Page 9 of Loving Decker

“Would it be weird to ask to give you a hug?” His almost shy offer confirmed her puddle status.

Her mouth dropped, and she stepped into his arms without another word. “How did you know this is exactly what I need?”

He pulled her as close as she would go and wrapped his strength around her, resting his chin on her head. And she decided she’d never felt anything so wonderful in her life. Her hands pressed into his back, and even though it wasn’t possible to be closer, she wished she could. Everything in her world was Decker right now. His awesome smell of clean shirt and leather. His strength holding her up, his solid chest at the side of her face.

His mouth pressed into her hair.

Had he kissed her? Was that a friendly kiss? A brotherly kiss, or something more? She didn’t want to look up into his face to find out. ’Cause then her hug would end.

And now that she’d felt such a delicious relief, she didn’t want to let it go, ever.

“Faith.”

“Mm?”

“I should hug you more often.”

She nodded, and tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t stop, she didn’t move. She knew it was dragging on, but she didn’t even care.

His hands moved up and down her back, and he kissed the top of her head again. This time there was no mistaking it. “I’m sorry.” His voice held all kinds of compassion.

She nodded again and then looked up. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for, but if you’re just saying, ‘This is the worst,’ then thank you. It is. But having you here is helping.” She sniffed and then stepped back, suddenly realizing how absolutely desperate she was sounding. She needed to get a grip. And she could. She did this every day. One good hug with the amazing Decker was not going to turn her into a weak puddle. She wouldn’t allow it. “Wow, anyway, thanks for the hug.” She wiped her face and reached for the truck door.

“I’ll get that.” He reached around her, and the space magnetized. She fought every impulse to lean into him again and climbed up inside as soon as the door was opened enough.

Why did she feel like she had to run? Because she was certain he would if he knew how desperately she was wanting more of his hugs, more of him, more of everything. He had hit just the right time to suddenly be in her life again, full of compassion and caring and hugging.

She used the bottom of her shirt to wipe the rest of the moisture from her face and glanced in the visor mirror. She’d looked better, but not too bad considering.

By the time he climbed in the driver’s seat, she’d pasted on a mostly sincere and semi-comfortable smile. “Hey, sorry about that.”

He reached for her hand again. “That’s what friends are for.”

A part of her wilted and then relaxed with those words. But she was grateful that once again the pressure was off with Decker. “Well, thanks anyway, I guess I should get back.”

“I figured as much. But thanks for grabbing burgers with me. This was good. Turns out I needed some time with Faithy Haws.”

“Me too. Time with you, anyway. It was good.” She couldn’t even control what came out of her mouth. It was time to get back to her car. She forced her mouth to close and say nothing more.

They drove in the quiet for a moment, and then he turned on the radio. Country. And Bailey Dawson came on.

“What! I haven’t heard her on here in forever!” Faith turned it up. Bailey had grown up in Willow Creek. And then she’d married Maverick. Their history was a little more complicated than that, but the town was quick to forgive, and Grace was their daughter, who Faith just adored. She sang along. “I miss her on the radio.”

“Yeah, I don’t think she’ll be producing more any time soon. I know she’s always working on a song, but she’s pregnant again, and with the bunch she’s already got running around and wreaking havoc, she says that recording isn’t in the cards right now. But she seems happy.”

When the song ended, Bailey’s voice spoke. Faith turned it up louder.

“That was a shout-out to my favorite place in the world, Willow Creek. When I was lost, when I had nowhere else to turn, when I knew I had hurt a lot of people in this town, everyone welcomed me back.” Her voice broke, and Faith’s eyes filled with tears again. “And I’ll love them forever for that. They taught me what I should have known from the beginning. Grace comes in all shapes and sizes. And when your own neighbors offer you some, it’s one sweet package.”

Faith nodded.

“She’s one class act.”

“She sure is.”

They pulled up to her truck, and Faith’s mind was full of all kinds of ideas about grace and the town and what she should do. When Decker came around to open her door, she hopped down. He was so close, and the rush that flowed through her was almost too much, but she high-fived him and scooted around his large body before hopping up in her own truck and driving away.

“Well done, Faithy.” That was no small feat. But she had a lot of practice resisting her cravings for that tall cowboy. She’d done it for years, and she could do it again.

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