Page 35 of Can't Get Over You
“He didn’t. He’s been handling it with her.”
Finlay winced, slapping a hand to her heart. “Oof. You’re right. Oh man, that hurts.” She stared ahead, unseeing. “All this time, he’s been talking to his ex. They got a paternity test and discussed the results together.” She went quiet, staring at her laced fingers. “No, I can never trust him again.” As he drove down his dad’s long driveway, she sat up. “Is this where you grew up?”
“Pretty much. We moved here when I was twelve.”
She shifted in her seat to take in the view from all directions. “Teenage me is dying right now.”
“What do you mean?”
She let out a laugh. “I used to dream about coming home with you, hanging out with your brothers and your dad.”
He’d always admired her courage, and this confession was exactly why. Because she owned her truth. She’d had a crush on him. She’d fantasized about him, and she wasn’t afraid to let him know.
Unlike me.Maybe, if he got to spend more time with her, he’d tell her exactly what he’d once thought of her.
Yeah, maybe he would.
She leaned forward. “It’s beautiful. You must’ve loved growing up out here with your brothers.”
“I did.” As kids, they’d used every square inch of the property to go fly-fishing, build forts, and run wild.
“Hey, Mister?” Cody called.
“Yeah?”
“When are we getting my bike? I don’t see a store.”
“You’re right. There’s no store here. This is my dad’s house, where I grew up. We’ve got a whole garage filled with bikes.”
“Why?”
“Why do we have so many bicycles?” In the rearview mirror, he watched the kid nod. “Because I have three brothers.”
“And I can have one of their bikes?”
He caught the brightness in the boy’s eyes. “Yes. Any one you want.”
You just can’t ride it because it’s winter, and there’s three feet of snow on the ground.
“Thank you.” His feet kicked out in a show of excitement.
“You’re welcome.” As he rounded the bend, his dad’s home appeared. The view never ceased to impress him, and he knew Finlay felt it, too, when her lips parted, and awe flared in her eyes.
The stone-and-timber house was set in a grassy valley with a backdrop of the towering Teton Range. He’d added on a lot over the years, so the original rustic cabin had become a sprawlinglodge-like home. Given the remote location and weather, it was pretty self-contained, with a big game room and an indoor pool.
“This place is amazing.”
“Wait till you see it without snow on the ground. The meadow’s filled with wildflowers.” He had no idea why he’d just said that, considering she’d never get to see it.
She had a life to get back to.
Very soon, she’d be gone, and he’d be alone with this kid.
And he didn’t know which scared him more, stepping up to take care of Marco’s son…
Or losing her.
Chapter Five
