Page 74 of Will Bark for Pizza (Bluebell Springs #1)

SIXTY-THREE

BECKETT

“You’re finished?” Madeline’s face lit up through the phone screen as I shared the good news. I spent the past week working late into the night to finish the Kniffen Street house. It was the best distraction I had from Kira.

I missed the hell out of her, but I knew she needed space.

Patience, Aspen warned me, time and time again.

But no one warned me how fucking hard patience would be.

“I just have a few finishing touches left, but you can start packing your bags.”

“We’ve been packing since I got home,” Madeline admitted.

“Of course you have.” I flipped the camera, walking the house to give my sister a tour. It was the perfect size for their family, and included an extra bedroom in case the family grew while they were here.

I didn’t offer the rental to her until earlier this week, but my sister didn’t seem the least bit surprised when I did.

She already had a job lined up with a local attorney’s office.

Kyle planned to be a stay-at-home dad while he explored new career options.

They were moving to Bluebell Springs, whether or not I agreed to be their landlord. This just made things more seamless.

“You promise our sorry excuse for parents don’t know anything about where you’re moving?”

“Beck, if you’re worried whether or not I’ve finally learned my lesson, I have. Our parents won’t change. I see that now. It fucking sucks, but I swear to you, I get it,” Madeline said as squealing erupted in the background.

One kid screamed. The other started crying. Who was who was anyone’s guess until a little boy ran streaking in the background. The squealer.

“Don’t mind them. It’s bath time. Kyle drew the short straw tonight.”

I couldn’t wait to have my niece and nephew close. To see them all the time, and watch them grow up. I didn’t even mind the tantrums.

It made the ache to start my own family grow deeper.

But if I wasn’t starting a family with Kira Mason, I wasn’t interested in starting one at all. That woman had me mind, body, and soul. She was it for me. I didn’t know how I knew, I just knew .

It pained me not to reach out. Not to ask if she was okay. I even avoided family dinner this past week, risking the wrath of Connie Weston, because I didn’t want Kira to feel as though she couldn’t go.

“You okay?” Madeline asked, frowning.

“Yeah, just thinking. ”

“About the redhead?”

“She has a name, you know.”

“She still not talking to you?” Perhaps the most surprising turn of events this past week was telling my baby sister about my love life.

Or lack thereof, at the moment. I didn’t realize how much I held back from her in the name of protecting her.

I didn’t want her worrying about me, because all I knew was worrying about her.

But Madeline didn’t need my protection. She was one of the strongest women I knew. And sometimes, she even surprised me. Like when she offered up a number for a PI to hunt down Margene Miller in Mexico.

“Not yet.”

“She will.”

“You sound so sure of yourself,” I teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

But the ache in my heart wasn’t fooled. I missed the hell out of Kira.

I missed her laugh. I missed that mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

I missed the feel of her lips pressed against mine.

The way she looked tangled in my sheets.

The way she dug her fingernails into my skin when she came apart. I missed all of her.

“She loves you, Beck. She’s just scared.”

“Of me?”

“No. She’s scared of losing herself.”

Well, damn. That made a whole helluva lot of sense.

“How did you get so wise?”

“We always knew I was the wise one. That’s why I became the lawyer.”

A bloodcurdling cry rang out, and Madeline’s eyes fell closed as she took in a deep breath .

“You have to go?”

“I really wish I didn’t. Bye, Beck.” She ended the call before I could say the same.

I stared at my phone for long seconds that stretched into even longer minutes, willing Kira’s name to flash on the screen. I ached for that woman. Always would.

“Patience,” I reminded myself.

Just as I set the phone down, it dinged.

Kira: I want to collect my favor now.

Kira: Meet me at the boat ramp in an hour.

Kira: Please.