Page 74 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

He exhaled. “Don’t worry about it. You and Eli should make yourselves at home. If I need space, I’ll deal with it.”

She nodded. “You okay if I order pizza for dinner?”

“Sure. I gotta run into town anyways. You call it in and I’ll pick it up.” He grabbed his leather jacket off the hook by the door, patting his pocket for his keys before he left. He stepped outside and drew in a deep breath of fresh air. He’d needed to get out of the house before he did something he’d regret like kiss Bella.

* * *

Later that night, the house was quiet. But it didn’t feel as empty as it usually did. Nash had locked himself in his bedroom after dinner and a very in-depth conversation with Eli over lobster fishing.

Eli had gone to bed hours ago, but Bella had curled up on his couch with a book. He was waiting for her to go to sleep before he locked the house up for the night—something he didn’t usually do. But that was before.

Nash adjusted his reading glasses and focused on the book about pregnancy in front of him, the words blurring together as images of Bella played through his mind on a reel. The sexy vixen from their night together had blended with the fierce mama bear he’d come to know. The shy woman he’d caught sneaking caffeinated coffee earlier. And the person who’d seen through him on the bench, finding pieces of himself he wished didn’t exist, shadows of regret and pain and loss. Bella was as captivating as a siren, and just as dangerous because she threatened his fragile existence. She made him want more.

Knock. Knock.

“Come in.” Nash closed the book, set it on his bedside table, and sat up straighter.

Bella peeked in, stepping forward as her gaze flamed with heat, rolling up his bare feet to his charcoal sweatpants, past his abs. He sucked in a ragged breath, his skin burning under her perusal as she made her way up his bare chest to his face. Lust shone in those whiskey eyes, making him drunk on her need.

“I didn’t know you wore glasses.” Her voice was higher pitched than normal.

He pulled them off and set them on top of the stack of books. Below the pregnancy one were two of his favorites—by Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. “Just for reading.”

“Oh.” Her hand bunched the fabric to her sleep shirt, some sort of thin-strapped scrap of fabric that made her boobs look like fucking paradise. Her tan legs were bare but for a pair of shorts showing off those delicious strong thighs that had gripped his waist so good the last time he drove into her.

Clearing his throat, he tried to not make it obvious that he adjusted himself. “Did you need something?”

“Uh, yeah. I needed medication for my heartburn. I checked the other bathrooms but didn’t find anything. I must have left mine at Nova’s.”

Nash stood. “I think I have some in here.”

Bella’s eyes dropped to his semi, widening before her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip.

He groaned and hurried to the bathroom. After opening the mirror, he grabbed the box of meds and brought it out to her. Bella scanned his room. He’d lost a bet with Nova, so this was the one room that was decorated more than the others with a navy-blue and grey theme, and nautical décor. His built-in bookshelf was so full, it was probably time to get another.

“Here you go.” He reached out, handing her the medication. Pain sliced up his back to his neck. He hissed, gripping his nape to rub the most painful spot.

She took the box, studying him. “Are you in pain?”

“I slept wrong weeks ago. I thought it was better but then I tweaked it a few times.”

She took out a couple tablets before handing him back the meds.

“You keep it.” He waved her off.

“Thanks . . . Lie down.”

“What?”

“Lie down. Let me help with your neck. Massage therapist, remember?” she asked, pointing to herself.

“Right. You don’t have to—”

“Lie down, Nash. And stop arguing. No sense you being in pain when I can probably help.”

Half his mouth turned up in a smile. “Yes, ma’am. Didn’t realize you had a bossy side too.”

“Oh, I have many sides. You just have to get to know me to learn them all,” she teased.

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