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“No. I…” She exhaled and attempted a smile. “I haven’t.”
“That’s what I thought.”
John interrupted the exchange and grabbed Honey’s arm. “Would you mind helping this old fart back to his chair?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Once in the great room, Nash slid up beside her. He kissed the side of her neck and pulled h
er down beside him. For one blissful moment, she felt warm and safe—like nothing bad could touch her ever again. But then Hudson walked into the room, his eyes dark and intense, his expression unreadable.
He was thinking things, and that made her nervous.
Honey couldn’t help but ask herself, what the hell had she gotten herself into? Maybe she should bail before things got too complicated. But then hadn’t they already? As Nash nuzzled the side of her neck…as she welcomed his touch and melted into his embrace, she asked herself one more question.
Was she going to survive this?
18
January and February flew by. Normally, this was the time of year when Nash was itching to get out of Crystal Lake and do something. Something big and exciting, like the time he’d gone deep-sea fishing in the Caribbean or scuba diving in Belize or exploring caves in Thailand. But for the first time in years, he was content to stay put, enjoy life, and maybe set down more permanent roots.
There were several reasons for that, but the main one, the one that mattered most, was about five foot eight, sexy as hell, with a laugh that made his heart sing. Honey Harrison had come out of nowhere and had this confirmed bachelor thinking things he’d never thought before. Things that could change everything.
He smiled at the thought and parked the last sled in Hudson’s heated shop. There were at least ten snowmobiles parked there, a testament to what had been an amazing day. It was Friday, but there’d been no school, and with Honey’s organization, a bunch of them had hosted kids who frequented the drop-in center to a day out in the bush surrounding Hudson’s resort. They’d enjoyed snowmobile rides and a sugar shack. It was early March, and the weather had cooperated, meaning the red maples had been tapped early and the maple syrup was flowing. It brought back memories, and he realized how much this life, one he’d been so damn eager to run from for years, had to offer.
Nash Booker had a love for Michigan, for these mountains and lakes, that ran deep. He was a four-season kind of man, and now it seemed he was willing to sit still and enjoy it. He glanced up at the sky, noting early evening was creeping in. He was chilled, but that was okay since he had plans later that would be guaranteed to warm him up.
“Uncle Nash. I don’t want to go.” He turned and was immediately hit by his firecracker of a nephew. Tink wrapped his little arms around Nash’s legs and stamped his feet. “I don’t want to go with Mommy. I want to stay here with you.”
The poor kid wasn’t handling the move back to Crystal Lake all that well, and Nash felt for him. Hell, he felt for all of them. His sister and his former brother-in-law. The man might have got it wrong—cheating was never the right answer—but after a heart-to-heart one night with the guy, Nash understood that not all love was forever. At the moment, his sister and brother-in-law were taking a break and Nash hoped that one day they’d find their way back to each other.
Life was a crapshoot, and a smart man grabbed what was right and good and held on as long as he could. If that man was lucky, it was forever.
“Uncle Nash?” Tink’s tearstained face looked up at him. His nose was running, and Nash hunted through his parka until he found some tissue. He bent down and helped the kid blow his nose.
“You got to go, kiddo. Your mom is waiting.”
“But I don’t want to go with her. I want to stay with you.”
Nash took a moment to consider his words. Tink was young enough to pick up on the tension and upheaval in his young life. He was focused on Nash because his dad was living out of state until the family home could be sold. He got it. But the kid had to understand that a mother’s word was law.
“We had a good day, bud. We’ll do it again. But in the meantime, it’s getting late, and your mom probably wants to get you home to eat.”
“I’m full of maple of syrup. I don’t want to eat supper. I don’t want to go home. I want to come back to your house for a tubby.” Nash had had the little guy out a few times for hockey and a hot tub, but it wasn’t happening tonight. Nash decided to try a different approach.
“Are you missing your dad?”
Tink was silent for a few moments and then slowly shrugged. “He doesn’t love me anymore.”
Nash’s heart nearly collapsed in on itself. He knelt down until his face was level to Tink’s. “Your dad loves you, bud. Don’t ever think he doesn’t. Your parents are going through some adult stuff, and sometimes that adult stuff takes time to work itself out. Sometimes it means your dad won’t be living with you, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t think about you every day or miss you as much as you miss him. It means when you guys are together, you gotta make every minute count. Just like when you’re with your mom. She drove all the way out here to pick you up and take you home with her. She’s probably been looking forward to seeing your face all day. Don’t you think?”
Tink scuffed his boot on the floor. “I guess so. Adult stuff sucks.” Tink sniffled and grabbed for another tissue.
“It does,” Nash said. He hugged the kid close and stood. “But it’s Friday, right? Isn’t that pizza night?”
Tink nodded and wiped at his nose. “Yes.” His brow furrowed. “I think Mommy said Joe could come over.”
“Who’s Joe?” Nash asked as he got to his feet.
