Love to Hate You (Hope Valley #9) - Jessica Prince Page 0,84

any of you could have done.” I sighed forlornly and chugged more coffee. “Micah and I are done. That’s all there is to it.”

“But”—Dani’s expression turned quizzical—“he said he was just giving you some space. That you guys were on a break.”

I snorted loudly. “Who are we, Ross and Rachel? This isn’t an episode of Friends. A break means break up.”

“Uh, honey, I don’t think he sees it that way,” Nona said gently.

I didn’t want it to, but at that comment, hope took root and sprouted in my chest. “Why do you say that?”

“Well, yesterday he paid up on this crazy bet he made with Trick and Hayes forever ago.”

My back went straight and my belly began doing somersaults. “What?”

“Yeah,” Tempie added, explaining further since she didn’t know I was aware of the bet already. “They bet him that one day a woman would come into his life who would make him start thinking about marriage and kids and that sort of thing. He was so sure that day would never come, he said he’d split his paycheck between them if it happened. And, well . . . yesterday, he split his paycheck between them.”

“Wait, so . . .” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words, afraid that putting them out into the universe would jinx something.

Dani went there instead, smiling bigger than I’d ever seen her smile before. “So . . . I think it’s safe to say the man loves you and is all in. Maybe you should rethink this break or breakup or whatever it is?”

I shot out of my seat so fast the chair screeched across the floor. “I have to go.”

“What about the donut holes?” Rory called after me, humor coating her words.

I threw my hand up and waved. “No time! I’ll come back for them tomorrow!” Then I ran out of the coffee shop to my car, desperate to get to Micah.

The tires let out a little squeal as I slammed on my brakes and threw my car into park. I tried to calm myself as I shoved the door open and climbed out, breathing deep and taking my time as I walked across my yard to his.

I wasn’t even sure he was home, but I had to try.

I inhaled slowly, counting to three before letting it out and lifting my hand to knock on his front door.

I waited, anxious and nervous, as I heard the sound of the lock sliding. The door opened and Micah stood before me in nothing but a pair of light gray sweats that hung deliciously off his tapered hips.

“Hayden?” His voice pulled me from my perusal of his sinful chest and abs. “Is everything okay?”

“No, actually,” I answered, my chest heaving. “It’s not.”

His brows arched down in worry as he stepped to the side. “Do you want to come in?”

Instead of answering his question, I asked one of my own. “Did you pay that bet to Trick and Hayes because I knew about it, or because you really lost?”

“How’d you hear—” He shook his head, already realizing the answer to that before he even finished the sentence. “Never mind. Small town.”

“Just answer the question. Did you really lose or did you pay them for my benefit?”

He studied me for a beat before nodding. “I lost, Red. And I’ve never been so glad to lose a bet in my fuckin’ life.”

My breath stuttered and my eyes began to burn. “So, you see the prospect of a future with me?”

“Baby,” he said tenderly, “come inside and let’s talk about this, yeah?”

“Answer the question first,” I whispered. “Do you see the prospect of a future with me, Micah?”

He huffed out an exhale and reached up to scratch the back of his neck. “If, by prospect of a future, you mean do I have every intention of putting my ring on your finger and makin’ you mine for life, then yeah, I see that for us, Red. And I can’t fuckin’ wait.”

A choked sob burst from my throat a moment before I lunged for him. He caught me easily, lifting me off my feet so I had to wrap my legs around his waist and loop my arms around his shoulders as we kissed so hard and so fiercely, you’d have thought we’d been separated for years.

I vaguely registered his front door slamming before I felt him lower me onto the sofa.

“I planned on comin’ to see you tonight,” he said against my lips between kisses. “I was done giving you