“What are you doin’ to me, Bree?”
“Exploring,” she murmured. “Learning.” She ran her lips down his torso. “Memorizing.”
Jace closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting Bree continue her exploration.
12
When he woke the next morning, she was gone. He couldn’t have been asleep more than an hour.
He thought about the things she said yesterday afternoon, her words confirming his fears, and even the power of their lovemaking couldn’t drown their message.
You’re a detour. You don’t want to be a detour, Jace. I can’t let you be. Those words played over and over in his head. He was so tired of being a detour. He wanted to be the main road, the right road to take, the one that always brought the girl home. He needed to tell her so.
He got out of bed and pulled his Wranglers up over his hips. He left the top button undone, and climbed the stairs in search of Bree.
He smelled coffee, and then realized he and Bree were probably not alone in the house. Shit. He’d gotten so used to Billy and Renie being in Crested Butte when he stayed here, he hadn’t given any thought to them coming home last night.
He came around the corner and found Bree sitting in the kitchen, with Renie. They both turned toward him when he walked into the room.
“Shirt might be nice, Jace,” she said with a smug look.
He ignored her and walked straight to Bree. He stopped behind her, leaned down, and kissed her neck. “Good morning, darlin’.”
“Don’t mind us, the people who own the house,” said Billy, coming around the corner, carrying Willow. “Might want to consider there’s a child in the house, dude.”
“Uncle Jace!” squealed Willow. She wiggled out of Billy’s arms and came running toward Jace.
He picked her up and twirled her in the air.
“Did you sleep here, Uncle Jace?” she asked when he set her down.
“I did. Did you?”
“Mama said I could sleep with her and Daddy last night. Right, Mama?” Willow looked at Renie.
“I did, sweet girl. We had our own slumber party. Just like Uncle Jace and Aunt Bree did.”
Willow looked over at Bree. “Hi, Aunt Bree,” she waved.
Bree thought she’d die of embarrassment. She’d spent a little time around Willow, but not that much. She knew the little girl considered Blythe her “aunt,” too.
Renie was so casual about it all. If it were her daughter, Bree doubted she’d be so forthcoming about the “slumber party.”
Willow walked back over to Billy. “Time to say hi to my baby,” she told him. She led him by the hand, and they both walked over to Renie.
“Good morning, baby,” Willow whispered against Renie’s belly. “Your turn, Daddy.”
“Mornin’, baby,” he said.
“Do it right, Daddy. You have to give baby a kiss.”
Billy lifted the bottom of Renie’s shirt and kissed her belly. Willow did too.
Billy stood and looked straight at Jace. “Not a word,” he mouthed at him.
It was all Jace could do not to laugh.
He leaned back down, closer to Bree. “How are you this morning?” he whispered.