Page 30 of Just This Once (Stone Family #2)

Dante

I t’s the first Friday in December, and The Nest is buzzing with a warmth that has nothing to do with the twinkling lights or the crackling fire in the hearth.

The scents of a freshly cut pine tree and homemade gingerbread fill the air, and the hum of conversation is a pleasant thrum against the backdrop of the soft volume of holiday classics.

This is it. Everything Taryn and I have been working toward, and it’s already packed.

I’ve barely had an opportunity to talk to her, only a minute when she introduced me to the owners, singing my praises about my work.

In turn, I made sure they knew how amazing Taryn is, a one-woman show who turned their popular but kinda dumpy B&B into a picturesque getaway.

So many people are here, a few I know, including Clara and Marianne, as well as most of Taryn’s family that I met on Thanksgiving.

Jake and Maddie are around here somewhere, but I’ve been using the time to meet as many people as possible.

This is what I meant when I said Moretti Construction wouldn’t be anywhere without me, because every company needs a face.

Someone to actually go out there and find new work, and that person is me.

I had new business cards printed for the occasion and gladly hand them out to anyone who wants one once word spreads about me being the project manager.

I’m in the middle of popping a few pieces of cheese onto a toothpick when a hand smooths up my back, and I turn, expecting it to be Taryn.

It is not.

It’s Kim.

My ex.

I step away from her, right into the food table, causing the plates to clink together. I barely save a tower of chocolates from falling over. “What are you doing here?”

She smiles, one that I used to find so lovely. Now, all I can think about is how I hated the taste of her lip gloss. She always had so much on. Taryn doesn’t wear anything on her lips. I much prefer that. I think I’d prefer anything Taryn wore.

Kim sweeps her gaze around. “I saw the open house advertised everywhere, so I thought I’d pop in. Especially after I heard you did the work on it. Looks great.”

I’m no longer interested in my food and set the small plate aside. “Thanks, but I didn’t do much.”

“Sure, you didn’t,” she says with a laugh, her hand curling around my bicep. “I can always see the work you’ve done.”

That’s a lie. We were together for two years, and in that time, she wasn’t much interested in any of my projects. I don’t believe she’s here on a whim.

Kim’s three years younger than me, and when we first got together, it was only to hook up.

But that turned into me staying at her place most nights, until I was there every night.

I assumed that meant we were headed toward the things I wanted, marriage and family, but she didn’t.

Which was why we broke up. She wasn’t ready. She wanted to explore .

And hey, I’m all for exploring. But only if we do it together.

I suspect she realized what a good thing she had with me: loyalty.

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” she asks, but I shake my head, pulling away from her searching hands when she attempts to twine our fingers together.

“Nah. I’m good.”

“Honey,” she says with a laugh, like I’m joking.

I am not.

She pouts when she realizes. “What’s wrong?”

I huff, coasting my gaze around the party, confused about what is actually happening. “Why are you here? We haven’t talked in months.”

“Because I…” She takes a deep breath, moving closer to me so I can still hear her when she lowers her voice. “I miss you, and I’m sorry. Okay? I just want to talk to you. Please?” She wraps her arms around me, standing on her tiptoes to brush her lips against my jaw. “Please, Dante.”

That’s when I spot Taryn across the room, frozen in place, glowering as my ex-girlfriend winds her arms around me.

Trying to kiss me. I shoot my hand up, blocking Kim’s face as Taryn’s features flicker through so many different emotions: hurt, anger, jealousy, and back to hurt, her shoulders slumping slightly.

Shit.

What bad fucking timing. I set my focus back on Kim, so there is no equivocation. “I’m not interested in hearing what you have to say. I’ve moved on.”

Her face falls. “You’ve moved on?”

“Yes. I’ve moved on with someone else, and I’m not going to go somewhere to talk with you. I’m sorry, but no thank you.”

I slip away from her, following Taryn out to the kitchen and through the back door. “Wait, Tar. Wait a second. ”

Of course, she doesn’t. She struts right outside like it’s not freezing.

“You’re not even wearing a coat.” I catch her by the wrist to stop her. “What are you doing out here?”

“Needed some air,” she snaps, refusing to face me.

I remove my blazer and slip it on her shoulders. “I’m sorry about that.”

She folds her arms over her chest, snagging the lapels of my jacket to pull it closer around her, and I rub my hands up and down her arms. She doesn’t push me away, but she still won’t meet my gaze either. “Taryn, talk to me.”

“Who was she?”

“Kim. My ex.”

“The one you were with before me,” she says. It’s not a question, but I nod anyway.

“It was nothing. I haven’t seen or spoken to her in months, and I had no idea she’d show up here tonight. I don’t want anything to do with her.”

“Didn’t seem that way from where I was standing. Appeared pretty cozy, actually.”

“Hey.” I step in front of her, ducking my head, forcing her to meet my eyes. “You know I’m not interested in her anymore, right?” When Taryn doesn’t respond, merely presses her lips together, I take her by the shoulders. “I’m serious.”

“Why did you break up?”

“Because she didn’t want the same things I did. I wanted to get serious, but she didn’t.”

“Did you love her?”

The inquisition is harsh, but I don’t mind. It makes me sure that Taryn has feelings for me. She may not be ready to admit them yet, but they’re there. They’re strong.

I shrug in response to her question. “I thought I did. We were together for almost two years, and it was a slow grow. It started out as something fun, and then suddenly, we were together all the time, and it made me realize that I was ready for more. I’m ready to love someone.”

I hope Taryn understands what I mean. That I love her. I am ready for everything that comes with her.

I want a life with her.

“She wasn’t ready,” I continue, squeezing Taryn’s shoulders. “And she broke up with me, but now she thinks she made a mistake.”

Taryn cants her head to the side. “Did she?”

