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“Wait,” I blurt out. “I just wanted information. What you’ve told me helps, but you don’t need to physically involve yourself over my problems.”
“Our deal is for me to locate him, not confirm your suspicions.” He sighs heavily into the phone as though he’s decades older and dealing with my drama is exhausting him. “Let me find him, Sloane. For you.”
Butterflies flutter in my lower belly and I don’t know what to make of it. Clearly, I’m confusing who in the hell I’m talking to right now. This isn’t Jamie’s pick for me, Oliver. This is her damn son.
“I…” I trail off, unable to find the right words. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Most people just say thank you,” he deadpans.
I crack a smile and shake my head. “Thank you. But seriously, Demps, your mother may not approve of…this.”
This being the coffee, the texts, the butterflies.
He snorts out a laugh. “Believe it or not, Mom doesn’t know about everything I do. This can be our little secret if it makes you feel better.”
Does it?
No.
The entire thing makes me feel like total and utter shit. However, Dempsey has grown on me lately. I’m discovering there’s more to him than the bad boy who’s always giving his parents trouble. Behind that front, he’s thoughtful and caring.
And handsome.
Seriously, Sloane?
“Oh yeah,” he says, humor in his voice. “Are you ready to hold up your end of the deal?”
What could he possibly want from me?
It’s a desperate act, but I force myself not to think about the answer to that question.
“What is it?” I ask, exasperation in my tone. “It better not be anything embarrassing.”
“Nah, I’d never embarrass you.” His words are murmured and so soft they almost tickle my ears. “I only want to see you happy.”
My stomach dips dangerously at his words. God, I really do need to go out on a date because Dempsey’s smooth talking is going to be the death of me.
“I’ll be happy when I know what my nephew is up to and can help him,” I say tightly, trying hard to steer the conversation back to a safer territory.
“You may as well consider it done already,” he says with a smugness that makes me roll my eyes. “Let’s go hiking Saturday.”
Hiking?
Of all the things that could come out of this man’s—er, guy’s—mouth, I didn’t expect him to throw something outdoorsy at me.
“And here I thought you were going to ask for a get-out-of-jail-free card or unlimited speeding ticket removals.”
“You make me want to behave, so I won’t be needing any of that.” He laughs, husky and deep. “Come on. What do you say?”
I grin because all this banter between us feels good. And I like his laugh. A lot. I’m about to agree when I come off my cloud of fantasy, stumbling right back into bitter reality.
“Oh, shit,” I grumble. “I can’t on Saturday. I have a date.”
“This date will be better.”
“Dempsey.” I pace the back patio, feeling jittery with nerves. “We can’t go on a date. Ever.”
He’s silent for a beat and then he laughs, though this time it feels forced. “Yeah, I know, Officer Do-Good. I’m just messing with you. It’s not a date if Gemma and Kaden come along anyway. As much as you’d like to get me alone in the woods, I’m going to have to ask you to get your head out of the gutter. It’ll be a group hike.”
