Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,71
“Bought the land when the only thing here was a falling-down shack of a two-bedroom cabin.”
“Ah, now I see where I got that idea.”
“We struggled and built it up.”
She tried to imagine those years and couldn’t. The strength it must have taken. The perseverance. She admired him so much, but another emotion snuck in. One that had her feeling light from the inside out. She didn’t analyze it and vowed to ignore it. Underneath all the gruffness he was a good guy. That’s what she was reacting to. Nothing more. Well, that and great sex.
“How exactly did you handle a baby when you were barely an adult yourself?” She’d once decided not to get a cat for fear she’d forget to feed the thing.
“That’s just it. Rick and Andy helped. It was a family effort. Neighbors stepped up. The Army had some programs that provided assistance. We somehow made it through without me dropping him or forgetting him at school one day.”
Which only made Rick’s deception and demands now more painful. She got it. “And now that the hard part is done, Rick wants to swoop in and play dad.”
“That’s how I see it.” Gabe nodded. “He got injured, took a shot to the back that should have paralyzed him, and came out of rehab with this need to be closer to Brandon.”
She could see the entire scene playing out. “He had an epiphany.”
“You’d think that would be a good thing.” Gabe groaned. “Hell, maybe it was for him. I don’t know.”
She slipped her hands up his chest and around his neck. Laid her head against his shoulder and smiled at the sound of the strong heartbeat thundering under her ear. “Let’s just stand here.”
He rested his chin on top of her head. Kissed her hair. “And do what?”
“For the first time in my life, nothing. I guess I should get used to it.” But she didn’t feel sad or upset. She’d actually found a sense of peace. In his arms, in this place.
They swayed in time to whatever music must have been playing in his head. “You’re going to find your way.”
This time she didn’t rush to deny the claim. She’d been so programmed to fire back a snotty response that it had become routine, but with him it all fell away. “You did.”
“We all do.”
“We’ll have to see what the next few days bring.” She knew reality would come crashing in. She’d have to make decisions. They’d have to figure out if she’d finally gotten to the point where she was safe to move on. Then she’d have to force herself to do that.
“While we—”
“Wait.” She lifted her head and looked up at him. “Are you about to mention your bed?”
“Hell, yeah.”
She almost laughed at his enthusiasm. “Your son is around here somewhere.”
“When he leaves tomorrow, you’re mine.”
She didn’t hate the idea. “Deal.”
NINETEEN
Gabe somehow made it through the day without jumping on top of her. He wasn’t a fucking animal but sometimes he felt like one around her. She listened, she held on to him. His blood raced.
He’d almost thrown Brandon in the car and drove him back early. Well, he thought about it. He’d never actually do it, but it was the first time in his life the idea tempted him. The two cold showers today helped a little to take the edge off. He was still recovering from the one he tried after they all sat around watching an adventure movie. For some reason just having her next to him on the couch, so close with their legs touching, did it for him now.
Maybe he was an animal after all.
Night had fallen and Brandon ventured off to his room to spend some quality time with his computer. Gabe decided he didn’t want to know what that meant. In the old days he’d use the time to play video games, but the kid was old enough to find and watch all kinds of porn now. Gabe just pretended he didn’t.
He’d reset the property alarm and checked every door. Standing in the middle of his bedroom, he found only one thing missing—Natalie. He had a feeling he knew what was happening.
Throwing on a T-shirt to go with his faded jeans, he stalked down the hall. Past Brandon’s door and the steady thump of the bass from some song he couldn’t recognize. Kept going until he got to the room at the end of the hall. The guestroom Andy didn’t use. The one actually for guests, which meant no