Page 50 of Deception & Daylight
He places an all too brief kiss on my temple before kneeling at his mother’s side. She grasps his hand and the emotionally charged moment has me choking back tears. This is what family is supposed to look like.
“Why didn't you tell me?” he asks.
“You’ve already been through so much, losing your dad. And everything before that... I didn’t want you to worry. They caught it early and I guess I had hoped I could buy some time before I had to tell you the truth. I’m sorry, sweetheart. It was never my intention to hurt you.”
“I’m not mad. Am I upset you didn’t feel like you could tell me? Hell yes, I am. But I love you, Ma. And I would’ve wanted to be here for you.”
“You’re a good man, Miles Barlow.”
Suddenly feeling like I’m intruding on their moment, I start to turn away. I don’t belong here. This isn't my home and they aren’t my family. “And just where do you think you’re going?” Lucy’s voice stops me in my tracks. “Come here, sweet girl. I need to hug you.” A small smile forms on my lips as I let her pull me into her arms, her hand gently stroking over my spine. “I know you don’t want my thanks, but you have it anyway.”
“Can I get you anything?” I ask. “Something to eat or drink? I can run out and get whatever you want.”
“I’m okay, Maggie. If you need to go, I understand.” I hang my head and blink back tears. I’ve never felt so seen, but all I want to do is disappear. “Hey. Don’t do that. It’s okay if you’re not okay. Miles, why don’t you take our girl home. I know you don’t like hospitals.”Our girl. God, I wish they were mine. I’d give anything to be a part of this beautiful family.
“I can’t leave you, Ma.” He looks at me apologetically, and I nod, a quiet understanding passing between us.
“I’m fine. I need to get some sleep anyway. And Nathan — Dr. Shaw — will be here with me.”
“Are you sure,” he asks. “I can stay.”
“Go home,” her tone is a little more forceful now and Miles huffs out a laugh.
“Yes Ma’am.”
Chapter 21
Mags
? Daylight - Taylor Swift
It’s early evening when we arrive back at the inn, and the mood is quiet and somber, neither of us knowing quite what to say. It’s Miles who finally breaks the silence. “Thank you for being there for her. And for staying when I know you probably wanted to be anywhere else.”
“Of course. Lucy’s been good to me. I wanted to be there for her. And for you.” I follow Miles onto the porch, stopping just outside the door. When I turn to head inside, he snags me by the wrist.
“Wait,” he says. “Come for a walk with me?” He’s a shadow of the self-assured man I know, his usual confidence replaced by a hesitant uncertainty that feels profoundly wrong.
I nod in agreement, letting him tug me along the sidewalk. He laces our fingers, and I wrap my other hand around his bicep, pulling him against me to combat the slight chill coming off the lake. His responding smilecould melt an iceberg. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” His lip twitches and his blue eyes shine with amusement, but there’s an undercurrent of heat in the way his gaze pierces me.
“You know what you look like. Stop it.” He releases my hand but I don’t have time to miss the contact as he wraps his arm around my shoulder and curls me into his side. Keeping me tucked against his body, he turns down the cobblestone path towards the gazebo I have yet to visit. It looks like something out of a fairytale with intricate spindles and vines snaking up the white weathered lattice work. He seats himself on the top step and pulls me onto his lap. I stumble slightly, crashing onto his thighs, my giggle echoing through the structure. “What are you doing?”
“If I can’t look at you, I’m gonna hold you instead.” He blows out a long breath and smoothes a hand over my messy hair. “I just need a minute. Today scared the shit out of me, and I need to regain some sense of control.”
I shift in his hold, turning so I’m straddling his lap, running my fingers through his mussed up hair, just the way he likes. “Tell me what you need.”
His hands wrap around my spine, pulling me tight against his chest. “You’re walking a fine line, Mags.”
“Tell me what you need, Miles. You want to take control, so do it.”
He hesitates for a minute, and when he speaks it’s not at all what I’m expecting. “Will you let me take care of you? Nothing sexual.”
“What would that look like?” This dynamic is foreign to me, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued. I want to know what it’s like to be taken care of.
His fingertips graze my temple when he sweeps a lock of hair off my forehead, and the featherlight touch sends a shiver of anticipation racing down my spine. “It would mean your complete surrender. You do everything I ask without question. If you don’t like something, use your safe word. I’ll stop immediately and we’ll talk things through.”
“Ok.” The word is little more than a breathy sigh. I want this. More than I’m willing to admit.
