The Heart - Kate Stewart Page 0,36
with humor “—is not something I’m used to. I didn’t quite know what to make of it. It’s still no excuse, so I’m going to have to beg your forgiveness.” He leaned in and gripped the side of my head, rubbing his thumb along my top lip. “You knocked the wind out of me.”
“Jack...”
“Hear me out,” he murmured as his eyes implored mine. “I’m not the kind of guy that can’t take no for an answer, but I can’t help but want to try again. And, well, if you shoot me down again, at least I can say I went down with my second wind.”
He leaned in close, his breath hitting my skin. Everything in me peaked, and for the first time since we met, my fear dissipated and thoughts of only him surrounded me in a cloud. I breathed in deeply, both in relief that he was there and in the fact that he wanted to try again. At that moment, I knew that I wanted him, and I wanted him to have me the way he wanted.
“And my dad?”
“It’s not like we don’t like each other. Hell, for all I know, I’m just being paranoid. Either way, we don’t have to say a word to anyone, for now.”
“I don’t know what I’m capable of,” I said honestly as he captured me with his soothing hands and soft eyes. “I swear. I don’t know if I’m capable of anything at all.”
“Then I guess we’ll see,” he said as he leaned in and brushed his lips on my cheek. “You’re shaking,” he whispered, running his hands through my hair. “I don’t want you afraid of me.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” I leaned into him, completely intoxicated, my picnic forgotten.
“Maybe you should be,” he whispered an inch from my lips, “because the first time I kiss you, I’m bringing everything I’ve got.”
“Aunt Wose!”
Our cloud disbursed quickly as an excited Grant came barreling toward us as fast as his little legs would move him, his father close behind.
“Hey, baby blue,” I said as I met him halfway and scooped him up in my arms. He quickly started wiggling in protest so I let him down with a sigh.
“Can we pway de goft tart?”
I looked at Jack in apology and noticed him eying Grant with fondness in his eyes. Grant had a way of doing that. Jack looked over at me and gave me a wink.
“Jack,” Dean greeted him with a short but friendly handshake.
“Dean,” Jack replied as they both looked at me expectantly.
“Oh, yes,” I said, looking down at Grant, who was growing impatient for an answer.
“I’ll go with you,” Jack said, looking at Dean. “You in? I must warn you, she’s a bit reckless on the cart. We might want to look for protective gear.”
“Shut up and get on,” I barked as I pulled my keys out of my pocket.
“And militant,” Jack muttered to Dean under his breath as I cut my eyes at him.
“You should have seen her at ten years old,” Dean said with a laugh as we all piled on the cart. I gave Dean a warning look, which he ignored.
“Brightest red hair in the state of Texas, and dear lord her mouth, a mile a minute and so full of shit.”
I caught little Grant’s gasp and eventual “Daddy say shit.”
“Good job, Martin,” I piped as Dean made a hissing sound through his teeth followed by an “Oops. Don’t tell Mommy.”
I belly laughed as we took off. Grant giggled gleefully with each speed bump. After a solid half hour of ‘pway’, we stopped again at the main building to see a waiting Dallas walking Annabelle around in the grass. Her little fingers were fisted around her mother’s.
“Hey, Daddy,” Dallas called to Dean. “Watch this!”
She loosened Annabelle’s death grip and the baby took two bold and purposeful steps forward before falling back into her mother. Dean shot out of the back seat, ran to Annabelle, and picked her up, giving her encouraging words as he showered her with kisses.
“Did we just see her first steps?” Jack asked with a hopeful hint in his voice.
I tried to hide my glazing eyes as I whispered a hoarse, “Yep.”
“Wow.” I looked over at Jack, who was looking on at my family with admiration. There was something unquestionably good about Jack, and I saw it in that moment.
“Daddy say shit!” Grant called out as he exited the cart. Dallas lifted her head skyward and shook it as if to ask ‘why’ while Jack