Page 50 of Starting Over with You
Tribal tattoo that wraps around his bicep: check.
Veins running down his arms and throughout his large hands: check.
Slutty mustache: check.
Backward hat: check.
Kenni’s vagina blown to smithereens: double check.
I swallow hard as I force myself not to look at him. I feel my face burning, and I wish that Rae’s heavy hand would have given me more blush to hide it. He has been on my mind nonstop since I saw him at the rink on Monday. I’m pretty sure he was flirting with me, and I was so shocked, all I could do was laugh.
Because what else was I supposed to do?
Jump him?
Man, I missed an opportunity to show him how damn hot and ready I can make him.
“She sure did,” Sadie gushes, leaning back into Matt’s arms. Heholds her close, his head on her shoulder, and damn, aren’t they the cutest? “You two going to finish the playhouse?”
I force myself to look at my computer so I don’t look at the cowboy porn star who is tempting me.
“Sure are,” Matt says, laying a smacking kiss on her cheek. “What are you two doing?”
“Talking about Missy and Nyle.”
I look up in time to see Matt make a face. “How’s that going?” he asks me, and I shrug.
“Unfortunately, I think Nyle only shares Missy with Skyye.” I sigh at my admission but then quickly look at Dean and add, “Not that I mind. I want it that way.”
Dean stands up straight and gives me a hard look. “He’s giving you trouble?”
“I told you I don’t think he likes me,” I say, feeling silly. “It’s just been rough. I called Hazel to see if the house would be available sooner, or if I could live there while they do what they’re doing, but she told me no. So then, we looked for rentals, but there was nothing with it being the height of tourist season. I considered going to my dad’s, but he told me not to come over today because Maggie is there. So abso-fucking-lutely not am I living with a man who’s getting more ass than me.”
I let out a long breath, and Matt snorts. I look up to find Sadie hiding her smirk as Matt says with a straight face, “You can stay in our playhouse. It’ll be done today.”
I smile, loving this man so much. “Too kind, but y’all are busting at the seams here.”
He shrugs. “It’s home.”
And it is. The town of Thistlebrook is made up of lots of log homes, but after Matt and Sadie bought their home, it burned down a month later due to some faulty wiring. Because it was so traumatic, Sadie demanded her home be rebuilt in brick. While it still has the wood frame, it’s mostly constructed of brick and is absolutely stunning. They went out to her great-uncle’s ranch to get a bunch of original brick that had been usedon one of the old houses from the 1800s. I was so jealous I didn’t get to help, but man, I love the look of their home. The story. The timeless feel. The house is a ranch, with three bedrooms and two baths. Their family is too big for the house, but Sadie won’t leave it.
Like Matt said, it’s home.
“I know,” I say softly, sending them a thankful smile. “I appreciate the offer. I may just have to deal with Nyle.”
“You could stay with me.”
Dean’s words smack the air right out of me. I turn quickly, almost knocking my laptop off the table. “Wha-wha-what?”
I gawk at him, and Dean shrugs like he didn’t just offer for me to come stay with him. Dean’s brows furrow more as he leans on the doorjamb of the back door. “What? I have a guest room you can have. No one is using it.”
I blink. I can’t stay with Dean.
I’d jump his ass for sure.
Unaware of my internal struggles, Sadie points to her brother with a nod. “He’s right, and he’s hardly there since the weeks he doesn’t have Skyye, he’s at the firehouse. And when he does work, Skyye can stay with you instead of being subjected to the kids.”
Matt makes a face. “Hey, she loves our kids.”
