Page 120 of From Nowhere

I slowly shake my head. “You’re the man, Ozzy.”

“Thanks. That’s reassuring, since I’ve always considered myself a man.”

“No. Notaman. You’retheman. There’s a difference.”

He narrows his eyes and parts his lips like he’s going to say something, but then he wets them and saunters toward my sofa. As soon as he plops down, Bandit jumps onto his lap.

“My backup fiancé will never see the inside of this house because I rescued that cat for your daughter.”

“Whoa, what?” Ozzy eyes me. “Backup fiancé?”

“Yes,” I say, nestling into the corner of the sofa, hugging my knees. “Will’s my backup husband if we’re both still single in two more years.”

“Stillsingle? Are you single now?”

My heart soars when it detects frustration, or maybe even jealousy, in Ozzy’s voice. “I’m single until I find a man who says he loves me,” I say, inspecting my nails.

“What do I have to do to prove myself?”

I shift my gaze to his. “You have to say it.”

“Pfft. Actions speak louder than words.”

“They don’t. It’s just a cliché. There are a lot of silent actions. But words can be very loud.”

“Unless you’re deaf,” he counters.

“But I’m not.”

He moves his lips without speaking.

“You’re such an ass.” I smack him with one of the throw pillows, and Bandit flies off the sofa and runs upstairs.

Ozzy grabs my wrists and pulls me onto his lap. “But am Itheass?” He guides my arms around his neck and kisses me before I answer.

I pull back and smile while brushing my nose against his. “I don’t even want you to say it now. I know you’re saving it. So it better be epic when you do say it.”

“That’s a lot of pressure.” He leans forward and kisses my neck.

“Can you help me refinish my wood floors?”

I feel his lips bend into a smile against my skin. “I can.”

“New kitchen cabinets and countertops.”

“Mmm-hmm.” He slides his hands up the back of my shirt, unhooking my bra, and I can no longer think about renovations.

I close my eyes as my head lolls to the side. “Ozzy, are we in love?” I whisper.

He presses his hand to the side of my head, lifting it while the pad of his thumb brushes my bottom lip. “We’resoin love,” he says before kissing me.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The following day, I pick up groceries and Lola’s favorite doughnuts. When I pull into my driveway, Ozzy and Lola are sitting on my front porch steps, laughing about something.

I put my RAV inparkand watch them for a few seconds while slowly unfastening my seat belt. I would never steal another woman’s husband or child. I would never steal another woman’s life.

But I want Brynn’s life that she tragically left behind. I want to pick up the tiny pieces and put them together with parts of my life to create something new.

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