Until Now (Not Yet #2) by Laura Ward Page A

there.”
    “What should I do if he comes back?” Finn looked back and forth between Dean and me.
    “You know,” I began. “I’m one hundred percent certain that was just a dream. Want to know how I know?” Dean and Finn both nodded, and I giggled. “We live in Indiana. We don’t have any crocodiles in our state other than in the zoo. I listened to the news tonight. There have been no escapes from the zoo. You’re safe, buddy.”
    Finn threw his arms around me in a hug and then did the same to Dean. As he pulled back, Dean took his hand in his. “Cool birthmark, Just Finn.” He stared at the long brown birthmark on Finn’s hand, close to his wrist.
    “It’s not a birthmark, Dean.” Finn’s face was serious.
    Dean tilted his head to the side. “What is it?”
    My stomach flipped. I knew what was coming. The conversation I had been putting off would happen tonight.
    “An angel kiss. Mama said my daddy kissed my hand up in heaven to say good-bye to me before I came to see her here on earth.” Finn pressed his lips to his angel kiss and then hopped up. “Night, night.”
    I blew him a kiss, and Dean waved as Finn walked back into his room. I joined Dean in his cross-legged position and faced him.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you first.” I took his hand in mine and studied the contrast. His large hand engulfed my small one, his tan fingers wrapped around my pale ones, which were dusted with freckles.
    “Finn’s father is dead?” Dean whispered, and I nodded. “How? Before he was born?”
    I looked up into Dean’s eyes, so crystal-clear blue they reminded me of the ocean. “His dad’s name was Josh. He struggled with depression for a long time, and he died by suicide months before Finn was born.” My voice cracked, and tears fell from my eyes, running down my cheeks. Dean pulled me onto his lap, rocking me back and forth, and kissed the top of my head.
    “I’m so sorry, Grace.” Dean’s voice was raw, and my heart hammered in my chest. His knowing this was one more tie to him, one more link from my heart to his.
    I looked up and brushed my lips against his. “I’ve always been on my own with Finn. He’s never known any parent but me.” I turned, straddling him, and placed my hands on his shoulders. “This doesn’t change anything, Dean. Don’t start feeling sorry for us. Finn and I are fine.”
    Dean closed his eyes and his jaw clenched and unclenched. When he opened his eyes again, his pupils were dilated, and his eyes flashed. “I don’t feel sorry for you, Red. But I feel… a lot.”
    I stood up and held up one finger in pause. I walked into Finn’s room and checked on him. Sound asleep. I closed his door and walked back to Dean, holding my hand out to him. He placed his in mine and jumped to his feet.
    “I feel a lot too. Probably more than you can imagine. I feel more for you than I have for any other man, even though all we've done is kiss. Sometimes I wonder if you want... me? In that way? Or is it just that you feel sorry for me?”
    Dean’s eyes widened, and he growled, lifting me off my feet. I wrapped my legs around his waist. His body shook, and I linked my hands around his neck. “Which door is to your room?” he asked.
    My pulse sped up. I hated admitting one more thing to him that he could pity me for. “I don’t have a room.”
    He froze. I was certain he stopped breathing. He turned around, pressing my back against the wall. “This is a one bedroom?”
    I looked down watching where our hips pressed together. “It’s what I can afford.”
    “Where do you sleep, Red?” His voice was so rough I shivered.
    “The couch. It’s fine,” I whispered.
    “Where do you keep your clothes?” He sounded angry. I didn’t want that either. No one but Sylvie knew or cared where I slept. Until now.
    “In the hall closet. Some in Finn’s room.”
    Dean blew out a long breath. “It’s gonna take me some time to process all that you do for your son, Red. Just know that