Page 286 of Steamy Ever After

“I was wrong. I don’t know shit about parenting, except what I learned from my own parents. When I said what I said, I was thinking about how they’d handle something with us. It took me a while to see it from your point of view. I get that I don’t know your boys, and because something worked with me and my siblings, it doesn’t mean I’m an authority.”

“I overreacted. It wasn’t bad advice. I had more of a problem with the way you said it than what you said,” Peyton told him.

“I’m pushing too hard. I get that, and I wish I understood it enough to explain it.”

“What are you afraid of, Brodie?” she asked.

“Everything. I don’t recognize myself lately.”

Peyton sighed. “I said something similar to Alex.”

“I’m supposed to be on my way to the Bay Area, but when I got to Monterey, I turned around.” He looked at her. “I’m not like this.”

“I’m not either.”

“When I left your house this morning, I convinced myself that time away from you would be the best thing for both of us. I planned to stay gone long enough for my obsession with you to abate. I couldn’t do it.” Brodie rubbed his neck. “Right or wrong, I’m in this with you, Peyton. I don’t know how to get out, mainly because I don’t want to. I want you, and not only sexually, although even if we made love ten times a day for the rest of our lives, it still wouldn’t be enough for me.”

Peyton gazed at the sea.

“Please say something,” he murmured.

“Your instincts are right, Brodie. Time apart will help us both get perspective.”

He looked out at the water. “I told Alex I was more into you than you’re into me.”

“I’m sorry I leaned on you as much as I did these past couple of days. It wasn’t fair to you. I gave you the wrong idea.”

“So I’m right.”

“I’m afraid so. I let you take Kade’s place in my life because it was easy and it felt good to have someone to lean on. You aren’t him, Brodie, and you never will be.”

“I see.”

Peyton got out of the car. “Bye, Brodie.”

“Where are you going? I can take you home.”

“I’ll walk. It isn’t that far.”

“Peyton—”

“Let me go.”

BRODIE

What the hell had he been thinking by turning around and returning to Cambria? If he hadn’t, he’d be all the way to San Francisco by now. Instead, he wouldn’t get there until well after midnight, which would put a damper on the plans he’d had before his misguided attempt to salvage his relationship with Peyton Wolf.

He watched her walk out of his life. Nine days, start to finish, and yet Brodie didn’t think he’d ever get over her.

“Hey, sweetheart. Change of plans.” Brodie left a message on Dominique’s cell.

As an owner and chef of one of the hottest Michelin-starred restaurants in the city, she wouldn’t be answering her phone. Instead, she’d be waiting for him to walk in the door sometime tonight, and he hated disappointing her.

“Got a later start than I anticipated. I’ll crash at Kabuki and see you tomorrow, baby.”

Brodie and Dominique had history. They’d met when he paid a sales call to her first five-star restaurant, Dom Nom, and had been bed-buddies since. She’d been the one to say they’d never be more than that. She was married to her restaurants, she’d told him then, and he didn’t try to sway her into more. She was smart, beautiful, independent, and loved sex. If anyone could get his mind off Peyton, Dominique could.

He was at the turnoff for the highway when he turned around for the second time. There was something he forgot to bring, something he needed. He pulled up to his cottage, went inside, and grabbed the box that still sat on the kitchen table.

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