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)
“And if I decide you’re not who I want? What if I leave Magnolia Ridge again? What if I can’t stay here?”
“If you can look me in the eye, after spending time with me, and tell me I’m not the man for you, then I’ll accept that. I’ll hate every fucking minute of it, but I’ll accept it. If you decide you need to leave again, I’ll pack my bags and ask you where we’re going. If you don’t know, that’s okay, too, as long as I’m with you.”
“Macklin,” she breathes, her eyes watering. “What you’re saying, it sounds too good to be true.”
“It’s not.” There’s conviction in my tone as I hold her gaze. Her blue eyes swarm with emotion, the hope I saw earlier, and maybe a little fear. She’s worried about getting her heart broken and trusting again, only to have the rug pulled out from under her, but she doesn’t have to worry about that with me.
I’m locked in. No turning back.
Without a word, she stands, grabs both of our bowls, takes them to the sink, and starts washing them and cleaning up from dinner.
“I can get that,” I tell her.
“You cooked and made dessert. I’ll clean.”
Standing, I walk around the island and stand behind her. I place my hands on her hips and lean in close, my lips hovering next to her ear. “Let me take care of you,” I whisper.
She turns to glance at me over her shoulder, which brings her lips a breath from mine. “I’m a big girl, Macklin. I can wash the dishes.”
I step closer, which aligns her body with mine. “I’m on your team, Baylor. If you’re washing dishes, then so am I.” I press a kiss to the tip of her nose, and a breathtaking smile lights up her face. It takes effort, more than I knew that I possessed, to release my hold on her, step beside her, reach for the towel, and start to dry. “You know,” I say after a few minutes, “we could have just put these in the dishwasher.”
She giggles. “Now you tell me.” She shakes her head, that beautiful smile still in place, and I stand a little taller. My girl is here, she’s happy, and while we have a long road to travel before her trust in men is restored, I wouldn’t trade this time with her for anything.
Fifteen minutes later, some splashed bubbles, and a lot of laughs, the kitchen is spotless. “Want to watch a movie?” I offer.
She nods but covers a yawn. “Sure,” she finally replies.
“Nah, you’re tired. Let’s get you to bed.” I offer her my hand, hoping like hell she takes it, and after a few seconds, which seems like minutes, of staring at it, she presses her palm against mine, and I lead her down the hall to my room. “I’ll get you something to sleep in,” I tell her. I could release her, but I’m not ready, so I guide her to my dresser, pull out a T-shirt and some pajama pants one-handed, and hand them to her. “Do you want a hoodie, too?”
“Actually, yes, please.” Her cheeks turn a darker shade, and I fight my grin.
With her hand still in mine, I lead us to the closet, where I pull out one of my old hoodies that a sponsor gave me years ago and hand it to her. “The bathroom is through that door.” I point to the bathroom.
“Nope. I’m not taking your bed, Macklin. Show me to the guest room.”
“Baylor—” I start, but she’s already shaking her head, her refusal at her lips.
“Nope. Come on.” Tugging on my hand, she’s now in the lead, and she pulls me out of my bedroom and across the hall to the guest room. “This is where I’ll be. Bathroom’s down the hall, right?” she asks.
“It is.” I nod, resigned that she won’t be in my bed tonight. “You know you’re ruining my fantasy of having you in my bed.”
She chuckles. “What’s the fun of that if I’m in it without you?”
I part my lips to reply, but I’ve got nothing. “Come here.” I open my arms for a hug, and she tosses the clothes onto the bed before stepping into my embrace. “Goodnight, sweet Baylor.”
“Goodnight, Macklin,” she says, before pulling away far too soon for my liking.
“I’ll be right across the hall if you need me. Help yourself to anything you need. Wake me for anything, and tomorrow, I’m making breakfast.”
“You’re trying to spoil me.”
“Yes.” I flash her a grin and force myself to turn and walk out of the room before I beg her to let me stay.
I can’t sleep. My alarm clock says it’s just after two in the morning, and I’ve been lying here for hours. I keep replaying our conversation from last night, and I’ll be honest, there was a part of me that thought she might rush out of my house without a backward glance, but she didn’t. She listened to my story, asked questions, we talked, and she stayed.