Page 19 of Only One I Ever Wanted

Also, I didn’t want to reply to every single one of my brothers who had texted me. We had a brother text chat, and it was positively blowing up.

“Okay, that’s it.” I stuffed my phone into my pocket.

“What?”

“My mother just texted me. I am moving to Nevada.”

Nora gave a low chuckle. One that made my jeans a little tight. “Is she giving you the business?”

“Something like that. It did include an invite to dinner.”

“Oh.” She licked her lips. “I wouldn’t hate to see your mom again.”

And I wouldn’t hate to seeheragain tonight. “Well, then, I guess we’ll see you at six.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Thanks for the...viral vid.”

She grinned. “Your abs and delightfully deep bass voice did the work. I just captured it.”

“Somehow I don’t think that’s why.”

“Sully, it really is. You’re stupid hot and us women enjoy the view.”

I hooked my thumb into my pocket. “Are you included?”

“I’m definitely not immune.” She started forward and I had to shuffle back, or she’d run into me.

Was that by design, or was I imagining things?

I grabbed my toolkit and followed her into the narrow hallway. Her floral scent swirled between us, and I had the strongest urge to crowd her into the door.

Booker’s girl.

The voice was annoying, and she wasnotBooker’s girl anymore, goddammit.

She was her own.

Nora opened the door, and I took a chance. It might be stupid, and it might backfire on me, but I was tired of this stupid stasis I was sitting in. I’d been so focused on being Danny’s dad that I’d cut off everything else.

I set the toolkit down when she opened the door. She frowned down at it, then glanced up at me. “Did you forget something?”

“Possibly.”

She leaned against the doorjamb, crossing those long legs. Her toes were still bare, and they glinted with something sparkly. She looked like every summer dream I’d ever had.

I stepped closer, until her scent would linger on my shirt, we were so close. She tipped her head up, that wide mouth of hers set in a little smirk.

Was that an invitation?

Could it be?

I leaned down and her mouth dropped open. I lowered my mouth to hers, just a few millimeters away. “See you tonight, Nora.” Then I straightened and picked up my tool kit and I whistled my way down her walkway. When I got to my truck, I glanced over my shoulder.

She was still there, her teeth sawing at her lower lip.

I wondered what it would taste like.

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