Beating Heart: A Small Town, Single Dad Romance (Magnolia Falls Series Book 4)

I stared down at her.

Cheeks flushed.

Lips parted.

Hair falling around her, forming a goddamn halo, looking like an angel.

I couldn’t look away. I stroked her hair away from her pretty face as her gaze locked with mine.

“Wow. Dinner with the best balls in town, and now you’re giving out nightcap orgasms. I’ve never lived next door to someone who was quite so neighborly.”

“Well, I’ve fixed the electrical and a water leak for the Halls a few times, but you’re the first neighbor I’ve shared my fabulous balls with and graced with an orgasm.”

“Speaking of balls,” she said, tugging me down and rolling onto her side to face me. “How about I return the favor?”

I groaned when she slipped her hand into my gray joggers and stroked me over my briefs.

“I’d hate to deprive you of these spectacular balls.” My voice was gruff.

She quickly shoved my joggers and my briefs down my thighs, and my dick sprung to life. Her eyes widened as she took me in, wrapping her hand around my shaft, moving it up and down as I rolled onto my back.

“Fuck,” I hissed, because it felt too damn good. “Just like that.”

She moved to her knees, bottom lip pinned between her teeth, as her heated gaze watched me. My hips started moving as she pumped harder.

Faster.

I reached up and wrapped my hand around her neck and tugged her down. I needed my mouth on hers. Now.

My lips crashed into hers, tongue slipping in when her lips parted for me. I fucked her mouth while I fucked her hand.

And nothing had ever felt better.

I moaned into her mouth as she continued working me with her hand.

My body tensed just as the most powerful orgasm shot through every inch of me. I erupted as a guttural sound left my throat, and I came hard.

She didn’t pull back.

Didn’t care that I was making a fucking mess.

She continued kissing me and running her hand up and down my shaft as I rode out every last bit of pleasure.

Once my breathing slowed, and she pulled back to look at me, she just smiled with this sexy look that had my chest squeezing in response. She pushed to her feet and moved to the bathroom, and I heard the water turn on. She came back with a damp washcloth and cleaned me up. I reached for it, but she pulled back.

I pushed the hair back from her face. “You don’t need to do that. I can do it.”

“I want to do it. You’ve done more for me over the last two days than you even realize.” Her eyes were slightly wet with emotion, and she blinked a few times and looked away.

“Hey,” I said, reaching up to turn her chin so she’d meet my gaze. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

She sighed and reached for my hand and placed it on her chest, over her heart. “You know how you said your heart only beat for Cutler?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, for the last few months, I didn’t know if mine would ever beat again. But can you feel that strong heartbeat there?” she asked, keeping her hand over mine. “I know this is just two neighbors having some fun, and it can’t go anywhere, but I don’t know… I feel like you’ve brought me back to life in a way, Nash. So, if this all ends right now, today, thank you for doing that.”

Her words hit me hard. I understood that feeling when you weren’t sure you’d ever feel anything again. I’d been closed off for a long time. Focused on Cutler. On giving him a good life.

I didn’t regret a thing.

I’d walk through fire over and over until my skin was pure ash for that boy. But I wouldn’t lie; it felt good to like the woman who was currently sitting beside me in my bed. Normally, I was one foot out the door.

I didn’t feel any of that with Emerson.

“How about this—” I said, slipping the hair behind her ear before tucking my dick back into my pants and sitting forward. “We take it one day at a time. I know you came here to heal and to put the past behind you. There are no expectations here. But I’m also not going to lie and say I don’t like being with you. So how about we just enjoy things for right now?”

She nodded, the corners of her lips turning up. “I can do that. I just don’t want to confuse Cutler.”

“You live next door. You’re his doctor. He won’t be confused. I’ve taught him to be neighborly,” I said, waggling my brows, and she laughed and pushed to her feet. She moved to the bathroom, and I heard the water turn on again before she came out and clasped her fingers together.

“Okay. Well, thanks for a great dinner.” She smirked. “I need to be up early. I’m going to grab Winnie and head home.”

I nodded, and it surprised me that I was disappointed she was leaving. Of course, she was leaving. We weren’t dating. We were friendly neighbors. Who enjoyed making out and trading orgasms.

