Page 86 of Five Alarm Love
“Kind of.”
“Yeah.He comes on strong at times.He’s still family.”
What Tuli didn’t have.The veggies turned to silt in his stomach.“I noticed.”
“Hey.”She pointed with her fork.“We’re all family in Yukon Valley.”
“Community isn’t the same as blood.”He chewed thoughtfully before swallowing a bite.“Your dad seems to be all in on Team Hunter.”
“Dad doesn’t get the final say.It’s a committee.”She sighed.“Dad’s looking out for my future and our family’s future.He also is focused on Gordy’s welfare.And he’s a village elder with responsibilities.”
“So, your dad looks at the mine decisions as part of how he takes care of his family?”
“We’re more like the to-do list.”
His head whipped up.“You’re not a project to be checked off a list.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“I also think that… my folks are coming to grips with the change in their own hopes and dreams.With Gordy and”—her voice dropped to right above a whisper—“with the DNA results.”
He didn’t know what to say to that, so he nodded.
“They want the best for their kids.It’s understandable.”She toyed with the stem of her water glass.“But years ago, their dreams were changed when Gordy came along.Happened again when I got the test back.”
“What about your dreams?Did the test change those?”
“Of course.”So matter-of-fact.Like it was a mundane event for her.
How did she not show any emotion?Years of practice.Lou was always so stoic.
Wait.There.The corners of her mouth turned down.Gaze slid away from him.Eyes shimmered.
Reaching out, he ran his fingertips lightly over the back of her hand.“You know I like you for being you, right?”
“Sure.But—” The pause almost killed him.
He gazed at the rapid pulse at the base of her neck.He needed to know that she was as affected by him as he was by her.
She darted a glance around the restaurant, pulled her hand back a few inches, and pressed her fingertips against his.“First of all, I need to get over my privacy issues.Second of all, I am not pushing you away.I’m processing.”
“Good, because I would like the opposite of being pushed away.Whatever that is, I want it.”
“Me too.”
Her quick, shy smile satisfied more than the good meal in front of him.
“As for privacy,” he said, “I’m an open book.You can have access to everything I do online.I won’t ever create a post involving you unless you give me permission.I want to promise that.”
“I know.”
“I want you to feel safe.”
“Thank you.”
“I want you.”
