Page 115 of Hale Yes
“I did. It was really nice of her to invite me.”
“She knows how special you are to me.” Helix stops walking and turns us to face each other. “Doyouknow how special you are to me?”
Unsure how to answer, I say, “I guess. You’re really good to me, and we seem to enjoy being together. At least I do.”
The wind whips my hair across my face, and Helix pulls the band from my wrist and fashions what feels like a very messy bun. “How does it look?” I ask, and he chuckles.
“Pretty terrible. I’m definitely not quitting my day job to do hair.” He steps closer, his warmth infusing itself in my skin. “And for the record, you are very special to me, Nicolette.”
I swallow hard. “You’re special to me too.” I’ve never seen his eyes this blue. Maybe it's because of the moonlight.
His hand cups my chin as his eyes flit over my face. “I love you, Nicolette.”
My heart takes flight, fluttering like it has wings. “Helix…”
“You don’t have to say it back. I know I only met you a little less than five months ago, but I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
I climb the man like a damn tree, and he laughs, holding me beneath my butt. “I love you too,” I tell him. “And you don’t have to imagine me not in your life because you’re not getting rid of me now.”
He kisses me then, and it’s tender and poignant, an impeccable proclamation of love kiss, if that’s even a thing. The lapping of the waves is the perfect soundtrack to the perfect moment.
When we break apart, Helix rests his forehead against mine. “I’m just warning you that I’ve never been in love, so I probably won’t be very good at this. But I want you to call me out if I ever make you feel like you’re not the most important thing in my life. Because you are.”
Who the hell kidnapped my dirty-talking man and replaced him with this sweet impostor? I don’t know, but I love both sides of him.
“I feel it,” I tell him, looking out at the water. “I’ve always felt like I’ve been written in the margins by pretty much everyone.” I bring my eyes back to him as emotion thickens my words. “But you make me feel like I’m written on the very center of the page. And I hope I make you feel the same.”
“You do,” he whispers before kissing me again.
As he holds me tight, I try to figure out what I did to get so lucky. Because I’m in love with Helix Hale…
And he loves me right back.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
A very anal Christmas
Nicolette
When Helix found out my family was going out of town for the holidays, he invited me to celebrate with the Hales. Actually, it was less inviting and more insisting. I believe his exact words were, “You’re fucking coming if I have to hog tie you and drag you there.”
I was a little apprehensive about what exactly hog tying entailed, so I said I’d go.
Thanksgiving was great. The entire family gathered at Helix’s house, including his mother, father, and stepmom. Rebecca and Ophelia avoided each other like the plague, and it was all very civilized.
Christmas Eve was last night, and we went to Haywood and Rebecca’s mansion. Everything in their home looked like it belonged in a museum, but the atmosphere in the family room and kitchen was surprisingly casual with everyone talking and laughing while kids ran around.
Today we’re at Ophelia’s and things are a bit calmer though still festive. It’s only Ophelia’s sons, and of course, Reece and me. Reece looks like a little doll with her red-and-white striped tights and a bright green top with sequin candy canes on the front.
“That outfit is adorable,” I tell Phoenix as we watch his daughter clip a red bow into Remi’s jet-black hair. Phoenix and I are already sporting hairbows because Reece informed us everyone had to match because it’s Christmas. I love that the whole family indulges her sweet ideas.
“I got that at a kids’ boutique in The Galleria. I was clueless about little girl stuff at first, but my mom helped, and now I know all the hot spots.” He laughs and runs a hand over the back of his neck. “I still feel like I’m winging this dad thing on a daily basis. New things pop up and I wonder what in the hell I’m doing.”
I bump him with my shoulder. “You’re doing great. Reecie is a great kid.”
His smile is pure proud dad as his eyes stay trained on his daughter, who is now bedecking Helix with a red bow directly on top of his head. He looks ridiculous, but it only makes him hotter. Especially when he catches me looking and mouths, “I love you.”
My heart performs a gymnastics routine in my chest like it does every time he says it. I still can’t believe this incredible man is mine, but every single day he makes me feel like I’m worthy of his love.
