Page 52 of Preacher

“Oh, so you doubted me?”

“No, it was me that I doubted.”

“Well, I never doubted you for a second. I knew you would be incredible.”

I dealt with the condom, then laid down on the mattress next to her.

I was still trying to catch my breath when Tabitha curled up next to me and rested her head on my chest. I covered us both with the comforter. I could feel the nervous tension in her again, feel the frantic beating of her heart, and stroked her back to try to help her settle. “I know you don’t believe it. I know you don’t trust me yet. But I will prove it to you.”

She kept her face buried in my chest and hidden from me.

I didn’t say anything else.

I just let her have her moment. Eventually, she whispered, “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Everything.” She glanced up at me with those gorgeous hazel eyes and said, “For not giving up on me, even when I gave you no reason not to. And for listening to me, really listening, and making me feel like what I have to say matters.”

“Right back at ya, beautiful.”

She closed her eyes, and it wasn’t long before she drifted off to sleep.

It was quiet. Not the restless kind of quiet, but the one that brought peace. Real peace. The kind that settled in your chest like it had always been there. It felt good. She felt good. She had one arm slung across me like I belonged to her. And I liked it. I liked it a lot, so much so, I didn’t want to leave.

But I had to.

Her boys were right next door. If they saw me walking out of here in the morning, they would raise ten shades of hell. I needed to go, but I didn’t move. I just laid there, for over an hour, listening to the soft sound of her breathing and feeling the warmth of her body next to mine.

Eventually, I forced myself to shift enough to slide out from under her arm. I tried not to wake her, but as soon as I got out of the bed, her eyes flew open. “You’re leaving?”

“Afraid so.” I pulled on my boxers as I told her, “It’s almost daylight. I need to get back to the clubhouse.”

“Okay, but how will you get back? You drove my car, remember?”

“Yeah, I’ll have one of the boys come get me.”

She nodded, then eased the covers back and slipped on her robe. She sat at the foot of the bed and watched as I finished getting dressed. I would’ve told her to go back to bed, but something told me she wouldn’t do it. My girl would want to walk me to the door, and I was good with that.

Once I was ready, she followed me into the living room, and before I walked out, she reached up and gave me a hug. “Thank you for tonight.”

“I should be the one thanking you.” I hugged her back, then said, “Have dinner with me tonight.”

“Okay. Just tell me when and where.”

“My place. I’ll pick you up at six.”

“Sounds good.”

I let my hand linger on her shoulder as I passed, memorizing the feel of her under my fingers. Then I opened the door, glanced back at her one last time, and said, “Lock up after me.”

She gave me a quiet nod, and as I stepped out into the night, my heart was pounding in a way it hadn’t in years. I left there not knowing where this road would lead, but for the first time in a long damn while, I was looking forward to the ride.

14

TABITHA

“They’ve finished painting.”

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