Page 103 of Love You
“Huh?” He scooted up so he could have a better look. “I think it’s just the lighting. Well, are you pissed?”
She kept studying them. Madison definitely looked like she’d had one too many and Win was wearing his slightly bored look. Darcy had seen it more times than she could count at GA’s morning meetings while TJ prattled on about profits and losses.
“Say something, dammit.”
She blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. “There’s not much to say other than I’ve seen you take better pictures.”
“Nothing happened. I swear.”
She tossed the phone onto his side of the bed. “I believe you.”
“You do?”
It was mean but she sort of enjoyed the look of shock on his face. “Why would you lie to me? If you wanted to be with Madison, you’d just dump me. You’ve always been a player, not a cheater. No one has ever said that about you. And for as much as this town talks, especially about you, the word would be out by now.”
She picked the phone back up and pointed at the photograph. “What is that?”
Win squinted at the screen. “Some kind of raviolis in cream sauce.”
“It looks good. Really rich, though.”
“They were . . . and why the hell are we talking about food? Come here.” He pulled her on top of him. “I love you. Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all you’re going to say? Just yes?”
“Did you want poetry?”
Win seemed to contemplate the question. “Yeah, I sort of do. Tell me why you love me.”
She looked down into his face and melted into his blue, blue eyes. “Because you’re really good-looking?”
“Ah, come on, that’s bullshit,” he huffed, and she laughed.
“It’s simple: You make me blindingly happy, Win Garner.” He was the first thing she thought of in the morning and the last person she wanted to see at night. He was her everything. “At first, I was afraid to love you, afraid that you’d let me down. But I’ve also had time to think and something my mother told me made an impression. She said she’d felt as if she couldn’t be a perfect mother unless she cured me of all her insecurities. In a way, I was doing the same thing with you. I’d convinced myself that you were a bad bet, totally unreliable, because I was really insecure about myself. The truth is you’re the most reliable man I’ve ever known and you know what proved it to me?”
“What?”
“When Nana got sick. You were willing to make the call on her care so if things went south I wouldn’t blame myself.” Her eyes teared up and she wiped them with the back of her hand. “You did that for me. It was a selfless gift and I’ll never forget it. I love you, Win Garner. And I’m not afraid anymore.”
He jiggled his hand from side to side. “That’s not bad but I would’ve liked more. Maybe something about how the birds sing whenever I’m near.”
“Are you actually quoting a Carpenters song? I hate the Carpenters.”
“But you love me.” He waggled his brows, then peeled off her really good lingerie, and pulled her beneath him.
She found the light switch and in the darkness, they found each other. Their hands, their mouths, their bodies melded in the sweet summer heat. And somewhere in the distance she heard birds chirp and a cricket sing, and her heart soared.
Epilogue
There was enough food to feed an army—or the Garner family. Darcy kept adding dishes to the long picnic table Reggie Brown had left at the log cabin. Some kind of tortilla surprise Deb made, which kind of looked scary, to tell the truth. Pies from Nana and Hannah. A case of craft beer from Colt and Delaney. Mary and Gray had brought a big bowl of fruit salad. Besides a beautiful floral arrangement, Foster came with fresh bread. Boden a huge tub of chicken wings and Rachel brought cupcakes—the cute ones with the GA logo.
They were off in a corner, fighting about something. Darcy had no idea what had set them off but it appeared that the baker and bartender didn’t like each other too much. She was staying out of it, going for a drama-free afternoon if that was at all possible.
Josh grabbed a couple more folding chairs from the deck and put them around the table. And Geneva helped Darcy put out more settings as the guests arrived. Her father and his new girlfriend sat on the dock with their feet in the river. It was more than a little awkward to have both her parents and Max’s concubine (Geneva’s word, not Darcy’s) under the same roof but they’d all promised to behave.
Lucy and Ricky had jumped out of Gray’s truck and had hit the water, running. Darcy couldn’t blame them. Late August had brought record-high heat but it was shady under the trees.
