Page 41 of No Love Lost

Tears flooded her eyes, and she blinked hard. Heath used his thumbs to gently wipe away the ones that fell.

His gaze was steady and sure. “I want to live in Phail and I can’t believe how bad that sounds when I say it out loud.”

She laughed. “Strangely, you get used to it. Eventually.”

“I’m going to move all my things to the farmhouse for now, but I’m thinking long-term, Addy. I want you and Nina in my life. I’ll always want that. But I think we should go slow for Nina. Let her get used to me being around. Is that okay? Do you want that, too?”

His eyes showed his vulnerability. After the morning, she knew he had to be shaky, and she wanted to give him everything. “I want that too. I want it all with you, Heath. I love you, and I always have. Don’t say anything yet. Your emotions have to be on overload. Not even counting this morning, the last week or so has been a lot coming at you emotionally. But I want you to know where my heart is.” She patted his chest. “It’s here with you.”

Addy squealed as Heath reversed their positions so fast she didn’t think she’d had a chance to blink before she was on her back, with Heath’s sexy body pressing her into the sheets.

He kissed her so deeply that she thought their souls touched. Her heart shivered with joy. Even if he never said the words, she could feel them. He loved her back.

Then he eased back and framed her face. “I love you, Addy. Always have, always will. Finding you again was the best moment of my life. Well, after I knew you were going to be okay.”

She grinned. “It was a pretty epic reunion.”

He laughed. “God, I love you.” Then he picked up her hands and wrapped them around the iron railings of his headboard. “Why don’t you hang on to those? I think we need to make this time memorable.”

Her body shivered right along with her heart as she smiled. “We’ve had several memorable moments since we got here.”

“And you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

CHAPTER 13

Losing Business

Addy loved the feel of the neighborhood. She’d never visited Roslindale Village before, but it had a lovely vibe. Family friendly, pretty buildings, and parks. “I bet this is one of the walks you took with your grandparents.”

Heath squeezed her hand. They’d barely stopped touching each other since they’d left the condo. She imagined them doing this in sixty years. Like his grandparents.

“Spot on. When I decided to hire people to help with my business, I wanted an area that made me smile. A place filled with good people and possibilities.”

No faceless modern building for her Heath. She knew his dad worked in one of those. She could feel the raw hurt radiating from Heath but he was focusing on the good and the future. He’d need to continue to talk about his feelings to heal but she hoped she and Nina could help with that.

They walked through Adams Park and he showed her where the farmer’s market took place. Even without the hustle of the market, it was a happy, thriving place.

He tugged her to the edge of the sidewalk and gestured to a graceful white Victorian building. The two-story property had a windowed porch and pretty green gingerbread trim. An elegant sign in the window proclaimed WMW Financial.

“This is your place? I never asked what you named your business. Actually, I didn’t know you had employees.”

He laughed. “There hasn’t been much time to talk about it. We’ve been filling up my Nina database. For years, I did work on my computer in my apartment. Eventually, I wanted to separate home and work.”

She watched him frown, then he continued. “I wonder if that’s when I stopped enjoying the condo. Work makes me feel connected to Gramps and Grams. Home is always empty.”

Her heart ached for him. He’d been lonely for so long. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head and that frown morphed into a genuine smile. “Don’t be. It’s fine. I’m finally going to have a home in Phail. With you and Nina. I can’t wait.”

She reached up to kiss him lightly. “Me neither. So, why WMW? I assume one of the Ws is for Wilcox? But there’s no H for you.”

That question made him smile and he lifted his eyebrows in challenge. She narrowed her eyes but he didn’t say a word. Her eyes drifted back to the sign. WMW. “Your grandfather’s name? You named it after your Gramps?”

He laughed and hugged her. “Close. Gramps was Walter Wilcox. Grams was Mary.”

Her eyes misted when she smiled back. “Walter Mary Wilcox Financial. Because it’s their advice that helped you. And now you’re using their love and ideas to help others. You’re pretty spectacular, Heath.”

He laughed and slung his arm over her shoulder. “You make me feel that way. Come on inside and I’ll show you around.”

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