Page 76 of Hitting the Gap

“No,” she admitted.

“I wouldn’t have crossed this line with you if I wasn’t serious about us,” he growled. How could she even suggest he’d be the type of asshole who would purposefully hurt her?

“I know that.”

“So then, what’s the problem? Will I get hit on? Probably. But how’s it any different from Pete or Smitty or whomever getting hit on?”

She ducked her head again and shrugged.

He tucked his finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. “Bay, I’m crazy about you, always have been. I’m not looking at other girls anymore.”

Bailey smiled sadly. “I want to be the girl you see.”

“You are. You just need to believe it when you look at her, too.” Where did she get these ideas that she wasn’t everything he wanted? It sure as hell wasn’t coming from him. “Come here.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the mirror in the front entryway. He placed her in front of the mirror and stepped up behind her. “Tell me what you see.”

She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, then adjusted the hem of her shirt.

“Umm, I see me.”

He sighed. “You want to know what I see?”

She chewed the inside of her cheek, then finally nodded.

“I see my best friend. The most selfless person I know. Someone who’d be there for me no matter what.” He bit back a smirk when she frowned a little because he wasn’t saying anything about what she actually looked like. He ran his hand down her side. “I also see a woman with a beautiful face.” He kissed the side of her neck. “Tits that I could spend all day worshipping.” He kissed just below her ear. “And the sexiest curves I’ve ever felt.”

Bailey tensed at the mention of her curves. “But Bay, until you love yourself it doesn’t matter what I say because the only voice you’re gonna hear is that negative one telling you that you’re not good enough. I don’t know how to compete with that.” He squeezed her hip reassuringly. “What happened to the fierce girl I grew up with who said fuck ‘em all?”

“I don’t know. But I want to find her,” she whispered.

“Well, let’s find her together.”

Bailey’s eyes met his in the mirror and she nodded.

“And until then, we both know I’ve got enough confidence for both of us.” He winked at her and she snorted like he knew she would.

Bailey held his stare for several seconds. Her chest rose as she took a deep breath. “I want to see where this can go,” she admitted.

“Good, me too.”

“I’m just scared. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Fuck, me neither. This scares the shit outta me, too. But I’m in. Are you?”

She licked her lips, squared her shoulders, and nodded. “I’m in.”

With a whoop, he grabbed her and hoisted her over his shoulder, firefighter style. Bailey squealed. “What are you doing?”

“We’re getting dressed and I’m taking you out for breakfast.” He carried her down the hall toward the bedrooms.

“But you were going to make me French toast.”

“Nope, we’re going out. We’re not hiding, Bailey, so get on board.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she complained.

“Yep, but that’s one of the things you love about me. Don’t even try to pretend it isn’t.”

“You caught me. That’s what I love about you,” she teased back.

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