Page 71 of The Two Last Moments

Nina is up doing her morning crossword puzzle on her iPad. I come in and open up the curtains, letting sunlight flood the room with its warm glow. “Good morning.”

“That’s quite a smile you’ve got there,” Nina says. She sets down her iPad and studies me.

“What do you mean? I smile all the time.”

“You think I don’t know your different smiles? I’ve known you for your entire life, Danny-boy. Don’t think you can hide from me. You look like the cat that caught the canary and then spent all night kissing it.”

I start laughing, and that turns into an awkward cough. Shit, I should’ve guessed Nina would figure it out this fast. Or maybe I’m just that obvious. I’ve been worrying all night about Lark’s safety and happiness, but mine hasn’t been in question. Sunshine and freaking rainbows must be beaming out of me for all the world to see.

“Did Lark have fun on your adventure in Solvang yesterday? I’m surprised she hasn’t come to tell me all about it.”

Nina knows we went there, but not our exact purpose. I pull up the stool by her bed. “It was okay. Mixed.” I don’t want to lie, but I can’t tell Lark’s story, either.

“Do you remember the time we went there for your birthday?” Nina asks, a wistful look on her face.

“Sure I do.” I tug my lip between my teeth. “Travis came with us. It was his idea, wasn’t it?”

Her smile turns brittle. “He was a good uncle to you. When he was around.”

“He was.” Emphasis onwhen he was around. “Um, anyhow, Lark thought she recognized some places in Solvang, and that can be hard for her. You know?”

Nina nods. “I trust that you’re taking care of her?”

“I’m trying.”Fuck, I’m trying.

“I hope you’re beingcarefulwith her,” Nina adds, the innuendo obvious.

“I like her. A lot. I only want to do right by her. Do you not approve?”

“I approve. Lark doesn’t want to admit it, but that girl needs someone. More than anything, she needs…love.”

Those words do all kinds of things to my insides.

I’m thirty-three years old, and I’ve never been in love. I’ve never thrown around that four letter word before, except when it comes to Nina and some of my best friends. I don’t even know if I’m capable of feeling it.

If I could bein itfor anyone, though, I think it would be a woman like Lark.

“I’ve been seeing this coming for a while,” Nina says. “I’m just a little surprised it took this long. The way you two look at each other is how your grandpa and I used to do, and I know raging sexual tension when I see it.”

I grimace. “I don’t need to hear about you and Grandpa and…that.”

She snorts a laugh. “I care about both of you. I don’t want either of you getting hurt. And Lark doesn’t have a momma or daddy around to speak for her, so I’m the only one to do it. Consider yourself warned. As far as protection—”

“I’m thirty-three years old and I’ve had a fair share of medical training. That’s not a conversation I need to have.” Especially not with my grandmother.

“Maybe so, but some things just need to be said.”

“We’re good,” I assure her.

“What’s good?” Lark asks. She’s just walked in.

“Nothing.”

I stand up. I was going to play it cool this morning, but Lark’s damp hair is combed back from her face, she’s wearing the green dress she wore last week to the barbecue, and she’s just too damn beautiful.

Lark smiles tentatively, and I get it now. What Nina saw between us. There’s no hiding this, certainly not from Nina, who knows me better than anyone. I can’t start thinking about the hot-as-fuck details of last night in front of my grandmother, because that’s creepy, but I still can’t control the way that my heart races at seeing her. The way my blood heats with a hunger that’s only for her.

I hold out my hand, and Lark is hesitant for a moment before coming over to me. I kiss the blush on her cheek. “Hey, gorgeous.”

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