Page 64 of Hollywood

We paused and laughed.

“You go first,” Holly said. “Was that okay?”

“Better than okay, Hendrix. Damn.” I cupped his face and leaned in. “Can’t wait to do it again.”

He parted his lips as if to answer, but Ruby cried out, cutting him short.

“Teck!”

Hollywood scrambled off me and grabbed my sweats fromthe floor. “Shit, get dressed. I’ll go check on her before she comes out here.”

He dropped my sweats in my lap and took off down the hall. I shoved my legs into them, trying to recalibrate from the abrupt mood shift.

I picked up my shirt and slipped it on as I headed toward Hollywood and Ruby’s room. I found him stripping off her sodden pullup.

“She hasn’t wet the bed since the first night,” he said, face drawn tight.

“It’s my fault.” I grabbed a diaper from the stack on his dresser. “Leaving and coming back. It must be confusing.”

He shot a glance over his shoulder, lips quirking. “A little.”

I could tell he didn’t mean only for Ruby.

We traded diapers—Holly helped Ruby pull on the fresh one while I disposed of the soaked one.

“I wet,” Ruby said sadly.

“It’s okay,” Hollywood said softly. “We’ll get you all dry and comfy.”

He fetched her new pajama bottoms, because the pullup had leaked, and helped her get settled back into her bed. Luckily, the sheets were still dry.

“Better?” he asked.

“Yes.” She blinked sleepily. “Teck?”

I lowered my hand to smooth back her hair. “I’m still here, Too girl. I’m not going anywhere.” I turned to look at Hollywood. “You hear me, darlin? I’m here to stay.”

He lowered his eyes, face soft in the glow of the nightlight, and my heart contracted. I’d almost lost him. Almost let fear keep me from the best man I’d ever met.

Never again, I vowed.

I reached for his hand and laced our fingers. I brought his hand up and kissed his palm. “Come on. Let Ruby sleep.”

He followed me out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind him and leaning back against it.

I cupped his face and leaned in. “Where were we?”

He dropped his gaze. “I should probably shower.”

“Hey.” I put my finger under his chin, tilting his face up to look me in the eye. “Is something wrong?”

Hollywood had asked if I had regrets, but I hadn’t asked him. I’d taken it for granted that he wanted it to happen.

“No, nothing’s wrong, but—” He stopped short, nibbling his bottom lip.

“Tell me, darlin’. Whatever it is, just tell me.”

He drew a deep breath. “You said you wanted to talk before you went to Hayworth. What about? I can’t take the suspense anymore.”