Page 83 of Beach Cottage Kisses

“We need to talk,” he said.

He took it as a good sign that she settled on the opposite end of the couch, not far from his feet, rather than in the chair perpendicular to him. She wasn’t afraid to be close to him.

Of course, it wasn’t like he could get down there and jump her bones.

Not that he’d done any jumping earlier. Nope, the work had all been done by her.Just thinking about it had one part of him getting ready to go again.

“I…”

“We…”

They’d both started at the same time. HisI, herwe. And his stomach sank a little. Typical for him. He was allIwhile his partner was giving himwemode.

Feeling his throat tighten against thatwe, even as his spirits depleted at the thought of losing it, he blurted, “I can’t be part of awe.” And then, as she opened her mouth to respond, he cut her off with “I’m not meant to be half of a couple.” As though the verbiage made a difference. Softened the blow.

“I know.” While Iris’s tone was low, he didn’t detect hurt feelings. She took a full breath before she said, “I can’t, either.”

Right. He knew that. Actually really did know. And understand. “You know thatforeveris just a word,” he said.

And when she nodded, he sat up a little straighter. “I know that when I get back to work, I’m going to be single-minded.”

“You don’t have to explain, Scott. It’s me, Iris. I know you. And I’ve seen you plenty of times when you’re neck deep in a case.”

Right again. She had. Scott relaxed some. The conversation was going surprisingly well. Too bad it wasn’t putting him in a better mood. “So now what?” he asked, as though finding the solution to their problem was all on her.

He knew what he wanted. But also knew it wasn’t fair to ask for it.

Her shrug didn’t bode well. Nor did the fact that she wasn’t popping out answers. If she was waiting for him to be someone he was not…

But…she didn’t want that which he couldn’t give. She’d instigated the sex. Had clearly wanted and enjoyed it as much as he had. And was sitting on the couch with him. Calmly. Not crying. Or even looking like she wanted to. So…

“You think we can make it work?” he asked.

“In the short go, I’m certain of it.” She grinned, but her expression quickly sobered. “Once Sage and Gray get back, it gets a lot dicier.”

Right. Because then they were part of a bigger family.

The only family he was ever going to have. Family that needed him.

And that he needed.

While Iris…had lost hers.

And then…had become a part of his.

She could still be friends with Sage, and have Leigh in her life, if she and Scott couldn’t be around each other. But not as often. And the holidays…times on the beach…they’d truly become family there on Ocean Breeze.

They weren’t a committed couple, but theywerefamily. Nonplatonic, where the two of them were concerned. But still family. He would not be responsible for her losing that bond a second time around.

“So we figure out how to throw the dice,” he said, fully realizing that the esoteric words were not the solution.

But they were the way to one.

He’d bet his career on that.

Chapter Twenty

Iris wasn’t sure how much she believed what she was thinking. Hearing. What she and Scott were getting around to saying. But then, she’d never have believed that sharing her past would free her, either. She’d changed herself to get away from the pain, when, in the end, sharing it had helped.