Every Time I Fall (Orchid Valley 3)

He ignores it and shifts his stance to position a thigh between my legs. I rock into the pressure, and he growls against my neck. “Fuck yes.”

His phone stops ringing and immediately starts again. Reluctantly, I press at his shoulders. “You should check that.”

Sighing and licking his lips in a way that just does something to me, he tugs his phone from his pocket, frowns at the screen, then answers. “What’s wrong?”

I can’t hear the person on the other line, but Dean takes a step back. Physically, it’s less than a foot. Figuratively, it’s miles.

I swallow back my disappointment, already sure our fun is going to come to a premature end.

“Nothing. I’m at home.”

Nothing. As in, an answer to what are you doing?

My disappointment is crushing and completely hypocritical. I’m the one who insisted this had to be a secret. It’s not fair to think he’s lying about me because he’s ashamed.

“No. It’s fine,” he says. “I’m glad you called.” His gaze flicks to mine. “I can be there in ten. Just hang tight . . . Yep. Not a problem. See you soon.” He ends the call and blows out a breath as he returns his phone to his pocket. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I force myself to shrug, but I feel heavy with doubt. “I mean, you own a business. I don’t expect to have you all to myself in the middle of the week.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not work, but I have to go. If you want to stay, you can. I’ll be back in an hour, maybe two.” He drags a hand through his hair and mutters a curse. “I’m so sorry.”

Who was on the phone?

I could ask. I trust that he’d tell me the truth. But I know as well as anyone that you shouldn’t ask a question if you don’t want to hear the answer. And what right do I have to demand to know how he spends his time? On the other hand, I don’t know if I can do this if we aren’t transparent with each other.

“Are you sure going is a good idea?” I ask. Because it doesn’t matter what Amy’s reason is for calling him, and it doesn’t matter why he feels responsible for helping her, but—what happens next? That matters. And not just to me. Not just because it hurts to know he’ll drop me and run to her the second she calls. But because I’m supposed to be helping him get past her.

He shakes his head. “Her parents are out of town and her best friend is at work. She doesn’t have anybody else right now.”

That’s such bullshit. I bite my tongue and hold back the words.

He cocks his head to the side and studies me. “Hey.” He grazes his thumb along my cheek. “She’s vomiting with a nasty migraine. This isn’t a booty call. I’m picking up meds and Gatorade at the pharmacy and keeping her company until the worst passes.”

My throat feels tight. “You’re a good guy.” I’m afraid my pain leaks through my words.

Dean grabs my hips and tugs me toward him. “I wish you’d wait for me, but I understand if you don’t want to.”

Wait for him for an hour. Maybe a few. Maybe most of the night. Tears sting the back of my eyes. “It’s better if I don’t.”

He nods. “When can I see you again? This weekend? You have a short day on Sunday, right? I could steal your afternoon.”

“I have plans with Layla.” I force a smile. He wants to see me. He wants to make plans. There’s no reason I should feel like going home to cry. “Shopping.”

“After?” he asks.

I nod, trying to convince myself he’ll still want that Sunday, that he won’t be busy with Amy again. “I can text when I’m done.”

“It’s a plan.” He lowers his mouth to mine and kisses me so long and deep that I wonder if he isn’t trying to convince himself too.

* * *

Dean

It’s late when I finally get back home, and I’m glad Abbi didn’t wait for me.

Amy’s migraine was a wicked one. She didn’t want me to leave, and I didn’t want to be the guy who left. If someone needs you, you stick around. If I learned nothing else from my father, it was how much it screws with you when someone who said they care doesn’t show up when you need them.

I know what it’s like to be alone. Hell, I’m pretty fucking good at it at this point, but Amy’s not. She had Kace taking care of her for years, and she gets panicked when she gets sick and no one’s around.

I helped because that’s the kind of man I want to be, but that didn’t make it easy, and it doesn’t change the look on Abbi’s face when she realized where I was going.