Page 14 of Infinite as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #3)

“Diana Olivia Button.”

I blinked at her. “Who’s that?”

Her eyes rolled. “You’re so uncultured. She was a huge film star back in the 60s and 70s, and guess what? She lives right on top of us. Aren’t we lucky?”

“Gotta say, I don’t know who that is.”

“Yeah, I only just discovered her today,” she deadpanned.

“I met another woman who lives here. Her name’s Clara, and she introduced me to some people who live around the motel.

There’s some really interesting characters around this place.

Diana’s so sweet. She used to live in Los Angeles.

She was in a lot of horror movies back in the day.

Hollywood didn’t really work out for her.

She’s gonna let me interview her next week. ”

“That’s what you were doing today?” I asked. “I’m sorry I left. I just…”

“You needed time,” she said quietly. “I get it, but you know you’re not doing any of this alone, right? You can share everything with me. Whatever you’re thinking and feeling.”

“You don’t have to worry about my problems. I can handle them. I can…” I forced the cigarette back between my lips. “I have to handle them.”

“And you will. I know you will, but not alone. Whatever decision you make, I’ll be there.”

“You deserve better than to be dragged into my mess, baby.”

“Your mess is my mess.”

I raised her hand to my mouth, kissing her there.

“I love you. My sweet girl,” I said against her skin, but just as quickly as I felt the weight of everything there on my chest float away, it came right back, hard and fast, like it was snapping back into my body.

“I really need a distraction. Can I push you into the pool?”

She snorted, a grin spreading across her face. “I see you’ve reverted back into your high school self.”

“It’s just so nice seeing you all wet…”

She suddenly sat up straighter. “We could do that interview if you need a distraction. I have really fun questions.”

“Fun, huh?” My brows rose. “Yeah, okay, go for it.”

“Yay.” She stood up and slid into my lap, my hand instantly wrapping around her waist on instinct. “I finally get you all to myself. You’ve been dodging my request for months, Mr. Westbrook. What’s with that?”

“Have I now?” I asked, my words a little muffled with the cigarette between my teeth.

“Mhm.” One eyebrow raised, she gave my chest a little poke. “What’s with the elusiveness, hm? The suspicious behavior?”

“You sound like a cop, baby.”

Her nose scrunched up. “Ew.”

“You’d make a real awful cop. First suspect you get just has to smile at you and you’d tell ‘em they’re free to go.”

“I can be mean, thank you very much.”

“You gonna read me my rights?”

“How does it go?” she asked, her fingers threading through my hair. “You have the right to remain silent…”

“Mm. I never used that right.”

She giggled, burying her face in my neck. “Yeah, I can imagine. Such a menace.”

“Only a little.”

“ A little? ”

“Well…”

“It’s very alluring, though,” she said, lifting her head up. “I kinda love that you have zero respect for authority.”

“Didn’t take me long to corrupt you, huh?

” I asked, letting a stream of smoke leave my mouth.

I watched as her tongue stuck out that little bit and ran across the top of her teeth, her big eyes lighting up as they chased after that smoke.

Her cheeks reddened for a second before she cleared her throat, her gaze settling back on me.

“First question: what’s your biggest inspiration? Hm?” She pushed a hand through my hair again, her fingers raking through the strands. “What made you want to paint?”

“That’s very original.”

“Shh. Answer it please.”

“It’s the suffering. The anguish. The pain. The dark, empty, abyss, the fact that— ”

“Stop, oh my God,” she said, giving my chest a playful smack. “You’re scaring me.”

I chuckled, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I’m just kidding.”

“So dark and mysterious,” she said, her nails running across my scalp. “It’s very attractive.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. And a little scary, but that’s also strangely attractive.” She narrowed her eyes suddenly. “But underneath all of that, there must be a softer side to you. A brighter side. What about love?”

“What’s that?”

“Shh. Don’t you believe in true love?” she whispered. “In finding the person you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with?”

My eyes stayed stuck on hers. I did, and she was the only one that I wanted to do that with. It was her and no one else but her. My fingers pressed up against her waist a little tighter, pulling her in closer, my lips brushing along hers.

“Yeah, I believe in love,” I murmured. “I believe in… finding someone who’s your home.

Who makes every day better and warmer. Not everyone gets to have that, but I’m lucky I do.

That I get to come home to her. That I get to have her fall asleep in my arms and hold her all night, that I get to wake up with her in that same spot—right there with me.

Like it’s where she belongs, and it’s like I belong with her too.

It was pretty easy to fall in love with her too.

After I stopped being so stupid, I mean.

It was real easy falling in love with her after that.

‘Cause she’s so sweet and warm and beautiful and perfect.

How could I not believe in love when it’s her? ”

I caught just a second of her big eyes getting all glassy before she buried her face in the crook of my neck. She let out a short breath that was all quick and hitched, and it made me hold her closer, pulling her flush against me.

“You alright?” I said.

“I’m okay.” She nodded, her nose brushing against my neck. “I just love you so much. I can’t even imagine doing this with anyone but you. I don’t even wanna think about it. ”

“I love you too,” I said, putting the cigarette out on the ashtray that sat on the table near us. I quickly circled my other arm around her, pulling her in as close as I could get her. “Love you so much, Holly.”

“You’re the strongest person I know. I mean that,” she whispered. “I don’t know anyone like you. Someone who gives so, so much. Who works this hard. Who’s been through it all but is still standing so strong. I’m so lucky to be yours, Sawyer.”

My throat got all dry and tight. They were sweet words, kind and comforting, and she always knew what to say to lift that weight off of me.

One look at her was all it usually took to chip away any stress or worries or pain.

The world stayed still for a long, perfect moment.

Just her in my lap, her body all warm, the scent of her perfume and shampoo surrounding me. Heaven on earth, that was what she was.

Her words sunk in more and more, settling over me as her nose nuzzled into my neck.

She believed in me. She always did. She saw something no one else could—something I couldn’t even see sometimes.

And if Holly thought I was strong, then couldn’t I do it?

Couldn’t I see her? Couldn’t I speak to the woman I hadn’t talked to in so many years I had almost lost count?

Maybe I could do it. I had to.