Page 8 of Don't Want to Fall
“I get to be a bridesmaid for my mom’s wedding,” Tabby tells me. “Have you been a bridesmaid before?”
“No,” I say, fixing myself a sandwich and discreetly noting that Flynn seems very unaffected by the mention of his ex getting married to someone else. “I was supposed to be, but…well, it’s complicated.”
“That’s what Daddy says when I ask too many questions.”
I nearly choke on my chicken salad sandwich. Flynn offers me a bottle of water, his fingers grazing mine. The electrical current from earlier this morning when I shook his hand is still there. In fact, it seems stronger now.
It’s both thrilling and terrifying.
I’ve been attracted to plenty of guys before. I’ve had super crazy crushes and experienced some pretty decent chemistry with a few. But I’ve never felt something likethis.
It feels…fated.
But that could be my recent shifter romance phase talking.
Flynn’s gaze drops to his fingers as I unscrew the bottle and take a sip.
Did he feel it too?
“Daddy, what time do we have to head back?” Tabby asks.
“Your mom’s meeting us at the lodge at four,” he says, glancing at his watch. “Shit. We better wrap up and get back.”
“That’s a dollar,” Tabby says not for the first time today, holding out her hand expectantly.
“Sorry,” Flynn says to me, fishing a dollar bill out of his wallet and paying up without argument. “Normally we’d have another hour. Tabby didn’t have school today?—”
“It’s fall break,” Tabby explains.
“—and I forgot to mention I needed to be back earlier than the brochure said.”
“It’s been a good tour,” I say, forcing a smile I don’t quite feel. I’m not ready to part with this delightful duo. These past few hours have felt blissfully—and oddly—normal. As though the three of us spend days together like this all the time.
I feel the familiar yearning of wanting a family, but I squash it down. I’m determined to stick to my resolution to put the search for my future husband on hold indefinitely. Right now, I just want to have some good, old-fashioned adult fun.
Since Flynn is dropping his daughter off with her mom for the rest of the weekend, maybe there’s a possibility of living out one of my many mountain man fantasies before my trip is over.
I steal a glance at Flynn as he packs up the cooler, deciding yes. I’m going to be brave and go for it just as soon as we’re alone.
After a string of bad luck when it comes to men, what do I really have to lose?
Chapter Four
Flynn
Tabby waves from the window as her mom drives away, taking a piece of my heart with her. Sometimes I wish things had worked out between Sarah and me, if only for the fact that I’d get to have Tabby in my life twenty-four seven. The thought of not seeing her again in more than passing for the next week is a lot to handle.
But Sarah and I weren’t meant to be together.
And we both agreed it was better for Tabby to see her parents knocking this co-parenting thing out of the park rather than exposing her to two parents who hated living with one another and couldn’t quite figure out how to love each other. We wanted to set a better example for her than that.
“She’s cute,” Devin says, startling me.
“Eight going on sixteen,” I say, shaking my head. I keep staring in the direction the car turned, knowing it’s safer than meeting those emerald eyes head-on. “Did you forget something?”
“Just the drink you’re going to buy me,” she says, the flirtation thick in her voice.
My gaze drops to her lips. It feels like the most natural thing to take a step forward and close the gap between us. I move without thinking.
