Southern Comfort - Natasha Madison Page 0,81

me about the room upstairs. Why I built it.” I take one more step. “And I told you I did it for my nieces and nephews, and I never said I did it for my kids, and the reason was because I was never going to get married.” I watch her as she processes what I just said. “I was never going to let myself get serious with someone. It was easier.” I take another step. “And then I met you.” My heart is beating. “I met you, and everything that I thought went straight out the window.”

“Casey,” she says, shaking her head and now a sob rips out of her.

“I watched you sleep last night,” I say. “I watched your chest rise and fall, and the whole time I told myself I wasn’t going to tell you how I felt because I didn’t want to pressure you into staying.” The tears that run down her face flow faster now. “I didn’t think I was good enough, or that I had what you needed. I didn’t have anything to offer you. I don’t even know if I have what you need or want but …” I shake my head, blinking away my own tears. “I want to build this home with you. I want to help you plant those roots, and if you don’t like it here, we can plant the roots wherever you want. The only thing I know is that you are the only one I want to do this with.”

“Casey,” she whispers again, and this time, I close the space between us, and I’m standing in front of her. I take the hanger out of her hand and toss it on the bed. She puts her hands to her face and sobs. I pull them from her face.

“I love you.” I finally say three words I’ve never said to anyone in my whole life, not counting my family. “I love you so much.” Her eyes light up. “All of you.”

“Cowboy,” she says, hanging her head and coming into my arms and crying in my neck. My arms wrap around her, and for the first time today, my heart beats properly. Like it’s found its missing piece.

I kiss the top of her head. “Don’t cry, darlin’,” I say, hugging her even tighter.

“I thought you wanted me gone,” she finally says softly. “You wouldn’t look at me this morning.” She doesn’t move her face from the crook of my neck. “I thought you were disgusted by me.”

“What?” I shriek out and push her away from me so she can see my face. “How can you think that?”

“You wouldn’t even look at me,” she says softly, avoiding my eyes, and I put my finger under her chin so I can see her, and she can see me. “I just ...”

“I left because I couldn’t stand the thought of you wanting to leave. I left because I couldn’t imagine you not here.”

“Well, that was dumb, cowboy,” she says and smiles. “I love you.” Her whole face lights up, and I see her shield is down, and that she is bursting. “I have never loved anyone like I love you. I didn’t think I was good enough for you,” she says. “I didn’t think you would want to settle with someone who has never had a family.” She wrings her hands together. “Someone who has such a dark cloud over her head.”

“You have more than you know, Olivia,” I say. “You are more than I deserve.”

“Ask me again?” she says, and I finally smile for the first time today.

“Stay with me.” I don’t really ask her. “Build a home with me.”

She looks down at her hands, and when she looks up, she smiles so big her eyes look like she’s squinting. “Yes.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Olivia

“Why are we doing this again?” Casey asks from beside me, and I shake my head and try not to laugh.

“We are doing this because Beau is one of your good friends, and he invited us over to help celebrate him winning the mayor’s seat,” I say, leaning over and kissing his cheek. It’s been one month since he asked me to stay and build a home with him. It’s also been a month since my dreams have come true. I called Meryl and was about to quit my job. I didn’t give a shit, but she just gave me the same deal she gave Kallie when she called her. When Casey found out, he called Kallie, and they redid