Page 149 of What About Us
She nods. “What Tristen said, about me being your charity case, I thought she was right.”
I go to interrupt her, but she holds up a hand, stopping me.
“But then, I realized something.”
I give a slight shake of my head. “What’s that?”
She briefly drops her eyes, but then brings them back to mine. “You gave me your last name,” she says.
I nod, watching her.
“You’ve already helped me so much. Whether it was helping me when my mama died, or paying for new tires for my car, I could explain that away as friendship. I mean, friendship alone would explain any of the other million little things you do for me that don’t cost you a thing. And the B&B was just a smart business decision for you.”
She pauses and my hands itch to pull her toward me, but I force them to stay hanging at my sides.
“That letter…it helped me understand. If you were just being a good friend by marrying me to help with my diabetes, you would have told me to keep my maiden name. But you didn’t,” she says, searching my face.
“No.” She thinks I give her so many things, but she’s got it twisted. I tip her chin up to look at me. “You taking my last name, becoming a Hayes, it’s pretty much all I’ve ever wanted.”
A tear slips out from the corner of her eye, but before she can really start crying, a playful grin tugs up the corners of her lips. She exhales with a laugh and a eye roll. “God, you really are so fuckingobsessedwith me.”
I bark out a laugh and reach for her, but she puts a hand on my chest, stopping me. I almost groan out loud because Ineedto touch her, to hug her. I might lose my mind if I don’t.
“What did Tristen really want?” she asks softly.
“Money,” I tell her. I won’t keep things from her anymore, especially when it comes to finances. I’ve learned my lesson. Even if it was the fucking hard way.
Her eyebrows come together. “She’s broke?”
“Her father cut her off.”
“So, she came to you, and what… You gave her money?” she asks, and I’m not sure if she’s angry at me for giving in to her or if it’s something else.
“Yes.” I nod.
Her eyes darken. “And she just…left?”
“I don’t suspect we’ll see her for a while. If ever.”
She shakes her head, looking down. “God, poor Paige.” Her voice is strained.
I tip her chin up again. “She’ll be ok. You said it yourself, right? She’s got more people that love her than she knows what to do with. And she’s got one hell of a stepmom.” I hold my breath, afraid one wrong move will send her packing.
She watches me, chewing her bottom lip some more, and driving me crazy. I want to kiss her so badly, but I won’t force her into something she isn’t ready for.
Taking another deep breath, she takes my hand in hers, twining our fingers together. The contact feels so fucking good, this time I do groan.
“There’s just one more thing,” she says, her lips tipping up in that mischievous smirk again and it’s like a bolt of lightning to my chest.
I’ll give her anything. All she has to do is name it. “What’s that?”
“I get to pick where we build the house.”
Relief sweeps through me and my vision blurs, distorting her beautiful face. I pull in a trembling breath, causing my chest to visibly stutter. My muscles suddenly and involuntarily loosen and then catch so my knees don’t buckle. I try to laugh. Actually, I’m pretty sure the sound that rips from my chest is a sob, but when I reach for her and our bodies collide, she makes a similar sound.
Throwing her arms around my neck, I hoist her up and she wraps her legs around my waist as I crush my lips to hers. Then, I turn and take two long strides to the side of the barn. Her back hits the white siding as my tongue delves into her mouth. She meets me swipe for swipe and the groan I let out at finally having her back in my arms is inhuman.
She whimpers as I crush her in my embrace, trailing hot kisses over her face, nose, and forehead. She lets out a gasp when I nip at her throat, and she pulls my mouth back to hers in a searing kiss.
