Page 35 of Forever to Fall
Beckett snaked his hand around her wrist, stopping her from retreating. “What’s the rush? Sit with me.” Her lips quirked at the invitation, and he was relieved that she didn’t automatically say no. “My pain pills can wait another few minutes.” She still didn’t say anything, so Beckett went in with the big guns. “I’m lonely.”
He watched her face sag as his words hit their target. “Okay, but no funny business.” She wagged a finger at him before crawling back onto the couch.
Over the years, Beckett had laid awake and fantasized about this very moment. Okay, in his fantasies he didn’t have a gimpy leg and a bum hand, but Mallory was always there. Now she wiggled into place, her rump grazing his torso, sending a bolt of awareness to places that need to stay calm. Now was not the time to act like a pubescent boy.Think about baseball...
Mallory’s breathing slowed and she whispered, “I missed you, Beckett.”
Before he could stop himself or think rationally, Beckett angled himself so he could see her profile. Her eyes were closed, giving him the confidence he needed. Without hesitating, he leaned down and brushed his lips on her temple. It was far from the passionate kiss the night before, but it was perfect nonetheless. “I missed you too, Mal.”
Resting her head on his shoulder, she exhaled two years’ worth of doubts. “What are we doing?” she asked, her question nearly swallowed up by his racing heart.
Beckett wished he was cool; one of those guys who said something suave and had women falling at his feet. But that was never him. Since he knew he couldn’t give her the answers she wanted, he gave her the truth. “I have no idea.”
She chuckled, angling closer to his middle as she draped her arm over his stomach. “I can’t lose you again.”
“I can’t lose you again either, Mal. You’re too damn important.”
For a while, no one spoke. As the birds carried on with their chorus outside, Mallory drifted off to sleep in Beckett’s embrace. Her breathing evened out, her mouth slightly agape.
Beckett flexed his hand and rested it over her shoulder, keeping her close. “I love you,” he whispered into her hair, careful not to wake her.
It could have been his imagination or the remaining medications in his system, but he thought he heard Mallory say, “I love you, too.”
A guy could dream, right?
CHAPTER 11
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Thin Lizzy’s “The Boysare Back in Town” blasted from across the room. The chorus repeated three times before stopping and starting again. “Arg...” Beckett muttered as he flopped back over and tried to go back to sleep.
His whole body ached, but especially his hand. As he nestled back into his pillow, he got a mouthful of hair. Coughing, he opened his eyes to find a dream come true. Mallory was there, her hair a mess after a night in their pillow fort. He carefully tucked a lock of hair behind her ear before the damn song started again.
Beckett cursed the day he let Evan change his ringtone, and he made himself a promise to return the favor the next time he saw his buddy. As carefully as he could, he slid off the couch and hobbled over to his phone.
“Hey, Lawless,” Beckett yawned into the phone.
