Page 118 of Win Some Love Some
“You’ve been paying attention this whole time,” I said.
“I know you by heart.”
I kissed him and someone driving by honked. “Well,” he said against my lips. “We’re not a secret anymore.”
I kissed him again and again until finally he stepped back and shook his head. “Do you want coffee, woman, or not?”
“Coffee!” I laughed and he put his arm around my shoulders.
“Now you do me,” he said.
“Oh,” I laughed. “I did you. I did you a whole bunch. Took you down to pound town.”
“First, stop saying that. In fact, don’t ever say that again. No,” he said. “You…” he licked his lips. “You tell me what you’ve noticed about me.”
Oh, this man, this man who’d felt so unloved for so long. The scars were deep and it didn’t matter how much Birdie and Antony loved him, he was always going to feel a little unsure. A little unseen.
I cupped his face in my hands, right there in the middle of town. In front of the gazebo.
“I know you get grumpy when you get hungry. I know you don’t process dairy as well as you think you do. I know that feelings are hard for you, but your loyalty to those you care about is bottomless. I know you’re dying to really spank me, which, I’m not against. I know, despite your grumbling, you’re going to let your brothers become part of your life. I know you hate the fact that Birdie still lets Madame Za drive, and I also know you drive by her place every Thursday to take her to her sister’s house to play cards. I know you like pork chops better than steak, and your favorite season is summer because that’s when Antony andBirdie found you. I know you love the ocean first thing in the morning and you want kids. A whole bunch of them. But that’s pretty new and possibly I’m projecting. And I know…” his eyes were damp. My big, tough, strong Nick. “You know, don’t you? You’re my home.”
He pressed his forehead to mine, right there in the middle of the town square.
“I process dairy just fine,” he grumbled.
I laughed because that’s what he wanted me to do. For the first time in six years, I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be.
25
Two Weeks Later
Nora
“Hey, I’m heading out for a bit. You okay holding down the shop?” Nick asked.
I looked up from the computer to see Nick pulling off his coveralls. He typically only wore them when he had a messy engine overhaul, but I never minded watching him strip.
I gave him a catcall whistle and he flexed his biceps for me.
His biceps were a work of art.
“Yes, I’m good,” I told him. “You don’t have any appointments until this afternoon. And I’m meeting the business association at four to discuss social media strategies. Are you meeting Wyatt again?”
“And Liam. Wyatt finally pulled the trigger on a plot of land and wants to show off, I guess.” He tried to make this sound like a burden he had to carry.
“Hmm,” I said attempting to be casual, but really there was no point. He was still holding those men at arm’s length. And he also was – for some reason – resistant to telling his family about us. Like he couldn’t handle any more intimacy. But, sometimes with Nick, it was better to just hit the nail on the head with a really big hammer. “It’s almost like you’re becoming a family.”
Nick pushed his grease covered jumper off his legs. “They’re not family…they’re just guys I sometimes hang out with because they’re not awful.”
“I’m sure they’d be thrilled to know you spoke so highly of them.”
“I’m sure they’ve been called worse.”
“Speaking of calling…”
“Nora,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I told you. I’ll call my parents soon.”
“Why are you being so stubborn about telling Birdie and Antony? I mean, how is it harder than talking to my parents?”
