Page 41 of Worth the Wait

When they walked into the house together, I turned around to find Patrick watching me, his dog at his side. Taking a few steps toward him, I trembled in his presence, but played it off that it was because of the cold and not his nearness.

“Thank you for picking us up. And for taking care of him.” I nodded in the direction of where my dad had stood.

“I’d do anything for you,” Patrick said so easily, like nothing between us had changed.

I didn’t respond as we walked in silence to where his truck was parked.

He opened the door for Jasper to hop inside. “Maybe I’ll see you before you head back?”

I’d literally just gotten into town, and he was already bringing up the fact that I had to leave again.

“I’d like that,” I admitted, knowing that I was giving us both hope that I really had no business giving. Not when Frederique’s offer was still hanging over my head and I had a huge decision to make.

“Then, I’ll see you soon, Addi,” he said with a wink that had always made me melt.

Apparently, it still did because I launched myself at him without warning, wrapping my arms around his middle, and he held me tighter than I’d anticipated. I refused to breathe as I tried to burrow myself deeper into him. His chest shook as he laughed.

“Trying to burrow, little one?” he teased.

I wiggled against him even harder, just like I used to always do. His six-foot frame was easy for me to get lost in, and I was always trying to get closer, like I’d become a part of him if physics allowed it.

“Burrow all you want, love. I’ll let you,” he said before kissing the top of my head, his hands running down my hair.

Everything had always been so effortless between us. How did it still feel that way after all this time?

I wanted to look up at him, but knew that I’d see all the desire pooling in his eyes, and there would be no way that I’d be able to resist kissing him then. And kissing Patrick would definitely lead to our clothes on the ground and both of us naked before we could stop ourselves. At least in my current fantasy it did.

I had memorized Patrick’s younger body. But being held by him now—with all the added definition, the wider shoulders, and thicker arm muscles—I realized he was a whole new man that my hands ached to touch and never stop. I wanted to know what it felt like to be touched by this new version of him.

We broke apart slowly. Patrick’s fingers reached for my chin and tipped my face upward, forcing me to meet those baby blues, and my stomach dropped.

“Call me soon, or I’ll come find you.” His tone was all aggressive and confident.

It was a warning.

I loved it.

There would be no avoiding Patrick while I was here. No getting away unscathed or pretending like seeing him hadn’t just rattled my well-placed cage right off its hinges.

I gave him a weak nod of my head as he got into his truck, his dog sitting in the place that used to be mine. He started his engine and shot me a look that screamed how much he still wanted me. I wondered what my face told him in response. The cocky grin that he drove off with told me all I needed to know.

I still craved every inch of him, and he damn well knew it.

DADDY’S GIRLS

ADDISON

Ihustled into the warmth of the house and out of the cold after Patrick left. My dad and Sarina hadn’t gone far. They were both standing in the entryway, staring at the walls.

Time had stopped in the home I’d grown up in. Framed photographs were everywhere; even the ones that held Patrick still lined the walls. Almost nothing had changed in the four years since I’d been gone. It might have been weird for other people, but for me, it was comforting. Familiar. Safe.

Sarina eyed each photo, grinning whenever she found the ones that included her. That was when I noticed a few new pictures added to the collection. They were more recent. One of me in a chef’s hat and Sarina on red carpets.

“Where did you get these from?” she asked as our dad hobbled on his crutches toward the living room, and we both followed.

“Your mom used to send me your school pictures, but then I just started stalking you online. That’s what you kids call it these days, right?” He laughed as he made his way toward his recliner and dropped into it, his crutches now resting on the floor.

“You stalked me online?” Sarina laughed.

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