Page 49 of Wynter's Second Chance

“Okay.” He gave me a weak smile, then turned toward Wynter. “Is he staying for dinner?”

I looked up at Wynter, and despite everything, the corners of my mouth curled into a smile. “Sure, if he wants to.”

“I want to,” Wynter said with a grin.

Rory bounded off to his room, his energy returning now that the worst of it was over. I stayed at the table, feeling the weight of the moment. I ran a hand over my face, trying to process everything that had happened.

Wynter said, “We would have been here sooner but we had to stop at the station. The police wanted to make sure Rory was okay, get his side of the story. They were concerned, but everything’s fine now.”

I leaned back against the counter, trying to let the tension in my shoulders ease. His presence was grounding, as it always seemed to be, but tonight, after everything, it felt like salvation.

He closed the distance between us, his hands reaching out to rest on my hips. “You okay?” His voice was soft, coaxing.

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure it was entirely true. “I think so. I just... I keep thinking about what could’ve happened. If you hadn’t found him—” My voice broke, and I had to stop, pressing my lips together to keep the wave of emotion at bay.

Wynter’s hands tightened on my waist, steadying me. “But Ididfind him. He’s safe now. You don’t have to carry the ‘what-ifs,’ baby.”

I exhaled, leaning into his touch. “You always know the right thing to say, don’t you?”

He smiled faintly, his thumb brushing over my side. “Not always. But I know what you need to hear.”

I let out a soft laugh, shaky but real, and reached up to cup his face. His stubble was rough beneath my palm, a comforting contrast to the tenderness in his expression. “You’ve been exactly what I needed, Wyn. I hope you know that.”

He leaned into my touch, his lips curving into a smile against my thumb. “And you’ve been exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for.”

I didn’t hesitate this time. I kissed him, my fingers curling into his hair as I pulled him closer. It wasn’t the first kiss we’d shared, or even the first time we’d confessed how much we meant to each other, but tonight, it felt like we were solidifying something unspoken. The promise of a future. The promise ofus.

When we finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath warm against my lips.

“I was scared tonight,” I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Scared I’d lose Rory. And scared I might lose this. Lose you.”

“You won’t lose me,” Wynter said, his voice firm and certain, grounding me in a way nothing else could. “I’m not going anywhere, Taran.”

I nodded, letting his words settle deep in my chest. His steady presence was the calm I didn’t know I needed. I brushed my thumb along his jawline, marveling at how his strength felt like a lifeline, tethering me when everything else seemed so uncertain.

“You’ve been staying with us these last few days,” I began, my voice soft but steady. “It’s been good having you here. For me. For Rory too.” I paused, my heart racing at what I was about to say. “Maybe you could check out of the cabin and stay here for a while. In the guest room… for now.”

Wynter’s brow lifted, his lips parting slightly in surprise, but his eyes searched mine, warm and full of hope.

“For now,” I repeated, my voice dropping lower, more intimate. “But I don’t want you in the guest room forever. I want you here. With me. In my bed. Permanently.”

His expression softened, a flicker of emotion crossing his face before he stepped closer, his hand settling on my waist. “Taran…”

“I know,” I said quickly, the words rushing out. “I know it might take Rory a minute to get there. To see us not just as a couple but… sharing a bed. I don’t want to push him too fast. And I know your divorce needs to be finalized before we make this official.” I hesitated, feeling the weight of my own vulnerability. “But this… asking you to stay… it’s a first step. I want to start building something with you, Wyn.”

His hand tightened slightly on my waist, and his other came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “You have no idea how much I want that too.”

He leaned in, kissing me softly at first, then deeper, with all the passion and promise I’d ever dreamed of. The kiss spoke of everything we hadn’t yet said, of everything we would have together.

When we finally pulled apart, my forehead rested against his, our breaths mingling in the quiet. “Stay,” I whispered again.

“I’ll stay,” he murmured, his voice steady, resolute. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

“For always,” I replied, the words slipping out without hesitation.

He smiled, wide and genuine, and it felt like the first real breath I’d taken all day.

This was the start of something real, something lasting. And as we stood there in the stillness of my kitchen, with the promise of forever hanging between us, I couldn’t help but feel like we’d just taken the most important step toward the life we both wanted. Together.

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