Chapter 16

“Don’t you make fun of me,” I snapped.

“I’m not…I’m sorry…Ah, baby.”

Before I could snap again, this time to inform him in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t a baby, he pulled me into his arms. The scent of his aftershave swirled around my head, and I inhaled deeply. I’d always loved that scent, even back in high school.

“Artemas.” I sighed. Did I just feel his lips brush against my temple?

“Oliver’s my cousin. He’s visiting from out of town, and he wanted to meet the young man he’d been hearing about for years.”

“Really? You talked about me to your family?”

“I did.”

“For years?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why is it so hard for you to accept how well-thought-of you are?”

I stepped out of his embrace. “Because I’m not the man I was.” I didn’t need to be well-thought-of, I needed to be loved. The corner of his mouth curled up in a grin, and I wanted to hit him. “What do you find so funny?”

“I’m sorry, Drey. It’s just—you make it sound as if you lost your manhood.”