Page 65 of Devoted Enough

“It’s okay. I did tell her. She needed to know the truth. She was sick, literally sick to her stomach and blamed herself of course. I told her about the day you showed up and stopped him from…”

I let my voice trail off.

Nate reached for my hand. “Have you spoken to anyone? A therapist?”

Smiling softly, I replied, “Yes. I have and it’s helped me so much.”

He closed his eyes and let out a breath. “I wanted to kill him, Haven. And I am so sorry you ever thought I pushed you away because of that. I need you to know that, sweetheart.”

“Oh, Nate, I do know that…now. And thank you for never telling anyone.”

His eyes went wide. “I would never betray your trust like that, Haven. Never.”

I let go of his hand and picked up my pizza. “What about you? What’s the plan for Turkey Day?”

“Since my grandfather passed away a few months ago, we try to do everything at my Grams’s. Thanksgiving will be there this year with the entire Shaw gang plus the Littlewoods.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“Why don’t you and your mother come to Thanksgiving at the ranch?”

I was pretty sure my eyes went as wide as saucers. “Oh, no, we couldn’t intrude like that.”

“What do you mean? Your mother and my mother are friends. Besides, with this being the first holiday since Granddad is gone, I know Grams would love to have as many people there as possible.”

“It’s at her house you said?”

“Yes, she insisted on hosting. Said it would keep her mind busy.”

Glancing at the table, I said, “I can’t imagine how it is for your grandmother to lose her husband so suddenly. Especially after being married that long.”

“She’s a tough cookie. Why don’t you talk it over with your mom and see if she’d like to come?”

I nodded. “I will. Thank you for the invitation. That was sweet of you.”

Nate reached across the table and took my hand in his. “Haven, once today is over, it’s not back to usual for us. I hope you know that.”

My heart started to race as I asked, “Are you…are you saying you want to date me?”

He grinned. “Oh, I want to do more to you than simply date you, sweetheart.”

My cheeks heated, and I pulled my hands free and placed them on my face to cool down my warm body.

Nate shot me a wicked grin. “I think we should go back to your place now.”

I raised a brow. “Really? What for?”

“You need to pack a bag.”

Confused, I shook my head. “A bag? For what?”

“I want you to come stay with me at my house. I can help you with the dog walks this week as well. Since it’s Thanksgiving week I’ll have a few days off.”

My eyes blinked a few times. “You want to do that again?”

“Hell, yes, I do. It was fun and good exercise, if I do say so. And if I’m being honest, I want to spend as much time with you as possible.”

Chewing on my lower lip, I debated whether it was a good idea. I wanted to spend more time with Nate and learn more about him and his family. And I wanted the same for him: tolearn more about me, the job I loved, and what my future held. Were we moving too fast, though? I nearly laughed. I had been in love with this man for as long as I could remember, and he was asking me to stay with him at his beautiful home. He also told me that he loved me. I’d be crazy if I said no.

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