I slide my hands from her shoulders to her neck, fingers in the back of her hair, thumbs at her jaw, nudging her eyes back to mine.

“No. Whatever she does or doesn’t feel is none of my business anymore.

She wanted to talk, but I don’t. I have nothing to say to her.

The only woman I’m interested in is standing right here in front of me. ”

She rolls her eyes even as the corner of her mouth twitches. “Nice line, Romeo.”

“Goddamn.” I breathe out a frustrated chuckle. “It’s not a line. I want you, no one else. Is that so hard to believe?”

Her features soften a little, so I press onward, pulling her into me.

“You’re the one I think about first thing in the morning.” I push a lock of her hair behind her ear. “The one I want to talk to all day long. The one I wish was waiting for me when I get home.”

“Dante…”

“It’s you, Taryn. Only you.” I lean in slowly, giving her time to back away if she wants. But she doesn’t. Our mouths meet, and god, it feels as perfect as the first time. All the times. She tastes like chocolate and feels like silk. She is everything.

“What do you say we do something this weekend?” I suggest, nuzzling her cheek and ear. “You, me, and the kids. We could take them ice-skating or to the Christmas market.”

“Like a date?”

I grin into her hair. “Sure. Like a date.”

“No, I can’t.” She tries to step back, but I don’t let her get far. Only a few inches.

“Why not?”

“I’m not going on a date with my kids there.”

“Okay, so we don’t have to call it a date. It’ll just be a hang-out. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Taryn wiggles out of my hold and shakes her head, crossing her arms again. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.”

Whose hopes? Mine? Hers? The kids?

Because as far as I’m concerned, my hopes have always been up. I’m merely waiting for her to get with the program. And, all right, I understand not wanting the kids involved if—god forbid—what we have doesn’t work out, but it’s not like I’m proposing a vacation together. Only a few hours.

“Besides,” she says, “it’s Craig’s weekend with the kids.”

Well, that puts a small wrench into the plans, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. “What time are they going?”

“He was supposed to pick them up at ten, but he had to change plans. Again.” Her breath fogs in front of her. “He’s picking them up at six.”

I have more questions. Like how often does he change plans? Do the kids like going to his house? Where does he live? Can I kill him?

But before I can utter any of them, she returns my blazer to me. “I should get back. I have guests.”

She hurries inside, leaving me to take a few deep breaths, my attention on the dark night sky, keeping myself in place to prove I’m not the biggest simp in the world. But maybe the second.

I make it exactly five seconds then head into the party.

I don’t see Kim anywhere, so I help myself to one of the little sandwiches and find a seat on the small built-in bench I made for the new sitting area, right next to the bookshelves.

I take out my phone, scrolling back through the community’s IG page for a post I saw the other day about the annual Nutcracker show.

That’s when Maddie and Jake find me with their own food and drinks.

I try to make myself sound as casual as possible when I ask, “So, you like going to your dad’s house?

” From their surprised arched eyebrows, I suppose that wasn’t as nonchalant as I hoped, and I go for coolly aloof with a shrug and careless toss of my hand.

“I was just talking with your mom about how we should all hang out, but you two are going to his house tomorrow.”

Jake sneers while Maddie seems a little more optimistic about it. As if she wants to go to her dad’s place. “Yeah, but we’re supposed to go with him twice a month, so it’s not like it’s that much time to begin with. It’s not bad. It’s okay.”

Jake slants his gaze to his sister and shakes his head, almost as if he feels bad for her naiveté.

I hold out my cell phone so they can both see it. “I was thinking about getting tickets to the show tomorrow. The matinee. So you’d still be able to go to his house after.”

Maddie gasps in delight. “ The Nutcracker ?”

“Yeah, I was thinking all of us could go.”

Jake shakes his head. “No way, man. I’m not gonna watch a ballet.”

“It’s not so bad,” I say, elbowing him. “Besides, it’ll give us a chance to hang out. We can go to the Christmas market after. Me and you can grab a bite to eat.”

“Just me and you?” he asks, and I nod .

“Yeah. I’m a sucker for Christmas fun.”

“Me too!” Maddie jumps in her seat. “Oh my god, yes! Let’s do it!”

“Well, first we have to talk to your mom about it,” I say, but Maddie’s up and halfway across the room before I even finish speaking.

Jake sniffs a dubious laugh. “You really want to go watch people dance?”

“Not necessarily, but that’s a part of relationships.

Sometimes you need to spend time doing things you may not enjoy but they do, because it’s important to them.

Right? I don’t know a whole lot about soccer, but I would be happy to go to a game with you, learn all about it because you like it.

And I like you. I like spending time with you.

Same with your sister and your mom. When we love people, we love everything about them.

Not only the things we enjoy, but everything. ”

He considers this, his gaze on his empty drink cup for a long time before he finally lifts his eyes. He nods and smiles. “Yeah, okay. Makes sense.”

I slap his back a few times before Maddie returns with Taryn in tow, glaring at me. “What is this I hear about a show tomorrow?”

“Threw the idea out to the kids, and they were into it. There’s a matinee, and then we can walk around the market for a bit after. They’ll still be able to go to their dad’s.”

“Please, Mom,” Maddie pleads, tugging on her arm.

Taryn turns to Jake, who shrugs. “I’m in.”

“Really?”

He nods all magnanimously. “Yeah. Sometimes you have to do things you don’t enjoy for people you love.”

I smash my fist against my mouth to cover my laugh as Taryn’s eyes bug out. Then, because she knows she was set up, she points her finger at me. “You did this.”

I ignore her ire and smile. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you, you look really pretty in that dress.”

Finally, she’s wearing a dress, and I can’t even take advantage.

But with the kids on my side, she has no other argument against me and sighs. “Fine.”

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.