Page 94 of The Spring in My Heart

“Winter will pick her and Bron up for their painting lesson, and Lauren has agreed to take them out to hang out or if she wants to go somewhere. I don’t want to overload Adri and Cam since they have CJ.”

“Oh. That’s good.”

There’s a lapse in our conversation, and I want to take advantage of that. I dip my head to her neck, pushing her on her back, but she tilts away and throws the covers back. My face lands on her pillow.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

She gets up, and I get to stare at her while she walks away, her hips swaying. It’s seriously her best look. When she’s dressed, I spend so much time picturing her like this. Thank you, squat workouts. I wait a few minutes then throw my side of the covers back. A shower quickie before I have to head out, watching the water slide down her chest as I pound her, is even better.

When the door swings open, she’s got her robe tightly wrapped around her.

“I was coming to get you.” My finger sneaks through the folds of her robe.

Her lips curve into the tightest smile I’ve seen on her yet. “I’m going to make us some coffee. You’ll need it for the road, and I need it to get back to work.”

She strolls past me and goes downstairs.

I’m left standing on the bathroom door with a hard-on and the impression that everything just changed in the time she went to the bathroom.

I take two steps to follow her, but my phone flashes with the time alert. Shit, I have to get going so I can stop by the bistro to drop off A’s favorite blanket and overnight bag after I get out of here.

I can take a quick shower at home, but first, I need to talk to Lux and see what the hell just happened. It couldn’t have been something I said, because we’ve barely talked.

Is she mad because I didn’t invite her on the trip?

I mean, I won’t be available, but who knows? Maybe she wanted to come and spend time alone. She’s a blogger who could probably keep herself entertained during the day.

But that’s ridiculous. She’s very direct, so she would’ve said that.

I’m on the stairs as soon as my shoes are tied and get downstairs in quick steps. She’s in the kitchen, pouring the coffee. Her shoulders are squared back, and she’s got that blank look I’ve seen before when I was rude to her. It’s never a good thing because she’s blacked out on me right after wearing that look.

She points at the cup she left for me.

I smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Her lips do that ridiculous strained curve I didn’t know I hated until I saw it on her. It’s unnatural and unnerving—because she’s ticked about something.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she says.

Yeah, right.

Nothing says something louder like a woman’s nothing.

“Are you sure? I could swear something is bothering you.”

Her face remains impassive. “Nothing is bothering me.”

So much for being transparent with each other.

I force a breath. “Lux, I have to take Ayla’s bag to Adri’s before I head to the airport. I don’t have much time. I can’t sit here and have a dragged-out conversation. If you tell me what’s wrong, we can fix it so it doesn’t fester.”

Her gaze cools enough to freeze me in place.

“One, I did not ask for a long conversation, and two, nothing should be bothering me, because it’s been clear as day from the beginning. I just see it better now, and I’ll adjust accordingly?—”

Her sharp tone makes my eye twitch. “What the hell are you talking about?”

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