Page 106 of The Lilac River

“We were both emotional. And we said no more regrets.”

“You’re right,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my lips, then smoothing my hair gently from my face. “But still.” He drew in a breath. “Did your mom visit you often?”

“When I could afford the plane ticket,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Erik always called it frivolous. Said she should drive. But no way was I letting her take that trip alone.”

He didn’t say anything, just listened, the way I’d always needed him to.

“I saw her once a year. We talked a lot, made calls, and video chats. It wasn’t easy. But it let her stay in the town she loved. Live the life that made her happy.”

I looked up at him, at the shadows his lashes cast against his cheekbones, and for one dizzy second, he looked so much like the boy I’d left behind, it stole the breath from my lungs.

Eighteen again.

God, how I’d missed him.

“I wish I’d been braver,” I said.

Nash exhaled slowly, and it sounded like it hurt. “He gave you no choice.” His eyes darkened with protective fury, a storm rising just beneath the surface. “But it’s over now. And he won’t hurt you or your mom. I swear it.”

I nodded. My voice caught in my throat. “I know.” And I did. I believed that Nash would protect us with his life, and somehow, that truth settled in me like sunlight.

“So, Concordia... you had a good time there?” he asked after a moment, his voice a warm rumble that vibrated against my skin as he curled back behind me, pulling me close again.

“It was okay,” I said with a shrug. “I kept to myself, really.”

“How come?” He squirmed slightly, adjusting until I was cocooned in his arms again, chest to chest, his legs tangled with mine.

“I was sad,” I answered honestly. “I just wanted to get my degree and get on with my life.” There was a beat of silence before I continued hesitantly. “Okay, so my turn. How did you meet Bertie’s mom?”

Nash groaned like he’d taken a punch. “Ugh. The less I talk about her the better. The only good thing she ever did was give me Bertie.”

I poked him in the ribs, making him grunt. “Tell me. We’re supposed to be filling in some of the blanks, remember?”

He gave me a flat smile, then kissed my temple, his lips lingering there like he wanted to stay.

“It was a night out in Denver. Remember Donnie Donaldson from high school?”

“Yeah, I do. Tall. Always smelled nice.”

“He did?” Nash frowned, lips puckering in a pout far too adorable for a man his size. “You never said.”

I giggled, patting his cheek. “Not as good as you, though. Now carry on about Denver.”

He rolled his eyes but the smile tugging at his mouth told me he didn’t mind.

“It was Donnie’s birthday. He was home from college, and a few of us went into Denver and stayed the night. Loretta was in the last bar we went into. If it wasn’t for Bertie, I kind of wish we hadn’t gone in there.”

“You must’ve found her attractive, though.”

“Yeah, she’s a good-looking woman. Looks a lot like Bertie.”

“I think Bertie looks like you.” I laughed softly. “Is that why you liked her? Because she reminded you of yourself?”

“No,” he chuckled, pulling me closer and dropping a kiss to my forehead. “The booze had a lot to do with it. Donnie spentthe night with her friend and told her where we were all from. She must’ve let Loretta know. Ten months later, she showed up at the ranch with Bertie. Said she was going to work cruise ships and didn’t need a kid holding her back.”

I inhaled sharply, heart twisting. “How could she? How could any mother? Bertie’s an incredible little girl.”

He shrugged like it didn’t hurt anymore, but I knew it did. “Who knows. But I’m glad she did. Imagine not knowing Bertie? It doesn’t bear thinking about.” He was quiet for a moment. “She signed over her parental rights to me.”