Page 111 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

“You came here with cupcakes.”

That sounded familiar, but concentrating when I knew Nick was somewhere nearby was impossible.

“Have you eaten anything since your coffee?”

I shook my head.

“Here,” he said, and passed me one of my funfetti cupcakes that I’d left for the workers. I mean, what better a way to welcome someone to town than with funfetti? I took a bite and my memories began to rush back again.

“Oh, my God. He’s actually here? Alive?” My chest was rising and falling more rapidly.

The man I had mourned for the past four years had reappeared out of thin air. The only man I ever truly gave my heart to and the father of my child. How was this possible?

“Did he see her?”

“No. I don’t know how much he knows.”

I tried to stand, but my legs gave way. “Slow down, Jo. This is a lot to take in. I’m not gonna let you get up until I know that you won’t fall back down. Okay? Eat and drink first.”

“Okay.”

I took the delicious cupcake and ate it slowly, drinking the water from the glass Carter was holding. I was glad that he was holding it, because my hands were trembling. Once the cupcake was gone, I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

“I think I’m okay now. Where is he?”

I slowly sat up, careful not to rush. Or maybe it was just the fear cruising through my veins. I’d never been this afraid in my life, and I wasn’t sure why.

“I’ll walk with you, then let you two be.”

You two.I repeated in my mind. Even that sounded unreal. Nick, in the same room with me again.

“Thank you. Will you stay close?”

“Of course, Cupcake. I’ll be here until you need me.”

Carter took me under his arm and led me to a frosted glass door in the barn. It slid open as soon as we approached.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Carter repeated, worry shadowing his face.

What I really needed right now was for the clock to turn back time. I’d forbid Nick to leave; I’d cuff him down and never let him go. So much time has passed and so much had happened. I opened the door and inhaled deeply. That familiar scent filled me right down to my toes, reviving a plethora of feelings. Joy, fear, anticipation, anger, trust, desire, love – there were so many, I felt lightheaded from their onslaught before I even stepped inside that barn. Desperate for confidence, I took in another deep breath of air, but it didn’t do much to steady the nerves. Whom was I kidding? No matter what I did, I was sure that nothing would prepare me to see the man I’d been in love with my entire life, who had been dead to me for almost four long years.

“I will.” Carter kissed my forehead and left.

My legs felt like one of the pool noodles Mackenzie liked to use to float around with. I finally crossed the threshold and saw him. My heart leapt. My hands tingled and the cupcake I’d eaten earlier swirled in my stomach. I slowly lifted my gaze, scanning him from the bottom up, appreciating the parts of him that were familiar and intrigued by the new man he had become. He looked different and yet the same. Nick had grown a lumberjack beard and a few extra muscles that would have ripped the shirt and jeans he’d worn when he left home. His hair was overgrown, even longer than when we were teenagers. He snapped the band around his wrist and pulled it all together at the back, into a bun, and I almost drooled. I looked him over once more, acutely aware of the strength behind this new body, both physical and emotional. The definition of his muscles… holy crap. The man standing in front of me had morphed into a head-turning Adonis. He ran his fingers over the beard and took a step closer.

“I’m sorry. I would have shaved if I’d known I’d be running into you.”

If he’d known? What did he mean by that? Apprehensive, I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn’t trust my hands not to fly right to his chest to feel him. Was this still the same man I loved?

“Jo...” He took another step toward me.

I lifted my hand, palm flat out toward him. “Stop. Don’t come any closer. I’m not sure I can take that just yet.”

“Okay.” He backed up to the spot he was standing in before, by the kitchen counter. That’s when the interior finally caught my eye. It was everything Nick had described to me the night he proposed, but I’d never imagined it this beautiful and perfect. He shifted, drawing my gaze back to him.

I took a deep breath in. “How are you alive?”

“I didn’t know I was dead.”

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