Page 44 of Two Canes, One Cup
No. They’re another lifetime away.
But I’d give almost anything to be held by Reece by the fire again.
Or snuggle into the heat of Dean’s grip to fall asleep.
I miss how tightly he’d hold me. Like I was a lifeline.
Sitting in the parking lot of the most lavish hotel in Akron, I stare up at the tinted windows and sigh.
This is just a bunch of unnecessary pageantry. I really don’t understand why they need to meet me just to say “yes” or “no” on a set of sketches.
I’m glad I’m not quite waddling yet as I walk inside.
The restaurant is dimly lit for a lunch time crowd, but the attendant at the podium greets me with a bright smile.
“Can I help you?” Her perfect teeth flash beneath her expensively styled blonde locks.
“Yes, I’m here for a Mr.—” I glance down at my sticky note. “—Harpson?”
Her pretty pink lips purse as she looks me up and down, then raises an eyebrow. “Really? Okay, follow me.”
What the hell does that mean?
I know hormone swings are normal during this stage, but I’ve never had such an irrational feeling of wanting to slap someone for no reason.
She leads me past several full tables towards a secluded area in the back.
“Here you go.” Her arm waves towards a booth, then steps away.
And the ground falls out from underneath me.
“Dean?” I squeak when I see his dark eyes land on me.
The other man twirls in his seat, then leaps to his feet.
“Reece?” My world begins to spin.
Suddenly, two sets of hot hands are on me, one strong man on either side.
“Stacy,” Dean chokes out. “We’ve been searching for months.”
Reece doesn’t wait, but pulls me to him, tilting up my face to press his lips to mine.
Everything feels on fire as a surge of heat rushes through me.
“This can’t be real,” I pant, clinging to him as if he’s going to disappear.
As Reece steps to the side, Dean moves in, circling me with his arms and pressing me closely.
Then his obsidian eyes flare.
“Is it ours?” he whispers, searching my face.
I can’t talk past the knot that’s formed in my throat.
All I can do is nod and bite my lip, watching him.
Is he going to be mad?
