Page 52 of The Runaway and the Rugged
“Why?” she asked, her tone slipping into confusion. “I just… I don’t understand why?”
Why? I was still trying to wrap my head around it myself but the only answer I could give her was the easy one, the most logical one that took no effort to explain.
“Because you need a start. You need somethin’ new, and if that means I have to offer it, then I’ll gladly do so.” I turned my head toward the door, feeling a heavy presence of someone watching us.
My daughter being fuckin’ nosey.
“My parents didn’t name this place Hideaway Haven just by chance, Outlaw. It can be that special place for you, if you’re willing to let it.”
She looked at me, and I mean really looked at me as if contemplating. Her bright, clear eyes were more vivid with emotion as she tugged incessantly onto her bottom lip.
“And your family? You think they’d be okay with someone staying here?”
If I wouldn’t have asked first, there’s no doubt that someone would have.
“We got people stayin’ here all the time, besides, they would have offered if I didn’t.”
Her mouth quirked.
“Even your grumpy brother I have yet to meet?”
A low snort escaped.
“You thought I was the grumpy one, remember?” I reminded her.
“Yeah, well, I was wrong. Turns out you’re the too generous one.”
Her arms went around her middle as her stare dipped down to her toes. What I would give to know what she was thinking right now.
“Just doin’ what I think is right.” My stomach is filled with what felt a lot like hope. Like a twister of flutters that I couldn’t seem to tame, no matter how hard I tried to.
I didn’t like it. Not one bit, but it was there, like the Texas heat that seemed to linger on even after a sunset, and not going away anytime soon. Unwelcome as it was confusing, I swiftly shook it off the best I could until I was able to think clearly again.
“Something tells me you do that a lot.” She lifted her eyes with a small smile beaming right at me.
Fuck, she was pretty.
“Not as often as I should,” I told her truthfully. “So, what do you say? Will you stay?”
Her smile fell, but not completely. A strained, almost self-conscious look formed along with another wave of hesitation.
“It’s okay to say yes.” I attempted to put her at ease with a rare, warm smile. “I won’t hold it against you or anything.”
Her mouth twitched before settling back into a serious expression.
“The last thing I wanted was for you to feel obligated to ask me,” she admitted, but it couldn’t have been further from the truth. I was driven solely by my need to ask her to stay, to make sure she would be safe and taken care of as much as it pained me to admit it.
“Not the kind of man who feels obligated to do anything. I’m asking because I want to, Outlaw.”
She fixed her eyes on mine intently and unwaveringly. The shuffling behind the door shifted into rowdy whispers, but I was determined to not let it deter me. As much as I wanted to bang on the door and tell my meddlesome family to go away, Iheld back. My eyes and attention remained fully focused on the woman standing before me.
And I waited.
And waited, until finally her resolve appeared to crumble, replaced with what looked to be acceptance. Apprehensive acceptance, but acceptance nonetheless. Then with a slow, deep inhale, her arms had fallen from around her middle.
“Okay,” she muttered softly, to the point I almost didn’t hear it. “Okay, I’ll stay,” she reconfirmed.
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