She took a step forward, and her hand came out, whacking me on the back of my head. “I’m not buying whatever you think you’re selling. And if she and Brendan move to Asheville…”
“That’s not going to happen,” I interjected.
“You better make sure it doesn’t.” The stern look she gave me almost made me roll my eyes. “I’m serious, Rhett.”
“Trust me, I’ll handle it. Now, I think when you forced me in here, you promised me dinner?”
While I was eating the plate of food she warmed up, she asked a few more questions about the events of the last six hours. I filled her in as best as I could without revealing what transpired between Bella and me. I wasn’t ready to talk about all of that yet.
Bella’s gasp from the doorway caused me to look up. My heart clenched as her eyes tracked over her son sitting on the island in front of me before locking on to mine. She’d piled her wet hair high on her head and wore black leggings with an old, faded T-shirt that I was sure used to be mine. Seeing her in one of my old shirts was having an effect on me, one I didn’t expect. It was sexy as hell, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Raising my brows, I asked, “Feel better?”
She immediately crossed her arms and shot me a glare.
I wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked and that I was sorry. And that my only regret right now was making her upset. I tried to convey all that with my eyes, and her gaze softened as she seemed to get my unspoken apology.
She shifted from one foot to the other, fidgeting with a hole at the hem ofmyshirt. Damn, she was beautiful. Tilting my head slightly, I raised one corner of my mouth up into a knowing grin, watching her squirm under my gaze. Her eyes looked down at the ground and her cheeks turned a nice shade of pink. The chuckle that escaped from my mouth was barely audible, but apparently Bella still heard it. Her gaze moved back to mine, her mouth opening and closing, before a cough had us both pivoting to look in the opposite direction.
“Okay, you two. Do I need to take Brendan, leave the room, and give you guys privacy? ’Cause I don’t mind. You know how much I want another grandbaby.”
“Mom,” I chided as Bella covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.
“Ithinka lot more happened today than either of you are telling me, but I’ll let it go for now.” She pointed to Bella as she went to get up. “Now,youneed to eat.”
“I’ll make myself a plate, Miranda. You sit. You’ve had Brendan almost all day,” Bella said as she made her way to the refrigerator to retrieve the leftovers. As much as I tried not to, my gaze kept drifting back to Bella as she moved around the kitchen. I bit back a laugh when she folded hot sauce into her mac and cheese.
Although there was a seat next to me, Bella chose the one farthest away at the far end of the island.
I hoisted Brendan around to my back and galloped once more around the house. He used my inability to say no to him to get me to play trains for ten minutes before I kissed him on the forehead and deposited him in my mom’s arms.
“I need to go. It’s been a hell of a day.” I kissed my mom on the cheek before heading around the island to where Bella was sitting.
My instinct was to wrap my arms around her and kiss her until she was gripping my shirt and pulling me closer. But I didn’t need to make things more complicated between us right now, and we had an audience.
So instead, my hand landed on her shoulder as I gave it a squeeze. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow?”
“Mm-hmm,” she said as she bit her lip.
My cock twitched as I imagined those plump lips taking me fully into her hot mouth. I blinked, taking in a few deep breaths and willing my dick to not draw attention. I didn’t need Bella and my mom to see how that simple act affected me.
I need to go. Now.
I nodded as I hastily exited the house, mentally reviewing all the reasons trying things with Bella again could backfire. If things didn’t work out this time, she would take Brendan and leave.
And my family would never forgive me.
Chapter Sixteen
Bella
As the deeprumble of Rhett’s truck pulled away, I let out a long sigh, finally able to relax once he left. His eyes had darkened with desire and focused on me when I entered the kitchen after my shower. My stomach flipped and my skin heated from his attention.
I shook my head and tore my gaze away from the doorway he left through, noticing Miranda’s intense stare.
Oh boy, here we go.
At least Ashley wasn’t there to help interrogate me. I brought my plate to the sink and took Brendan from her.