Page 50 of Healed Hearts

“Blonde,” he says with a huff and an eye roll.

I chuckle. “You’re missing the point.”

“What’s the point?” he asks.

“That I didn’t notice because I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you one time since you’ve sat down across from me.”

Thatgets his attention. “Really?” he asks softly. It’s so strange seeing the flip from his overly confident front to the vulnerability that lurks underneath.

“Yes, really. You’re breathtaking, truly.”

The corner of his lips turn up as he glances down at his lap. When his eyes meet mine, the caustic jealousy from before has fled, leaving only sweet contentment in its place.

“I’m very thankful to be here with you tonight. I feel like I’m easily the luckiest man in the world,” I say, meaning it wholeheartedly.

His cheeks flush, the sight making my heart flutter in my throat. So fucking perfect.

After the server comes back and brings our drinks, she takes our order, and we talk about everything and nothing—about our lives, parenting, funny stories he has with Roman, the easy way he and Beck tease each other, whatspecificallyI do for work, our childhoods, and the hard things we’ve been through. We talk all the way through the evening, our food growing cold on our plates as we ramble on and on. His smiles light up the room and me—the easy conversation settling in my soul and tugging on my heart.

By the time we’ve decided we’re ready to head home and I pay the bill, my cheeks are aching from how hard I’ve been laughing and how many smiles he’s pulled out of me. His cheeks have been flushed for the better part of the last half hour, and his eyes are lit up with happiness. My heart is tumbling around my chest. He’s never looked more beautiful to me than he does right now, happy and carefree and enjoying himself. I know I’ve already said it, but fuck, he’s everything.

As we stand from the table, he slips his hand into mine without thought, still talking animatedly about his job and how much he loves working with kids. How he wants a big family one day because he knows he can give to a family what was not given to him with his. On the way to the car, his topic changes to Wren and how much he cares about her, how sweet she is, and how much he enjoys spending time with her. The smile and sincerityin his voice as he says it makes a piece of my heart fall right out of my chest and land at his feet.

I cut him off with my lips on his, unable to resist for even a second longer. He whimpers, tugging me toward him and clinging to me. “I’m not going anywhere, darlin’,” I whisper.

“I know,” he murmurs, making my heart fucking soar. “But I might. I might float right the fuck away. I’m so glad I waited for you. I’m so glad Roman told me to wait.”

Oh fuck.I push him against the car, bracketing him with my body. He tenses for a second, so I break the kiss, but he uses his grip on me to pull me back, moaning low in his throat when our lips connect again.

We kiss until my lips are sore, until my body is so on edge that it feels like the slightest breeze will send me over.

“What’s wrong?” I whisper when I pull back, slightly alarmed to see that his eyes are glassy with unshed tears. Did I miss something? Did I trigger him?

“Nothing,” he murmurs. “It’s just so… much. Why is it so much? I don’t understand.” The confusion in his voice tears at my heart, and I pull him in close to me, wrapping my arms around him. He buries his face in my chest, inhaling shuddering breaths. I think he’s kept emotion so far from his sex life for so long, understandably so, that he’s overwhelmed by his feelings.

“Bad too much?” I ask softly.

He shakes his head against me. “Come on. Let me take you home.”

He pulls away and looks up at me. “I don’t want to leave yet, though.”

That pouty bottom lip will be the death of me. “It’s a good thing I mean my home then, huh?” He smiles at me, nodding. “Perfect,” I whisper, dropping my lips to his and sharing a kiss full of happiness and smiles with him.

I walk him around to the passenger side of the car and hold the door for him. He smiles, and I hustle back to the driver’s side. When I climb in, I start the car, drop the e-brake and shift into reverse, turning in my seat to look behind me as I back out. When I put the car into first and take off, he makes a soft noise. I glance at him as I shift into second. “Everything alright?”

He nods, his eyes glued to my hand as I move through the gears. “Why is that so sexy? Watching you drive?”

I chuckle. “It’s not that impressive. You drove my car. It’s not like it’s something I can do and you can’t,” I point out.

“Yeah, but… your hands,” he murmurs.

He shifts in his seat, and my throat goes dry when I glance over and see the outline of his dick in his tight jeans.Nope, eyes back on the road, Julian. It’s hard to focus, though, as he moves back and forth in the seat. I canfeelhis eyes on me and that might be the most distracting part of all—that I’m turning him on, and I’m not even doing anything but sitting here.

A soft moan echoes through the car, and I glance over for a split second, just long enough to see that he’s massaging his erection through his jeans.

“Oh Jesus,” I whisper, white-knuckling the steering wheel, my cock throbbing at the thought of him bringing himself pleasure in my passenger seat.

He lets out another soft groan. I have zero idea what possesses me to do it. Maybe a death wish. Maybe temporary insanity, but I glance at him again and say, “Take yourself out, darlin’.”

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