disabilities. Don’t think I ever really believed it before. Thought it was something you and Dad told me to make me feel better. But I get it. It doesn’t matter how this turns out, I will love him the same.”
Her nod was slow. “I don’t think a child can ever understand the extent of a parent’s love until they get to experience that for themselves.”
Sitting there, memories assailed me, the fear I’d felt when my mother had been trying to protect me against the wrath of my biological father.
God, even at eight, I’d fucking hated him.
Wanted to protect her no matter what.
But it had been Mom who’d done the protecting.
She and Kale.
They were the ones who’d stood for what was right.
I swallowed hard. “Do you remember what you used to say . . . what you used to tell me when I was a little boy?”
She angled her head, brow pinched, unsure.
I lifted my hands.
THIS HOUSE IS LOVE.
It was an assertion we’d made.
A command.
A rule.
Tenderness filled her expression. “Of course, I remember.”
“That’s what I want, Mom. I want a house, and I want to fill it with love.”
“That’s always been my hope for you, Evan. I’ve always hoped you’d find love and you’d hold onto it . . . because there is nothing more wonderful than that.” Her eyes darted to the door. “Love her.” That gaze slipped to Everett and back to me. “Love him.”
She squeezed my hand.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life and one thing I hope you hold onto for all of yours—never let go of what you love most.”
Twenty-Six
Frankie Leigh
Evan was sprawled out, face down, his naked back exposed where he slept.
My tummy turned and a blister of the need that showed no hope of dying out seared through my body.
Not that I was complainin’.
But I was supposed to be to work in twenty minutes, and if I wanted to get there on time, I was going to have to tear myself from the warmth of his glorious body. I mean, I could just stay there all day, right?
I pouted a little.
Nope.
That was just not gonna happen.
I couldn’t go letting Aunt Hope down that way. Gettin’ flaky just because her son was back in town. But with everything, I wondered if she would blame me.
I crawled over him, running my nose from the sexy dimples just above his butt up the length of his spine, all the way into his hair. Breathing this boy in. There went my tummy again.
Yum.
He stirred, and I could feel the force of his smile where half of his face was pressed to the pillow. He flipped over and pulled me across his hard, chiseled body.
Flaking was sounding like a mighty good plan right about then.
“Mornin’,” he rumbled in his sleepy voice, that scraping sound wrapping me whole.
My favorite song.
One I wanted to listen to every single morning.
“Hey,” I whispered. “I’ve got to go.”
He tightened his hold. “No. Stay in this bed with me all day.”
A giggle slipped free. “Don’t tempt me. The last thing I need is my boss to come barging through the door later to find me here after Jenna said I called in sick.”
And I was pretty sure lovesick didn’t count.
A smirk tugged at his sexy mouth. “She won’t mind.”
I fiddled with a lock of his bedhead hair, voice going serious. “No, she probably wouldn’t, but I never want to let her down.”
Evan reached up and brushed the hair out of my face, cupping my cheek, staring up at me like I was his treasure.
My heart banged against my ribs.
Beatin’ for him.
“You are so good, Frankie Leigh. Have me in awe. Every second. Every day.”
My head shook. “The only thing we can do in this life is try to be the best person we can be. From lovin’ to workin’ to helpin’.”
“And that is what makes you so good. That you recognize it. I hope one day I can stand beside you and you see the same thing in me.”
I trembled my fingertips across his full lips. “I already do.”
Could feel that Evan was hard. From the twitch of the packed muscle on his abdomen to his erection that was straining through the sheets.
I groaned. “I’ve got to go or I’m really going to be here all day. I’ve got to run home to change really quick.”
“Grab a few changes . . . need you here with me. And honestly, I really don’t want you out there by yourself.”