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Nash pressed a kiss to her forehead. “The next move is your call. I’ll stand behind you whatever you decide. If you want to forget about the Blackwells, stay here, and make a life in the Keys, I’ll do it.”
Honey’s heart couldn’t swell any more than it already had. Had she ever been this selfless? “You would move away from your family. From your best friends. From everything you know if I asked you to?”
He didn’t hesitate. He nodded. “We’re family now, Honey. That’s what we do.”
Stinker must have sensed her turmoil. The small dog hopped onto her lap and licked her hand. Slowly, she stroked the top of the dog’s head, her mind thinking ahead to what she had to do. It was time she faced her past. Time to lay those demons to rest. It was the only way she could truly move on.
She kissed Nash once more. “I better pack.”
“We’ve got a couple of hours.” His hands were in her hair. On her body. Pulling at her clothes.
“We do?” Her voice was husky as she positioned herself on top of him.
He nodded. “I booked our flights back when I arrived.”
“That’s ballsy.”
“I’m a ballsy kind of guy.” His fingers grazed her nipples, and she hissed. “I haven’t seen you naked in five months, so I’m going to apologize now, because this is going to be a quick one.” He froze, a look of panic on his face. “We can do this, right? I don’t know how this works.”
Honey kissed him. “It works the same as always, though I might be too much for you to handle.” She reached for his shirt. “All the hormones.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Nash grinned, and Honey ordered the dog off the sofa, and they got down to the important task of getting naked.
The flight back to Detroit took about three hours. They flew from Key West at five a.m. and landed around eight in the morning. The air was crisp and the sun brilliant as they loaded up Nash’s truck, which was waiting for them. Spring was in the air, and Honey’s heart felt a little lighter.
Stinker had never been in a car before, so Honey was pleasantly surprised when the small dog flopped down in the backseat and slept the entire ninety minutes it took to get from Detroit to Crystal Lake. By the time they got to Nash’s place, Honey was exhausted. She hadn’t slept much because of the sex. And her nerves. And the sex.
Good God, the sex. Who knew that pregnant sex could be that good? Nash had been ravenous. Relentless. Curious of the changes in her body. Her nipples were extra sensitive. Her orgasms explosive. And he said she tasted better than anything he’d ever had before.
She blushed as she pictured him between her legs, his hands holding her thighs apart so he could see and taste every single inch of her.
“You okay?” he asked as he parked the truck and cut the engine.
She slid from his vehicle and waited for Stinker to follow. “I will be after a shower, and then we’ll go to him.”
He rounded the truck and folded her into his arms, his face concerned, his touch gentle. “Are you sure you want to do this today? It can wait until tomorrow.”
“No,” she said, inhaling his scent and melting against him. “I don’t think it can. I don’t want John to wait. It’s not fair. I want to start my life with you, and I can’t do that until I see John. I need to finish this, Nash. I need to have closure.”
“Okay. Whatever you need.” He loosened his grip, and they headed inside. He tried to talk her into a nap, but Honey was so wired, she knew it wouldn’t happen. They both showered and in under an hour were on their way to the Blackwell home. By the time they got there, Honey had regained her strength, and she slid from the truck, determined to see this through, and, more importantly, determined to be strong.
Hudson was waiting on the step, and behind him, she spied Wyatt and Travis. The three Blackwell boys. Her brothers. They looked tired and sad and unsure.
“Ready?” Nash slipped her hand into his and squeezed gently. She let him lead her to the house. None of the men said anything about her pregnancy, but then Nash must have told them. It was awkward at first. She tried not to think of the things Hudson had said about her, but they were there, on the edge of her mind, pecking away at her courage.
“I’m sorry, Honey,” Hudson said simply. “We’ll talk, we will. But later If that’s okay?”
“Of course.”” she replied, offering a wan smile. “How is John?”
Hudson shook his head. “He’s refused to take any kind of pain medication because he knew you were coming. He wanted to be able to have a conversation with you.” He stood back. “We should do this. You should go see him.”
There isn’t much time. Hudson didn’t say the words, but she saw them in his eyes and in the fatigue around his mouth.
Subdued, Honey walked inside and followed Hudson up to John’s room. It smelled of sickness and despair, and death. She supposed no matter what your lot in life was, everyone ended up in the same place, knocking on death’s door. It was the grace with which a person handled the end that told the true strength of their character. Her mother had not done well with it, too many regrets, it seemed, which made a sad situation that much harder.
Honey had no idea how this would go; she just knew it needed to be done.
Darlene got up from the bed and, without hesitation, drew Honey into her arms. “I’m so glad you came,” she whispered, her voice hoarse and weak. “It means a lot to him.” She stepped back. “We’ll leave you alone. He’s resting his eyes, but he knows you’re here.”
