Page 139 of We Redeemed the Rain

“I used to work in cosmetics.”

We both laughed.

Soon, the scent of my honey almond shampoo filled the air. Tag took all the time in the world, lazily running his fingers through and scraping them against my scalp. He didn’t speak. Just worked. Just took care of me without uttering a word.

Fighting gravity, I pulled my eyes open to find Tag looking down at me, his right forearm only inches from my face as he massaged my conditioner in. I reached up and touched his arm. He smiled. “I thought you were asleep there for a minute.”

“Almost.” I whispered.

A few minutes later, he clicked the water off and wrung out my hair. He wrapped a towel around my head and squeezed. When myeyes opened, I found him smiling down at me again. “You have beautiful hair, Bea.”

My heart lurched. “Thank you.”

“And this.” He let go of the towel and brushed his finger under my bare collarbone. “You have a dark freckle right there.”

“I’ve always had that.”

“Well”—he huffed—“I can’t stop lookin’ at it.”

I smiled and closed my eyes, startling when he gently poked me in the shoulder. “You have one here, too.”

Warmth stirred in me until my breath grew shaky. Tag had been studying me. The knowledge was heady and caused chills to race down my arms. Seeing them, Tag gave a soft chuckle. He rubbed his hand over my goosebumps following them to the inside of my right wrist. His voice was a gentle rasp as he fingered another one of my prominent freckles. “And here.”

I looked up and into his gray eyes as his hand came up to caress my face. “But this one”—his thumb swept over the edge of my bottom lip—“is my favorite.” Tag gazed at my mouth now, or maybe at the freckle right below. I didn’t know which, but the heated look in his eyes was enrapturing. I couldn’t look away. My gaze sought his mouth too.

Before I knew why I was offering unneeded information, I opened my big mouth. “I have more.”

His gaze lazily rose to my eyes. “Where?”

Heat rushed into my face. “I can’t show you.”

His brows lifted in surprise.

I need to shut my huge mouth.

Jackie would have a cow if she heard me. I wasn’t nearly as slick as her in conversation. Moments like this brought out my awkward side.

Breathily, I added, “You need V.I.P. access.”

His jaw ticked as he held back a smile. He squinted playfully, but his eyes were so tender and loving toward me that I wanted to burst into tears. “Tease me, why don’t ya.”

Our laughter was awkward, reined-in. But neither one of us could stop smiling.

Pretty soon, I was wrapped in Tag’s t-shirt and a blanket andtucked onto an outdated couch in the living room—a room I’d only been in one time. Tag brushed my hair, showered, started my laundry, made sandwiches, and we quietly nibbled on an early dinner together.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, my heart was so full.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Tag

After our sandwiches, she threw a couch pillow on my lap and laid her head on it without a word. We were quiet for several minutes as I ran my hand through her hair. After the conditioning and brushing, the strands were butter in my hands. I couldn’t stop touching it.

Or her, for that matter.

I’d lost count of the times we’d intentionally tapped, brushed, and bumped against each other. Low-esteem was something I struggled with on the daily. But no matter how I felt about myself, it was impossible to deny that there was something between us. And Bea wanted me as badly as I wanted her.

Three weeks ago, I couldn’t fathom touching another person. And yet, here I was, trying to talk myself out of turning her face toward mine and kissing her soft lips. How did that happen?

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