I’m touching her. Kissing her.