Page 12 of Embracing Easy

“What happened, baby?” I ask once I’m out of my truck.

“Hi,” she says sheepishly. “I don’t know. One second I’m driving along just fine, then all of a sudden, it makes a crazy noise andsmoke starts pouring out from under there.” I glance over at the hood she’s pointing at.

“It probably overheated. Hop in the truck while I get her hooked up, and we’ll drop it off at the shop for Thorn to take a look at.”

“Uhm,” she bites her lip, her eyes starting to look glassy like she’s about to cry. “I can’t afford a car repair.” She sniffles sheepishly. “I don’t have any money, and I didn’t make it to my job interview.” At her breaking point, the floodgates open, and Lexi starts to cry.

I rub at my chest, hating the sight of her so upset.

“Hey, it’ll be okay, baby. You’ll see. It’s just a setback.” Her head shakes side to side.

“I just can’t catch a break.” I hate to see her cry and vow to do whatever it takes to help her turn things around.

Moving into her space, I pull her into my arms. “I got you, Lex.”

She wraps her arms around my back and buries her face in my chest.

In that moment, standing there on the side of the road with Lexi in my arms, my whole world changes.

I’ve felt the connection since the moment I clapped eyes on her, but with her body pressed to mine, the whole world around us goes quiet and nothing else matters.

Fuck.

This must be what Wrath meant when he went on and on about finding the other half of his soul. I’ve teased him about being soft since he shacked up with Harley, but fuck me if he hasn't been right all along.

I can’t explain it, but I know down to my bones that Lexi is meant to be mine.

“Shawn?” she whispers, pulling me from my thoughts.

I look down into her sparkling green eyes and can see the question swirling in her head.

What is happening between us?

I don’t have the answers, but I’m not going to fight it.

Lifting my hand, I use my thumbs to brush away her tears. “Let me take care of it.”

“You’re already giving me a place to stay. I feel like I’m taking advantage of your kindness.” She looks away.

Using my hands to turn her face back toward me, I speak firmly.

“You’re not taking advantage of me. You didn’t ask for some jackass to steal your money. You didn’t ask to crash on my couch, although, truthfully, I’d rather have you in my bed.” I smirk.

Lexi gasps. “What?”

“We’ll get into that when the time is right. Until then, just trust me, yeah? I’ve got your back.”

Lexi’s eyes go soft as she leans into my touch. “I do trust you.”

She has no idea how much hearing those words means to me—what she’s starting to mean to me.

“Get in the truck, baby.”

“Okay,” she says softly, her cheeks turning pink as she lifts onto her toes and places a kiss on my cheek.

I stay rooted to the spot, watching her move around the car and climb into the rig.

Damn, I’m already in deep.

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