Page 69 of In Spades

We ran upstairs to grab her bag, brushed our teeth side-by-side, locked up, and turned out the lights. With all that behind us, we crawled under the covers and wrapped ourselves around one another. Her back pressed against my chest, and my arm laid securely around her waist.

“Kristin,” I spoke softly into her hair.

She tilted her head backward so that my lips were on her forehead. “Hmm?”

“I will respect whatever boundaries you have when it comes to your siblings, but I do want to meet them. They’re important to you, so that makes them important to me. We can take this however slow you need. You can set the pace.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“But there’s one more thing you need to know,” I said.

“What’s that?”

I kissed her forehead. “You’re mine.”

16

KRISTIN

Waking up in Will’s arms was paradise. I’d never felt so refreshed. Sleeping on something other than a couch probably had a lot to do with that. It also went a long way to know that the kids were in safe hands with Hannah Jane and Chase.

My chosen family was hellbent on taking some of the pressure off my shoulders, even if it was for just one night.

Will took it slowly on the drive back to pick up my car in Morehead City. He drove past Mel’s apartment complex at first, pretending to miss the turn.

Finally, he pulled into the parking lot, and damn… I did not want to go home.

We lingered together in a shady spot near my car, reluctant to go our separate ways. I fiddled with my keys, still sitting in the passenger seat of Will’s truck. The door hung open and my feet dangled off to the side. Will stood outside, caging me in with his arms on either side of my legs.

“I could follow you back to Havelock,” he said, the timbre of his voice bright and hopeful. His thumbs worked in lazy circles on my thighs. “We could spend the day together.”

“Haven’t had enough of me, huh?” I teased. “I guess I can’t blame you. I’m awesome.”

“I’ll never get enough of you,” he said, smiling playfully. “Besides, we can’t let the kids think their sister spent the night with some nameless piece of meat.”

“Of course not! Your name is Will.”

“Oh, but I am a hot piece of meat?”

I snickered. “I mean… Yeah, you are. And I’m totally going to stare at your butt when you turn around.”

He smirked. “And to think—I let you swing in my hammock.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

He gave me an adorably lopsided smile. “I’ve gotta go in that direction anyway. We’d have more time together. I’d get to meet the kids. Could be fun.”

“I would love that,” I said, cupping his stubbled jaw with my hands. I’d never been much of a beard girl, but I loved that rough texture against my skin. It was so masculine.

Will gave a knowing smile. “I feel like there’s a but coming.”

“But I need some time,” I said, pausing hesitantly.

Things with Will were perfect, and I didn’t want him to misconstrue my caution as me not wanting to be with him.

“I’ve never brought anyone around the kids before. I need to warm them up to the idea. I don’t want them to think that whatever this is will make me less committed to them. They are my priority. They have to be. Always.”

I waited for him to pull back. Because honestly, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he ran. No one wants to be told straight up that they’re going to play second fiddle.

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