Page 143 of Distant Shores
“He does look sharp,” he said, his eyes roaming over the photo. He ran a hand unconsciously through his hair, his smile slipping away as his fingers got caught in tangles. “Maybe I should go to the Zinnia salon.”
“Meh. I like your hair.”
He locked his phone screen, darkening it, and looked up at me, completely guileless as he swept his eyes over my messy, damp hair and answered, “I like yours too.”
When his gaze became too much, I glanced around the house. “Any new care packages?
I may have casually mentioned his surgery to Miss Lenny when I ran into her on my way to see Dad. And just like I’d hoped she would, she’d rallied the troops,organizing several care packages for Adair and Delly—and Cole by extension—and a meal train.
Adair dropped his head back again, exposing the long column of his throat.
I didn’t know if it was the fatigue talking, but I kind of wanted to bite it. That intrusive whim wasn’t helped when his throat bobbed with a rough swallow before he answered.
“Yeah, one of Lenny’s ladies delivered a quiche this morning, still hot from the oven. More bran muffins too. The ladies are really concerned about my digestive health.” His chest shook as he laughed under his breath. “Cole knows more of our neighbors than we do now. And I was just stuck here, watching as he flirted with every single person who came knocking. Honestly, I’m not sure the casseroles and treats were worth having to see all that.”
A laugh escaped me, and he lifted his head back up, eyes bright as he looked at me.
“I take that back,” he said softly. “Feels worth it now.”
I shook my head, studying him just as intently as he was me. Then I asked the question that’d burned in my brain for weeks. “How are you single?”
A deep V formed between his brows for several seconds before he tilted his head, sending an unruly wave of dark-brown hair over it. “Am I?”
The front door beeped and then opened, and Delly walked back in.
I really wasn’t sure if I should thank her or kick her.Lightly.
“That man-child drives me insane,” she muttered on the way to her room, looking harried.
I raised my eyebrows at Adair, who just shrugged. “It’s been a long week.”
He was not wrong.
“I think I’m going to nap before my class tonight,” I said, inching toward the hallway behind me.
“You’re sure it’s not safe for you to come over here?” he asked quietly, eyes keen on me.
“Yes,” I replied, taking one more step backward. “I’m sure.”
I knew that it was the truth.
It was not safe.
Not at all.
“How’s tomorrow looking?” he asked, not at all deterred by my flat tone. Or byme.
That was maybe what confused me most.
“Better,” I said. “Has to be.”
He smiled and reached for his crutch, then slowly got to a standing position. “Can I join you?”
My mind blanked as Adair tucked a couple of pillows under his arm. There was a smirk on his face when he turned back to me and added, “To nap. In my own bed.”
Delly came back out of her bedroom, perfect timing as usual, and immediately plucked the pillows from her brother with a scowl, fussing at him as she tucked herself under his free arm.
I backed all the way out of the room, my eyes on him until I rounded the corner and stepped into my bedroom. I closed the door softly and just leaned against it, taking a few moments to catch my breath.