Nothing more.

I’d never allowed a woman to stay the night in my home with my son here.

But as I followed her down the hallway, and she tiptoed into Cutler’s room and patted Winnie to follow her out, I wondered what it would be like if she were here.

All the time.

Where the fuck did that come from?

When she got to the door, she turned around, and I was on her once again. I pinned her there beneath my weight and kissed her hard.

She was breathless when she pulled back and looked up at me. “I know we’re not overthinking this, but I need to say something. I need to say it for myself. And it’s okay if you want to run for the hills. I’d understand.”

“Tell me.”

“Well, if we are going to continue, you know, trading the orgasms,” she said, pausing to look at me with those jade-green, intoxicating eyes.

“I plan on trading many more before you leave town.” I ran the tip of my nose against hers.

“Well, obviously, you know my story. I’ve only been with one guy for the past too many years.” She chuckled, but I could tell she was nervous by the way she was biting her lip.

“Agreed. You wasted a lot of time on an asshole.”

“So, I’m all about having fun right now, but I’m not a girl who bounces around. It’s just not who I am. And after what Collin did, I only have one rule that I just can’t bend on. And I know this is casual and temporary and all of that.”

“Emerson.” I put my finger on her lips to stop her. “You don’t need to explain anything. Tell me what the rule is.”

“You can’t be trading orgasms with someone else while we’re—exploring things.” She looked away as if she had no right to ask me to be monogamous with her.

I placed my thumb and pointer finger on each side of her chin and turned her to look at me. “That goes without saying. It’s you and me having some fun. But only you and me.”

I saw the relief in her eyes, and she nodded. “And if you wake up tomorrow and you’re done exploring with me, just please tell me. I want us to be open with one another.”

“Done. Same with you. We keep it casual and we’re honest with one another. And while we’re messing around, we don’t mess around with anyone else. I couldn’t agree more.”

“Not a bad way to spend my almost wedding night, huh?”

“Hooking up with your neighbor instead of walking down the aisle with a douchebag? It’s a win for sure.”

Her head tipped back in laughter. “All right. I need to go.”

My tongue dipped out and slid across my bottom lip as I pulled the door open. “I’ll walk you out.”

“It’s Magnolia Falls, and I have a large dog with me.”

“You have a giant stuffed animal, not a guard dog. And maybe I just want to enjoy the view of watching you walk away.”

“So smooth.” She shook her head as she walked down the steps and across the grass. And I did exactly what I said I would.

I watched her walk away.

Reminding myself that she’d be walking away permanently in a few months.

But for whatever reason, I just didn’t care.

I’d always trusted my gut, and my gut was telling me to enjoy this time with her.

I waited until she was inside her house and she’d closed the door behind her, and I made my way back inside.

Once the house was locked up and I turned all the lights off, I made my way to my room. My phone was vibrating, and I knew exactly who it would be. I sat on the edge of my bed and opened the text chain from my boys to catch up.

King

I’m guessing dinner is going well. We haven’t heard from Nash in hours.

Romeo

I think he likes her. I saw the way he was looking at her all day.

Hayes

That doesn’t change the fact that she’s leaving in a few months. He’s wise to be cautious.

River

You assholes do realize it’s a group text, and he’s going to see this, right?

King

<head exploding emoji>

King

Of course, we do, dicknugget. We’re talking it through. I like that he actually likes someone. I was starting to worry that he might be broken.

I barked out a laugh. We really had no filter with one another, but calling me broken on a group chat was next level.

Hayes

He’s not broken. He’s damaged.

Romeo

He’s not broken or damaged. He’s just cautious. He’s raising a kid on his own. It’s a full-time job.

River

He’s going to really enjoy catching up on these messages. <eyeroll emoji>

King

Cautious is a better word. And rightfully so. But he also deserves to be happy.

Hayes

I’ve got news for you. You can be happy without having the same woman in your bed every night. Nash does just fine.

King

You can’t just have flings for the rest of your life. Eventually, everyone wants to settle down.

Hayes

You were the one who was never going to settle down. Now you’re an expert on relationships? <middle finger emoji>

River

Listen, Nash is in a different place than we are. None of us have a kid to raise, nor are we doing it as a single parent. So, if he wants to have flings for the rest of his life, he can do that. He makes his own rules.

