Page 84 of Forever to Fall
“Yeah,” he said, stepping back and waving her inside. He caught a whiff of her familiar blackberry scent as she stepped over the threshold into the house. Since he hadn’t turned on many lights, the house felt dark yet cozy. “Let me get some lights and—” He took a step back, but Mallory’s arm shot out to stop his escape.
She didn’t say a word but tugged him back to her. Tentatively, she reached up and touched the delicate skin around his swollen eye. “Does it hurt?” Her question wasn’t clinical, yet he didn’t have an answer.
He didn’t have any words as her fingers grazed down his face and rested on his shoulders. Beckett dipped his head, resting it on her forehead as they simply enjoyed the moment of closeness. He hadn’t held Mallory in his arms for an eternity, and he planned to savor the opportunity. They had so much to discuss, but words seemed useless right now. Now wasn’t the time for planning, now was the time for holding her.
Enveloping her in a hug, he cradled Mallory like the delicate treasure she was. “It doesn’t hurt anymore,” he said, only referring to his eye slightly. The gaping chasm in his ribcage closed, leaving Beckett feeling almost whole again. Sure, he’d always grieve the loss of his grandparents, but at least Evan wasn’t going anywhere. And judging by how tightly Mallory held on to him, she wasn’t either.
“I want to show you something,” he said, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead before reluctantly stepping back. “Go for a walk with me?”
If she was surprised by his request, she didn’t show it. “Sure.”
Beckett smiled down at Mallory, clad in leggings and sneakers. She was dressed perfectly for what he had planned. “Meet me on the porch in one minute.” He kissed her temple before stepping back and jogging into the kitchen.
Grateful that Mallory hadn’t followed him, Beckett scooped up the ring box and tucked it into his jeans’ pocket. On his way out the door, he grabbed his hoodie and met Mallory on the porch. She stood with her back to him, hugging herself against the cooling September air. “Here,” he said as he flung the unzipped hoodie over her shoulders. “Follow me.”
Linking their hands together, Beckett stepped off the porch and into his future. Regardless of what was about to happen, he knew it would all work out for the best. Mallory was here, and he was more than ready for them to start the next chapter.
CHAPTER 27
Mallory wasn’t surewhat she expected when she arrived at Beckett’s house. When she pulled up and saw Evan’s car, she feared her brother had gone all macho man again and was pummeling Beckett into steak tartar. Never mind the fact that Beckett was able to hold his own, she knew he’d lay down and take whatever punishment Evan doled out. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. Both men appeared to be intact—Mallory could only hope that sentiment continued with her heart when she and Beckett were done talking.
And talking was what they should be doing, not hiking through the orchards as the sun set. Granted, she wasn’t really upset. This was one of her favorite places, and being out here with Beckett felt right. Her left hand clung to his as he led the way through rows of trees. It was harvest time, so the scent of ripe apples permeated the air around them. The song of a few insects kept tempo with her racing heart as Beckett finally got to a familiar clearing.
“This is my favorite place to watch the sun set,” Beckett announced when they reached the top of the trail. He spun her around to face the sun, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his frame. Resting his chin on top of her head, he let out a contented sigh. “This is my favorite place for other reasons,” he said, his arms tightening slightly around her waist.
“Oh, yeah?” she asked, breathless. Was it possible Beckett still thought about that sunny afternoon nearly fifteen years ago? Did he still think about the magic of the moment, of the wind in the trees and their adolescent racing hearts?
“Yeah.” Beckett nuzzled closer, peppering her neck with kisses. Her skin pebbled with goosebumps as he trailed kisses into the neckline of his hoodie. “I’m regretting bundling you up,” he teased, nipping at the skin of her earlobe.
Mallory was about to strip down to her skivvies if this continued, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment with her own lust. Instead, she asked, “Why is this your favorite place?”
For a second, Beckett was contemplative. She felt his slow inhales and exhales while they watched the sun disappear behind a row of trees. The sky was streaked with pinks and purples, the color scheme of her childhood. “This is my favorite place because it holds all my favorite memories.”
Mallory’s breath hitched, but she didn’t interrupt. “Gram used to take me up here to pick apples before the crew got harvesting. We’d fill as many bushels as we could carry and bring them back to the house. She’d bake pies, cupcakes, and fry up those little apple fritters. Gosh, I miss those.”
Mallory’s stomach growled at the memory of the crispy, sweet dough balls. Beckett’s Gram could bake better than anyone she’d ever met—except for maybe CeCe. “I remember the apple sauce she’d can and send home with me and Ev.”
