Page 17 of Love Deep

I laugh. “Yeah, I think tonight was a setup. I didn’t know you were going to be at dinner.”

He chuckles and glances at me, a crackle of electricity sparking between us. “Me neither. But I’m really pleased you were.”

His expression makes me think that he’s been waiting his entire life to spend an evening in my company. There’s something intoxicating about being with a person so interested in me. I can’t remember any of the guys I’ve dated—not even Riley’s dad—being so focused on me.

“Me too.”

“It’s good to hear the stories of Byron when he was younger. It’s strange to think of him growing up here, in Star Falls. He’s so rooted in New York for me. I guess because that’s the only place I’ve ever known him.”

“How did you two meet?” I ask.

“We met over a decade ago at business school. There were six of us who were tight. We’re still tight.”

“Like apackof business school grads.”

He laughs. “Kinda.”

“Well, now you know your friend a little better. You know the Star Falls part of him.”

“Yeah. Still the same Byron though.”

We pull up outside my small one-story home. Fisher kills the engine. I don’t reach for the door handle. It’s nice, just the two of us.

“Yeah. He always was a good guy.” I shift in my seat so I can see him better, my back against the door. “I like talking to you about music. You’re obviously really passionate about it. It’s… cool.”

“I like talking to you too. About music. And other stuff too…” His mouth parts, and he inhales.

His eyes grow dark in the moonlight, and Ifind I’m desperate to know what he’s about to say. He turns so he’s facing me, and heat runs through me as our eyes meet.

“Ireallylike talking to you,” he says, his voice deeper now. His hand reaches up and cups my face.

I know he’s only in town for a short while, but all I want to think about is how his skin feels against mine and how his tongue darts out to wet his lips, like he’s just about to?—

The front door to my house crashes open, and Fisher’s hand falls from my face. Riley stands in the doorway, her hands to her eyes like they’re make-believe binoculars.

I laugh because unless they’re make-believe infrared binoculars, she’s not going to see anything. It’s dark out here where the truck is parked.

Fisher turns to me, and my smile fades as I take in his shocked expression.

“That’s my daughter, Riley.”

He raises his eyebrows. “You never mentioned you had a daughter.”

What does he mean? Of course I mentioned I have a daughter. There isn’t anyone in a fifty-mile radius who hasn’t heard me brag about the amazing eight-year-old who rules my life. I pull my eyebrows together, trying to remember when I would have said something. “I’m sure I did.”

When we met at Grizzly’s, we were having snatched pockets of flirtations… and it felt good to be talking to a handsome man. I got swept up in the moment, and I can’t say for certain that I did tell him. But I didn’t hide it. I couldn’t if I tried. Everyone in this town knows I’m a mother.Everyone, including Byron and Rosey. Surely, they would have told their friend.

“I’m sorry if I didn’t,” I say. “I wasn’t hiding her. I never would.”

He turns back to the windshield and puts both hands on the steering wheel. “No,” he says.

And I’m not quite sure what he’s saying no to.

No, I didn’t know you had a daughter?

No, I don’t want you now that I know?

No, I don’t want to know you?