Page 12 of Big and Bold
She’s silent, and I wish that I had left the light on so I could at least see the expression on her face. When she remains silent, I continue, “But it didn’t work, Annie. When I came home that day you left and found you and your clothes gone, I lost it. And then that fuckin’ guy showed up to serve me the divorce papers… it destroyed me. I love you, Annie. I know that I didn’t do the best at showing you how much I love you or what you mean to me, but I’m going to make up for that this next month.”
The sheets rustle. And she raises her head. “You just said you love me.”
I smile into the darkness. “I do love you. I should have said that to you before now, and I’m going to be saying it to you a lot more. I’m going to show you, Annie, if you’ll just give me a chance.”
I wait for her to say something… anything, but the silence is too much for me. “Please,” I plead with her.
She blows out a breath, and her voice is thick with emotion. “This last year was the best and the hardest of my life, Dustin. I wanted to be here with you, but it hurt that you didn’t love me the same way I loved you.”
“Fuck, I did, though. I do. I can fix this,” I tell her. “Just let me.”
Desperate, I slide my hand toward her, and when I touch her arm, I trail my fingers down until I touch her hand and then wrap mine around hers. She doesn’t resist me or pull away, and I let out a soft breath. “Annie, I need to make this right. I can’t lose you. I just can’t. Please, we can take it as slow as you want to.”
Her silence makes me crazy, but she finally agrees. “I’m here, Dustin. I’m here for thirty days… but that’s all I can give you right now.”
I want her to submit to me fully. I don’t want there to be an expiration date, but if this is all she can give me, I’ll take it. “Can I hold you, Annie? Nothing else. I just want to hold you, that’s all.”
She chuckles. “You expect me to believe I’m going to scoot over there next to you and you’re just going to hold me?” She barks out a laugh. “I’m smarter than I look, D.”
I groan. “I promise. This past week… it’s been hell without you, honey. I just need to have you in my arms.”
I know I sound weak, but I don’t care. I have nothing to lose at this point.
I wait, and it may appear as if I’m being patient, but I’m feeling anything but that. I’m about to reach for her when she slowly starts to slide toward me. I hold my breath until I feel her body skim mine, and I wrap an arm around her waist and tug her flushagainst my body. Without hesitation, I roll to my back, pulling her with me. I have my arms around her waist and my legs threaded with hers.
I try to savor this feeling because I wasn’t lying. This time last week, I never thought I’d have her in my bed or in my arms again.
“Dustin…” she whispers.
“Yeah, honey?”
She puts her hand on my chest. “You’re holding me a little too tight.”
Reluctantly, I loosen my grip on her. We lie here in silence, and eventually she burrows into me, and when she sighs softly, her breath fanning my chest, I say a silent prayer that I won’t fuck this up. I can’t.
CHAPTER 10
ANNIE
He’s gone.
I woke up this morning, and that’s the first thing I noticed. I shouldn’t be surprised because that’s how it’s always been, but today it hurts a little worse.
I go about my business, getting ready for the day, and after that I’m trying to decide if I’m going to garden, read, or maybe go into town when I hear the stomping of boots on the front porch.
I go to the hallway and see a smiling Dustin walking inside. “Morning, wife.”
I almost run to him but hold myself back. “Morning. What are you doing home? I thought you’d be out on the ranch all day.”
He looks at me pointedly. “I had to feed the animals, but I thought I’d come and see if you wanted to go ride the fence line with me.”
My mouth falls open, and I point a finger at myself. “You want me to go with you?”
He nods, opens his mouth, closes it, and then walks toward me. When he’s a few feet away, he stops and lets his hands fall to his sides. “I uh, wanted to wake you up this morning but thought you’d want to sleep. I would love for you to go with me, Annie.”
My heart feels like it’s about to pound out of my chest. “Okay. Yeah, I’d like that.”
He doesn’t attempt to move away. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
