Wyatt for a bit. I knew they would be. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that one of them was responsible for planting this little fantasy of the three of us becoming a family in her head to begin with.
Being the upstanding man that he is, Wyatt insists I ride with him, even though he’ll have to bring me right back in a couple hours.
The man really is perfection personified. He’s charming. Beautiful, both inside and out. Thoughtful. And he makes it no secret that he adores my kid. I could certainly do worse. Come to think of it, I don’t think I could possibly do better.
So, what am I waiting for?
“Penis for your thoughts.”
“Huh?” I ask with a jump, knocking my head on the window. I must’ve misheard him.
“Just trying to get your attention.”
I shake my head, rubbing out the sting. “Well, that got it, all right.”
“We’re here.” He points through the windshield toward the house ten feet in front of us.
The truck is in park.
The motor’s off.
“How long have we been sitting here?”
“Not long, but I’m fucking freezing. Think we could go inside?”
“Of course.” I wink. “Was waitin’ on you.”
“Why are you acting so weird with me tonight?” he asks when we reach the living room and I can’t stop pacing. “Sit down.” He pats the couch beside him. “Please. You’re giving me anxiety.”
I nod, perching on the very edge of the cushion. My knees won’t stop vibrating while I search for the nerve to say what I came here to say.
“Why does it feel like you’re about to break up with me?”
“Jesus,” I groan, running a hand through my hair. “Have the whole bunch of you gone mad?”
His eyes widen as he stares after me, awaiting an explanation for my attitude.
“We’re not together.”
My pulse thrums as the corners of his mouth curve into a smile. “But we should be…and you know it.”
Shameless. “Prissy would like me to give this a shot.”
His jaw ticks. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him anything that even resembles frustrated with me. “At the moment, I’m a little more interested in what you think.”
With a contrite bob of my head, I spring back to my feet, crossing the room to stand in front of the fireplace. It’s imperative I put a little distance between us in order to get a handle on my thoughts. I can’t concentrate through the cloud of longing that takes over whenever he’s near. “I think…” I pause, choking back tears. “I think that I—I could be falling in love with you.” Worrying my hands, I have to force myself not to divert my gaze to the floor. I said it. Now, I’m going to own it.
The man who carries the lead role in my every dream rises from the couch, sauntering toward me with purpose. “Good. Because I’m already there.” He tilts my chin upward. “I’ve been for quite some time.”
“Is it?” My voice warbles and I can hardly breathe as the first of many tears blazes a path down my cheek. “Is it good, I mean? Because I’ve never been more terrified.” My hand flies to my mouth to cover a sob. “Not even at sixteen with a baby growing inside me, knowing her father wanted nothing to do with us.”
His thumbs swipe away the emotion pooling beneath my eyes, and he nods—ever so patient, so understanding. “It isn’t yourself that you have issues trusting.”
His words bounce around in my head, ringing out with glaring truth. “You’re right. The thought of letting anyone else into our lives, of exposing Prissy or even myself to that kind of pain…” I shudder at the thought, before hugging my arms to my chest. “I—I’m afraid.”
“Jump,” he pleads, curling his hands beneath my hair and around my nape. “And I promise to catch you.” His knuckles stroke over my jaw, slowly, fueling the fire burning inside me. “Let me love you, Whitney. Without restraint—the way you deserve. The way you both deserve.”
“Okay.” I nod, sniveling. “Okay,” I repeat with a little more conviction, because in coming here tonight, I’ve realized I’m already so far gone for this man that the only alternative is heartache. I tried. Oh God, how I tried, but I’ve failed miserably at locking him out. “Just don’t hurt my little girl.”
He tugs me closer, until my face is but an inch from his. “You have my word.”
“Then you have my heart.”
In an instant his lips are on mine, so soft and lush. His tongue is