Just One Kiss - J. Saman Page 0,53

you then? Took care of you?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes. He was good to me. He cooked for me and brought ice for my knee and bandaged my head. He’s a good man. I swear. You’ll really like him.”

“Do you love him?”

I laugh. It’s awkward. It’s weird sounding. “Why the hell do you ask that? It was only a couple of days.”

“Because I’m wondering if I should call the police on the man who has been parked in my driveway since before dawn broke.”

“What?” I jump up to my feet, spinning around though I can’t see into the driveway from the kitchen. I turn back to my father. “Are you serious?”

“I am. Our alarm company sent an alert before five this morning. He’s been out there, sitting in his car and silently waiting. A man doesn’t go to such extremes unless he’s screwed up in the head or is in love enough to want to repair that screw-up.”

“Dad…”

“Tell me, London.”

I look my father in the eyes. The same hue as mine. “I think I love him.”

“Then maybe bring him a muffin. He’s got to be hungry. After that, bring him inside so I can meet the man my baby girl has fallen for.”

I suck in a breath, walking over and wrapping my arms around my father’s neck. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“That’s what I’m here for, honey. Always. But this man. He came here really early for you. I’m guessing things didn’t go well when you left yesterday?”

I sigh again. Excited and hurt and excited all over again. “Not really. I asked him to come with me and he got cold feet. But I think he wanted to. He just hasn’t had it easy before.”

“He loves you? The way you deserve?”

“Yeah. He does.” I know he does.

“Breakfast will be ready soon. Greta is going to murder me in my sleep apparently if I don’t let her back into the kitchen. I have to warn your mother that there’s a man outside so get a move on.”

“I’m on my way out now.”

“And London?” I turn back over my shoulder. “Bring him inside. It’s freezing out there. His dog too. If he’s going to be yours, I can’t have them sitting in the driveway.”

Dammit, Daddy!

“I love you.”

“You too, baby girl.”

I cross the kitchen and kiss his cheeks before leaving out the way I came in last night. I throw on a coat and my boots, stepping out into the frigid air. The morning light is muted, still hazy with the remnants of the storm. I came here last night with a broken heart in tow and now staring at the cold truck in the driveway, the barely-there rumbling of the engine, I don’t care what Miles has to say.

He’s here.

He drove up here, likely in the middle of the night. For me.

As I approach, I find both Miles and Betsy fast asleep inside, one of Taylor Swift’s earlier albums strumming from the speakers, filtering out into the dawn. “If you could see that I’m the one who understands you. Been here all along, so why can’t you see. You belong with me.”

Thanks, Taylor. I, for real, couldn’t agree more.

I knock on the window and smile as Miles stirs with a jolt. He jumps upright in his seat, glancing at Betsy who has barely moved, her eyes still closed though her tail starts to wag a little. Then he flips around quickly in my direction, finding me smiling outside his window.

His eyes blink and then does so again. He scrubs his hands over his face, wiping the sleep away, and then he starts to roll down his window but thinks better of it and slides it back up, choosing to unlock his car and open the door instead.

I step back, giving him space, and once he’s standing before me, his eyes on mine and his smirk in place, I fall so hard for this man.

So totally in love.

“I didn’t know how to do this,” he starts without any preamble.

So completely.

“I was standing in my house for like ten minutes after you left, and both Betsy and I knew it was a mistake to let you go. The house was too quiet. My chest too empty. I couldn’t stand it, London. It was like the world was crushing me and the only thing to give me breath was you. I fucked up by letting you go. I fucked up so bad and I knew it. I was scared and stubborn and did I mention fucking scared? Nothing