Page 109 of To Belong Together
Her father, for one. And her chance to renew her relationship with her mom. Thankfully, that new housing arrangement meant she wouldn’t be completely alone tonight, because she clung to him as if she were drowning.
“You only had my car a day or two, but you enjoyed that.”
“It’s not the same.” Nestled in the embrace, her forehead rested against his neck, and her arms wrapped firmly around his waist. “I knew from the start it wasn’t mine.”
She fit perfectly against him, and he couldn’t step away. Perfect didn’t come along nearly often enough.
He tightened his hold. “And people are God’s. Careers, money, family. Everything’s on loan, but we can trust the Banker.”
He was already in deep with that Banker, but then and there, he asked for another loan—time with Erin.
John would wait. Wait until things settled down with her family, until she was again the happy spitfire he’d met that first morning at Hirsh Auto.
She deserved that.
Her ribs expanded with a deep breath, then the slow release of air breezed through his T-shirt. “Hey, John?”
He’d never liked his name as much as in that moment. “Yeah?”
She lifted her head but kept her arms around him. Pink tinged the whites of her eyes. The cheek that hadn’t rested on his shoulder retained a sheen, but no new tears appeared to be brewing. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
He nodded lest his voice come out husky enough to tell her where his thoughts kept straying. A kiss was three or four inches away. Less if she’d meet him partway. She seemed content in his arms. Maybe if he—
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She rested her head again, locks teasing his neck.
He held her another moment, then disentangled himself. He’d taken all he could resist, and if he didn’t leave now, he’d be the guy making a move on a grieving daughter. “I should go.”
She pushed her hands into her pockets, and he wondered if she hadn’t been ready for the embrace to end.
That made two of them.
He reached halfway to her. “I’m sorry. I hate to leave you.”
Her brown irises flicked to meet his gaze, and he worried that his feelings were written all over his face.
“I’ll follow to make sure you get to your mom’s okay.”
She frowned at the stack of boxes. “I guess we can load up a few more and take them over.”
His arm already ached from how much he’d used it while packing, but he chose a box because the project gave him an excuse to linger. He would ice and elevate the break when he got home.
Once his car was loaded, he took a deep breath of the cool air before heading back in to see if Erin needed help with whatever had drawn her inside again.
He stepped in as she extinguished the bedroom light. “All set?”
She pulled the door shut. “Yeah.”
He reached for the front door.
“John?”
His name again. His lungs made a grab for extra air. He turned back with his best look of innocence.
She drew near and seemed to ignore the cast as she laced her fingers with his. “I know it doesn’t seem like it with all the waterworks, but I feel a lot better when I’m with you.”
“Good.” He squeezed her fingers, though his pulse was after him to do more.
Erin lingered, circling her other hand around his arm, fingers on the sensitive skin inside his elbow.
