Page 86 of Loud Unspoken Memories

Maybe asking that a second time makes me sound desperate, but if this is the last I will ever see of Dallas Montana, I have to know.

“I guess you will.” His gaze flits to Charlie. “You did promise him playtime with Bex.”

The urge to reach for him is strong. But knowing he’ll be here later, and we’ll have at least a little more time together, has me reaching for Charlie’s hand instead. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go talk to Nita. Bex will be here when we get back.”

“Can he swim with me?”

I laugh. “No, Charlie. Dogs won’t be allowed in the pool. But maybe we can find a nice stick and throw it to him out here.”

Dallas’s eyes cut to me as his face relaxes into a smile. We’re both thinking of the stick, the pond, and what came after.

My feet are cemented in place. It takes a nudge from Asher to get me moving. “You’d better get going.”

“Right. Well, I’ll see you guys later.”

Taking Charlie to the car, I strap him in the seat and look back at the hotel entrance where Dallas is watching me. I wave. He lifts his chin.

I duck inside the car, my chin quivering, knowing so much has gone unsaid, hoping that somehow, some way, I’ll get to say it.

Chapter Thirty-five

Dallas

“You think the hotel will have a problem with Bex?”

Asher shakes his head. “It’s pet friendly. But I’m not sure about the restaurant. Will he be okay if we leave him in the room?”

“I think so.”

“Youthinkso?”

I shrug. “Bex has only been mine for about a week. But he seems like a great dog, so I assume he’ll be fine. I’ll pay for the damage if he causes any.”

“A week, huh? I’m guessing there’s a story there.” He tilts his head, studying me. “I’m guessing there are alotof stories there.”

“She really didn’t tell you anything?”

“Marti thinks I’m overprotective.”

“And you’renot?Listen, I have a younger sister. It’s not like I raised her like you did Marti, but I’d sure as hell want to know shit if she’d found herself in Marti’s situation.”

“So you get why I asked you to stay.”

“I do.”

“And I gather you must be an honorable guy for accepting my invitation.”

I snort air through my nose. “We’ll see if you still feel that way in an hour.”

He laughs. I kind of like the guy. He’s quite a bit older than I am, pushing forty if I remember correctly, but he seems like someone I might have hung out with back in the day.

Bex gets lots of attention from some kids on our way up the elevator.Teens. Not little kids, for which I’m grateful. Because, Jesus, when I first laid eyes on Charlie, all I could see was DJ.

Just one more reason Marti and I could never work in the real world. An isolated cabin with nobody else around, sure, but not here. Not like this. And to be honest, even if she didn’t have Charlie, I’m not sure it could work. I had my one true love. There just isn’t any room in my life for another.

My subconscious shakes his finger at me, saying something about me being in denial. I promptly shut him the hell up.

As we enter the room, I get a text from Luther. “Damn,” I say. “Marti’s car is totaled.”

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