The muscles jumped in Rhys’s jaw and he cleared his throat. “I’ll make some pancakes.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” the girls said in unison.
We snuggled while Rhys cooked. A girl could get used to this.
A girl might want to wake up like this every morning.
A girl might remember those plans and dreams she’d had with a boy that included a house and kids and a dog just like Goldie. Maybe one that didn’t eat random objects and throw up until she had to go to the emergency vet.
Rhys popped back out, spatula in one hand, looking so different than I’d pictured him when we were younger. He was more serious, but now I could see—hewas just as withdrawn. He protected himself as much as he protected others from himself.
He made his life about others.
When had others made their lives about him?
He furrowed his brows and shot me a questioning look.
I shook my head.
He lifted his chin in acknowledgment. A silent conversation. “Food’s done.”
A verbal conversation would have to wait—if we ever had it. A girl could only get rejected so many times by the man she was in love with.
“What are you going to do after we eat, Junie?” Hannah asked. She didn’t move from me. Neither did Bethany.
“I’ll probably go home and clean up. Then I might see if my sister wants help in the bar at the distillery.” It wasn’t open on Mondays, but Autumn liked to catch up with inventory and books. Wynter would be at work too. Maybe even Summer.
Bethany sat up. “Can we see the distillery?”
Rhys braced himself as soon as the question was out of her mouth. His jaw clenched and his gaze saidnot again.
I liked when he squirmed. The man ran from some of his problems and he couldn’t right now. I enjoyed seeing him uncomfortable.
“That’s up to your dad.” I smiled brightly and his scowl deepened. I’d love to take them around the distillery, but in true Rhys fashion, he wanted to return to his plan to put distance between us.
He tapped a finger against the spatula handle. “I have to get some work done.”
“Later?” Hannah asked. “Can we?”
“Can we, please?” Bethany added. “I’ve never been there.”
This was the time I found his pathological need to please the women in his life useful. The moment he relented to their begging was apparent in the acceptance in his eyes and the loosening of his shoulders. “June?”
I bit back a triumphant grin. “I can give them a tour anytime today if they’d love to smell some yeast farts.”
“Yeast farts?” Hannah dissolved into giggles.
Bethany snickered.
I might’ve said that on purpose. The yeast farts got all the kids.
He grunted. “I’ll see what I can get done first.”
“Yeah!” The girls jumped off me and ran to the kitchen.
“Don’t wait for me. I’m going to clean up quick,” I called to Rhys and went to the bathroom. His cedar-and-soap scent hung in the air. I inhaled deeply. This week could not be the last time I was surrounded by the scent of Rhys. It could not be the last time I was part of the girls’ lives.
It could not be the end of me and Rhys.