Romeo

I have something to tell you, but I’d rather tell you when I know Nash is here.

River

If you are going to get back in that ring and fight again, I’m going to lose my shit. I can’t go through it again.

Romeo

You can’t watch ME get hit over and over?

River

Correct.

Hayes

I fucking agree. It’s the one and only time I’ve experienced human tears. They were coming from my eyes when you went down during that fight and crawled back to your feet. Fuck no. Not going there again.

King

Sorry, dude. I agree. I don’t support it. Plus, your face is just too pretty to look at right now. I don’t like seeing it all swollen and discolored. It freaks me out.

Romeo

Thanks. Well, lucky for me, and apparently all of you, I’m not getting back in the ring.

River

Tell us.

Romeo

Not until Nash is here.

For fuck’s sake. I’m here. I’m slightly offended that I’m being psychoanalyzed, but I’ll let it go. But I’m glad you aren’t getting back in the ring again. I can’t stomach seeing grumpy Hayes whimpering like a big ole baby.

Hayes

Real men cry. At least that’s what King told me.

King

My work here is done. Mic drop.

River

We’re waiting, Romeo.

Romeo

Cutler is going to have a sibling or a cousin or a bestie. I’m not sure what it is since we are technically not blood-related.

King

Nash is pregnant? <head exploding emoji> <laughing emoji>

STFU. Beans is pregnant?

Romeo

She is. We just took a test. She said we can’t tell anyone yet because you’re supposed to wait a few months. But she knows we don’t keep secrets.

Hayes

Congrats, brother. Happy for you both.

River

Fucking amazing. Cutler is going to be really happy about this, too.

King

Holy shit. What if Romeo has a daughter, and Cutler falls in love with her? <head exploding emoji>

Romeo

If I have a daughter, she won’t be allowed to date until she’s forty. But if Cutler wants to wait that long, he’d be my first choice.

This is really amazing, Ro. Cutler is going to watch out for that little girl or boy like a big brother. I won’t tell him yet, because we all know little dude can’t keep a secret. I’ll let you and Demi tell him. I’m really happy for you.

My chest squeezed the slightest bit at the thought. Cutler had changed my life in so many ways—all of them for the better.

I’d become a man the day my son came into the world.

A father.

And even though it hadn’t always been easy, it had been the greatest joy of my life.

And I was fucking thrilled for my friend to experience it. He and Demi would be amazing parents. That little voice in my head was always there, reminding me that I was failing my boy by not giving him a traditional family.

But at the end of the day, he was loved. Deeply and fully.

And hopefully, that would be enough.

King

Damn. Romeo’s going to be a dad. We’re all growing up, aren’t we?

River

Yep. When is this big, grand dandelion proposal going to happen?

King

Soon. I’ll send you the details. We’re all meeting at Whiskey Falls after. The girls and I are planning a little surprise party for Saylor after we get engaged.

Hayes

Pending she says yes.

King

She says yes every night. <winky face emoji>

Hayes

Sleep with one eye open, lover boy. <middle finger emoji>

Romeo

Excited for you, brother. Will you be inviting Emerson to the engagement party?

River

Nice segue, Ro. Bringing us full circle. How was the date?

It wasn’t a date. It was dinner with my neighbor.

King

So nothing happened? No frisky time? <fire emoji>

Hayes

Are you fucking drunk? What is wrong with you?

King

Just asking what everyone wants to know.

I never kiss and tell.

King

I’m a vault. You tell me everything.

River

You’re a fucking broken vault, brother.

Romeo

They don’t call you Loose Lips Pierce for nothing.

Hayes

You’re worse than Cutler.

King

He’s evading. Obviously something happened, or he wouldn’t have anything to hide.

River

I think he likes her. He’s being all secretive and gentlemanly now.

Romeo

He definitely likes her.

Hayes

I think you’re right.

King

Of course, I’m right. I called it weeks ago. He definitely likes her.

I chuckled and set my phone down. I wasn’t going to respond. I ran a hand down my face and thought about it.

They were right.

They knew me well.

I definitely liked her.