Page 42 of Heartstrings & Horizons
“I’d love to see you with your nieces and nephews someday. I think you’d be the best uncle.”
“Technically, I’m the only uncle, but you’re not wrong. What about you? Is anybody going to be making you ‘Auntie Paige’ soon?”
“I don't think I have any hope of it ever happening on my side, at least. I’ll have to marry into being an aunt. My brother dates occasionally, and he did have one serious girlfriend a few years ago, but things ended badly and I think it ruined him for all other long-term relationships.”
“Well, you can borrow my nieces and nephews anytime. They’ll be yours, eventually.” Her face lights up at the revelation and something tugs inside my chest. “Everybody is dying to meet you. In fact, the first thing they asked when I got to the party was ‘where’s your girlfriend’”
“Really?” Her teeth tug at her bottom lip.
“Yeah, really. They want to meet the girl who stole my heart. They’re going to love you, Paige.”
Like I do.The thought comes completely out of left field, leaving me slightly stunned.
“Even your mom?”Shit.
“Well…” I’m not really sure how to explain, but I can’t say nothing and leave her unprepared for when she inevitably comes face to face with Diane Brooks-Walker. “Here’s the thing you need to know about my mom. Nothing and no one will ever be good enough for her kids. Especially me, since I’m the youngest and the only boy.”
I watch as her expression falls into a frown and I hate that I put it there. “We don’t have to worry about it right now, but all you need to do is be yourself. I want to be with you, and my mother’s opinion doesn’t change that.”
A soft smile plays on her lips. “Okay.”
“Wanna watch a movie?”
“You don’t have to ask me twice!”
She rushes around, fluffing her pillows and snuggling up under a soft blanket that she, without fail, pulls all the way up to her chin. The way she moves is so familiar to me that I’ve grown to expect it, and it never fails to stir something deep within me.
30 minutes into the movie, she’s fast asleep. I sit there motionless, watching her chest rise and fall, listening to the sound of her breathing. Her eyelashes flutter against her cheeks and an errant curl falls over her forehead — I wish I could sweep it away and replace it with my lips.
I snag my phone and take a screenshot, adding it to my collection. It’s the simplest thing, sitting here watching a movie together, miles apart. She fills me with a sense of peace and comfort. Now I have to make sure I can keep her.
Chapter 15
Cade
? Your Man - Josh Turner
Sunshine: Are you at the airport yet?
Cade: Made it through security. I think the TSA agent wanted to cop a feel.
Sunshine: Can’t say I blame them. Can’t wait to see you!
Cade: Soon, baby. I’ll text you when we land.
Anticipation courses through my veins as the seconds tick by agonizingly slowly. We’re scheduled to touch down in Toronto in approximately 15 minutes and I can’t wait to hold my girl in my arms for the first time.My girl— it still doesn’t feel real.
I’m on the plane scrolling through our text conversations, trying to figure out the exact moment I started this free fall, but I can’t put my finger onit. I think it might have been when she called me Cowboy for the first time, or maybe it’s been slowly building from the moment I saw her face on the app.
This is it. I walk towards the baggage claim, looking around to see if I can spot Paige in the crowd of people milling about. I don’t see her yet so I reach for my phone intending to shoot off a quick text to let her know I’m here but before I can hit send, I spot a figure barreling through the crowd.She’s here.
A blur of soft curves and wild curls parts the crowd, heading straight for me. She’s wearing tight fitted dark blue jeans, and a cropped black v-neck tee that shows a hint of what’s hiding underneath. I’m practically salivating at the view.
I open my arms to catch her just as she crashes into my chest. She smells like vanilla with a hint of something flowery. I wrap her up in the tightest hug I can muster and inhale her scent doing my best to commit this moment to memory.She’s real.
“Hey Cowboy,” she whispers close to my ear. I pull back slightly and look into her beautiful chocolate eyes for a moment before my gaze drops to her soft, plush lips.
It’s now or never, Cade.
