Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Bay, baby, I’ll never pass up the opportunity to have your lips pressed to mine, but if you don’t want that, then I’ll wait.” He stands, letting go of my hand, and it takes me a minute, but eventually, I notice that he’s hard beneath the zipper of his jeans.
“Mac—” I breathe his name because what else do you say to your childhood crush who’s hard for you? Again, this man has made me speechless.
“Don’t worry, I don’t plan to act on it. Not without your permission. But my body’s reaction is not something I can control where you’re concerned. You’re here in my home, on my couch, your hand in mine.” He reaches for my hand that he let go of to stand. “It’s everything I ever wanted. The only thing that might make it better is if my arms were wrapped around you.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with Macklin?” I ask, trying to break the moment’s intensity.
“I’ve been sitting in the shadows, waiting for you,” he says sweetly.
“I need time,” I tell him.
“That’s not a no.” He grins.
“It’s not a no. I’d be lying if I said that the idea of us, the one you painted, isn’t enticing. Exciting in a way that my life has been missing for far too long. However, I know I need time to process. It’s barely been two weeks since walking away from New York and the life I’d built there.”
Macklin lifts our joined hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “The fact that you’re not running out the door, screaming for me to never speak to you again, that’s enough for now. That, finally, I might get the girl.” He squeezes my hand softly.
“I guess I should get going,” I say, but make no effort to move.
“Before you go, let me say this. I know you need time, but I’m going to be where you are, just as I told you earlier. If I get to be too much, don’t push me away, just tell me. Baylor, I’ve wanted this chance with you for so long. I know myself well enough to know I’ll push without meaning to. Just tell me, and I’ll slow down.”
“You?” I ask, quirking a brow, and we both share a laugh.
“I’ll try to slow down,” he amends, standing and offering me his hand. Tossing off the blanket, I take his hand and allow him to help me stand. “Do you want dessert before you go?” he asks, hope lacing his voice.
“I should get going. Thank you for dinner. It was amazing.”
“Anytime,” he says, leaning over and pecking a kiss to my cheek. After tonight’s conversation and earlier today in the stables, that small peck feels heavier. “Where are your keys? I’ll go start your car.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I tell him.
“I know that old truck doesn’t have remote start. Really, I don’t mind.” He holds his hand out, palm up.
“They’re by the door with my coat and shoes.”
With his hand on the small of my back, he leads me to the door. I grab my keys from the small table, and we both slip on our shoes. He pulls open the door and mutters, “Shit.”
“What?”
“It’s snowing.”
Dipping under his arm, I peer outside, and sure enough, there’s a good couple of inches of snow on the ground. “Ugh, that’s going to make for a fun drive home. At least it’s just a handful of miles.”
“Oh no,” he says, sliding his arm around my waist and closing the door. “You’re not driving in that.”
“Come on, Macklin. I might have moved to New York for a few years, but I grew up in Tennessee. I know how to drive in the snow.”
“Nope. You can just stay here.”
“What? No. I’m going home.”
“Then, I’ll drive you,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. He stares me down, his green eyes daring me to challenge him.
“If you drive me, then I’ll have to worry about you getting back, and the roads will be worse by then.”
“Just stay,” he says, dropping his arms. He reaches out and takes my hand in his. “I promise that you’re safe here. You can take my bed, and I’ll take the guest room.”
“Nope. No. No, I will not take your bed. The guest room is perfectly fine, but this is ridiculous. I can drive in snow.”
“I know, Baylor,” he says, “but I’m protective, and that’s not something that will change, so give me this, please. Just stay.”
“Fine. I’ll stay. I need to call my sisters and tell them I’m not coming home.”
“Do they know that you’re with me?”
“No, I just told them I was going out. They didn’t ask, but I’ll tell them where I am. I don’t want them to worry about me. Is that okay?” I ask, feeling the old insecurities of making choices that my ex didn’t agree with and getting berated for them.