Page 16 of Coastal Rewind

“Yeah, no problem.” I tried to act calm, but my heart rate picked up a little at the thought of being alone with her again.

Ryleigh shot her brother a puzzled look. Without a word, she shrugged and grabbed her purse before following me out of the bar.

We were silent as we walked across the gravel parking lot. I didn’t know what to say to her. It was like I was a teenager again, taking my first date home.

I opened the passenger door for her, but as she took a step up her foot caught on a rock. She squealed as she fell forward. I reached out and caught her by the waist, effectively dwarfing her body with mine as I pinned her against the car.

“Careful there, Sunshine,” I whispered, my mouth hovering painfully close to hers.

“Thank you,” she said quickly.

Her hands fisted my shirt slightly as her breath hitched. For a moment, we stayed exactly like that, unmoving. Her eyes fell to her hands, suddenly aware that she was holding me in place. She snapped out of it, releasing me and slipping inside the car. I stood there for a second to catch my breath before closing her door and rounding the SUV.

It was a clear and warm night, so I opened the sunroof and rolled the windows down. Ryleigh clicked on the radio and turned the dial until she reached a pop station. She turned the volume up and leaned her head back, looking completely content.

“I didn’t peg you for a pop girl,” I said as I pulled out of the parking lot and turned left toward Malibu.

“I’m full of surprises.” Her head lolled to the side so she was facing me, a lazy smile on her lips.

“I have no doubt.”

We rode in comfortable silence as the music and salty night air filled the car. It had been a long time since I’d felt so at peace just being in the presence of someone. The calm was a nice reprieve from the storm that was constantly brewing in my head.

I pulled in front of the Kellys’ house in Malibu and shifted the car in park.

“Thanks for the ride,” Ryleigh said before popping the door open and sliding out. She leaned into the open window as the light breeze blew through the loose strands of her hair.

“Anytime.” I glanced down at her lips as thoughts entered my brain that had no business being there. She tracked my eyes and poked her tongue out to lick her bottom lip.

Ryleigh was gorgeous and spontaneous and fun—any man’s dream. If I didn’t have MJ and real responsibilities, I would’ve already had her in my bed. But I did, which meant that fun, spontaneous women were not something that should have been on my radar.

In two weeks, she’d be gone with the wind chasing her next adventure, and I’d still be here.

That was the harsh reality.

“Pickup at three on Wednesday. Have a good trip.” She pushed off the car and turned to walk into the house.

“Good night, Superstar,” she shouted without turning to face me again.

“Good night, Sunshine,” I whispered to myself before putting the car into drive and pulling out of the driveway.

seven

Ryleigh

We pulled up the address that Mason sent me earlier today and I hopped out of Aiden’s truck. Yesterday, I realized I didn’t have a car or a booster seat to pick MJ up—one of the many reasons I was wildly unprepared to be responsible for this child. Mason didn’t hesitate to tell me he’d leave his SUV for me. He sent me the code to the front door and a detailed description of where his keys would be.

It was mildly concerning how trusting he was.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said to Aiden, glancing up at the property in front of me.

I wasn’t sure what I expected to find when Mason sent me his address, but this modest single-story home with sparse landscaping was not on the list. I would’ve thought a baseball star like him would live in a mansion that had too many bedrooms and a full time cleaning staff.

“You sure you’ll be good watching the kid?” Aiden asked through his open window.

I furrowed my brow at him. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re just not usually one to act all domestic.” There was no judgment in his voice, but it still hurt.