Page 94 of Somewhere You Belong

If I hadn’t come to Carrington Cove, I never would have met this woman. I never would have gotten the chance to know someone that is a true survivor. I know Shauna says thatIam, but I haven’t endured the same loss that Astrid has.

She deserves this—a chance to stand on her own two feet, to show her children how to be independent, and to have something of her own, a business that can change her life.

Just like she’s changed mine.

The thought of leaving her nearly knocks me back as we release each other.

If I leave Carrington Cove, I’m not just leaving Dallas, I’m leaving her too.

“Let me talk to Greg and Jenny this week, and I’ll get back to you.” She wipes away tears from under her eyes just as the ref blows the whistle, signaling something happened on the field.

“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

She grabs my hand again and squeezes it. “I wish you wouldn’t go anywhere at all.”

After the game is over and I’ve said my goodbyes to Astrid and her kids, Dallas finds me waiting for him under a tree, shading myself from the sun.

“This was a nice surprise,” he says in greeting.

I take his aviators off so I can see his eyes. “Good job today, Coach.”

He leans down and plants his lips on mine. For a moment, I worry about people seeing us, but then his tongue touches mine, and my reservations fade away. “If you want, I can show you some of my moves from my other playbook.”

“Don’t you have a restaurant to run?” I ask as he presses his erection into me.

“I could play hooky…for you.”

No man has ever offered to skip work to spend time with me.

Dallas isn’t like the other men that have momentarily popped in and out of your life, Willow.

“I can’t ask you to do that. Plus, it’s a Saturday night. You know the place will be crazy.” His lips dance all over my neck before he groans.

“You’re right. What if I come over after?”

“I’ll be asleep. Someone kept me up the past two nights and I’m exhausted.”

“You should file a formal complaint with his manager.” He nibbles on my earlobe before moving his teeth to my collarbone.

“I would, but he’s the boss.”

Dallas lifts his head to meet my eyes. “Yes, he is. And you like it that way.”

A shiver runs down my spine. “Yeah,I kind of do.”

He kisses me once more, rendering me speechless. “So, what about tomorrow night? I want to hear you scream my name again, and soon.” His fingers tighten on my hips.

“Penn is coming by the house tonight and tomorrow, but I’m free at night.”

“Then come to the restaurant. I close earlier on Sundays. I can feed you and then maybe you can stay with me this time?” The lack of confidence in his voice has me fighting back a grin.

Was he nervous to ask me that?

“I think that might work.”

A triumphant smile graces his lips. “Then it’s settled. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

***

---