I took a mouthful and groaned. My eyes rolled back in my head. So decadent.
The back door opened. I opened my eyes and found Rhys staring at me. His shirt was plastered to his barrel chest and his hooded blue gaze was unreadable. He’d packed muscle onto every inch of his frame, and he’d been a sturdy guy when we’d dated.
The beard changed him the most from the boy I’d planned my life with. When I’d seen him around, I’d done little more than note how good it looked on him. But this close?
Heat seeped in, curling through my belly and lighting up places that should be locked up solid while I got mylife back on track. I’d get on top of those feelings once I got some sleep.
I dropped my gaze first. “Bethany offered me a muffin.”
He jerked like he was snapping out of a trance. “I can heat up some leftover spaghetti.”
My stomach twisted. I was so fucking hungry. My body knew I was home. The stress had rolled off my shoulders and I could just... be. I could forget what I’d left behind. The expectations. The obligations. The betrayal.
But Rhys was still dripping on the rug by the door like he was afraid to enter any farther into the same room as me.
“No, thanks. The muffin will be enough.” When everyone was asleep, I could sneak a second one. I took another bite.
His gaze grew more intense, then he looked away. “I’ll make sure your bedroom’s ready.”
He took his boots off. His jeans curved under his heels when he walked, just like before. I used to tease him about fraying the bottoms of his jeans like that.
An unexpected ache in my chest made me wince. I took another bite of muffin. “God, this is good,” I said around my mouthful. A delight to my taste buds. I missed home-cooked food.
“It’s got shredded carrots and zucchini. Sometimes it’s the only vegetables I get into the girls.”
My mouth went dry. He was a family man. I gulped the bolus of muffin down. “They’re adorable.”
“The muffins?”
“No, the—” I caught the twinkle in his eye. Yearsmelted away between us and I laughed. “The muffins. Absolutely adorable.”
He cleared his throat, his gaze skating away. “The girls are the best. I’m a lucky guy.”
“What’s Kirstin doing these days?” I stuffed the rest of my muffin in my mouth before I asked more questions like a jealous ex-lover.
“She’s in Costa Rica, shooting the scarlet macaw and the great green macaw.”
“Wow.” Rhys hadn’t moved on from me to a slouch. “Why macaws?”
“Why not?” His flat tone said everything. Why not photograph macaws when you could’ve stayed with a man like Rhys? Why not travel to fabulous places for your job? Why not do whatever the hell you wanted to do, even if it meant leaving your own children behind?
I tried to swallow my giant mouthful, but a crumb caught in my throat and I coughed. Shit. I turned my back on him. My irritated throat ignited more coughing.
Was this how I would go? Choking on his homemade goodies while talking about his ex-wife?
His heat surrounded me and a glass of water appeared next to me. “Drink.”
I took a long pull. A few more small coughs came out. I gulped another mouthful.
“Thanks,” I wheezed.
He didn’t move away. I didn’t want him to.
“Take it easy, June Bug. I’ve been told my baked goods are to die for, but you don’t have to prove it.”
I smiled weakly up at him. “They’re seriously good though. When did you start baking?”
A crease formed in his brow. “Why are you back and don’t want your family to know?”
