My head tipped back but I didn’t let him go. “What?” I asked.
One of his arms left me so his fingers could slide in my hair at the side and then hold it at the back of my head.
“You don’t feel safe down here, you’re welcome to stay at my place, long as you like. But we been listenin’ and we been diggin’ and your sister has gone to ground. Things have cooled down on that and you’re safe to come home if you want.”
I was certainly glad things had cooled down though a little worried about what Ginger “going to ground” meant but I knew what Tack was saying had two meanings.
“You’re giving me space?” I asked quietly.
“When you come to me, Gwen, it’s gotta be because you wanna come to me, not because you need to come to me. And it’s gotta be that way not just for me but for you.”
God, he was a good guy.
I dropped my head so my forehead rested against his chest and his hand curled around the back of my neck.
“Thank you,” I repeated into his chest.
“I see you wanna come home,” he noted and I nodded against his chest. “All right, darlin’, you get settled. I’ll go get your computer. Sheila can come by and pack up your shit. I’ll bring it all back down.”
I tilted my head back. “I can come up. You don’t need to be driving back and forth for me.”
“You need to settle, babe.”
He was right. I did. I so did. I’d been unsettled for so long, I didn’t remember settled.
And he was such a good guy.
I leaned into him. “Thanks.”
His head dipped, his mouth hit mine and I felt his lips open. Stupid me, stupid, stupid me, I opened my own, his tongue slid in and my tongue moved to touch tips.
Nice. Way nice.
He tasted really good.
His lips released mine and lifted up to kiss my nose.
Then he looked in my eyes and said gently, “Anything for you, Gwen.”
Such a good guy.
I shoved my face in his neck and held on tighter. He let me do this until his arms gave me a squeeze. I understood what that meant, let him go and stepped back.
“Later, babe,” he murmured.
“Later, Tack,” I replied, he turned and walked out of my house.
* * * * *
A couple hours later Tack delivered my computer and hooked it up. He also brought my suitcases. Then he left probably because he had a life and I had a decision to make and although my life revolved around me, that didn’t mean everyone else’s did.
I unpacked and started laundry. Then I made a grocery list. Then I texted Meredith, Cam and Tracy and told them I was back home but I needed the night to get settled. Cam texted back that it was cosmos at her house the next night, no excuses, no lip. I returned the text saying I’d be there. I wasn’t certain I was ready but I had to live my life and I might as well start now.
I was heading back upstairs from the kitchen when I heard the chime and clunk of the doorbell.
I froze as unexpected pain sliced through me.
The last time I heard the chime and clunk of the doorbell, Hawk was coming over and taking me to dinner. Dad had called out to me to tell Hawk not to worry about the doorbell. Then Hawk had given me shoes. After that, hope had budded.