Page 103 of Hit the Ground
“We’ll get him through it.” Her lips were a whisper on my cheekbone. “You’ll support him, and I’ll be your rock, holding you up. Let me be that for you, honey.”
I clamped my eyes shut, overwhelmed by wonder. How had I gotten so damn lucky to be able to call this woman mine? I’d never know the answer to that, but I wouldn’t forget how fortunate I was that Alice’s light was shining upon me when, by all rights, it should have dimmed years ago.
Now that I had it, it was my duty to keep it bright, to huddle around it and shield it from the elements and all the ugliness in the world. To protect it, even from myself if I had to.
I pulled back, so she could see me when I laid out the plans I’d been making for us in my head—so she could look into my eyes and see for herself how completely in I was.
“Allie-girl,” I rasped, my throat thick with my feelings for her and all the words I wanted to say rushing to get out at once.I took my time, making sure I explained myself as clearly as possible. She needed to understand what she meant to me.
“Caleb.” Her eyes glinted like dew on a leaf catching the morning sun.
“You can’t see inside my head.”
She let out a breezy laugh. “No, I can’t. That’s true.”
“My meaning is you can’t see how I feel about you. I am going to do a better job of telling you. Beginning now.”
Her hand found mine on her waist, and she threaded our fingers together. “I’m listening.” She tilted her head to give me her ear, and I chuckled. She was so adorable and sweet, I couldn’t help it.
“It happened when you were dancing with Bryan at Joy’s. This…implosioninside me. I hit the ground, on my ass, without ever realizing I’d been falling for a long time.” I squeezed her fingers. “To be clear, I mean falling for you, Alice.”
She tried to bite back a smile, but it was no use. “I figured, but thank you for clarifying.”
“That’s the least I can do after mucking about for so damn long.”
“Not too long, though.” She touched her lips to mine. “It seems to me you were right on time.”
“I don’t know about that,” I muttered, less willing to give myself a pass. “But I do know I keep having that same feelingwhen I’m with you. I see your smile, or you share an insight about Fathaniel and Balboa, or you make my kid laugh, and I hit the ground again. I didn’t know it was possible to fall for someone over and over, but here I am, head over heels for you and still tumbling.”
She gasped a sharp breath and shook her head. “Caleb, I—”
“I’m not done yet, so hold on.” I slipped my hand from hers to take hold of her chin, tipping it back. “I thought I had a pretty damn perfect life with my boy and my family nearby. You knowall too well I didn’t see a need to add to it. But I was wrong. The time I’ve spent with you has only proven how closed off I was. Having you in my house, in my life…you fit. We fit together. You’re a piece I wasn’t aware I was missing until I had you and everything became so much better. You took my heart in your soft little hands and cracked it wide open.”
She blinked at me, catching tiny teardrops in her lashes. Her rosy lips parted, but no words came out. That was all right. I wasn’t ready for her to speak yet.
“In my head, I’ve been planning a future with you. I’m picturing you moving to the ranch by the end of summer. I’ve got an idea of where we can put your books, and I’ve looked up plans for shelves I want to build you.” Her whimper almost stopped me, but my tongue was loose, and my feelings were a raging river, flowing out of me without any constraints. “I’ve been thinking of things down the line—not too far—like where we’ll have our wedding, and if the kids you and I have will be like Jesse or completely different. When you came to me all those months ago, I couldn’t see myself going there, but now that I know you and what it’s like to truly have you, it’s impossible for me not to want all that with you.”
There was more, a lot more, but only one thing needed to be said now. It was the most important part, and since I had her rapt attention, now was the time to tell her.
Holding her chin, I unfurled our hands to stroke along her throat, finding her fluttering pulse. I leaned forward to kiss her there, once then twice. She sucked in a breath, and her pulse jumped. Still, she stayed quiet, giving me the floor.
“The fact is, my sweet Alice, I’m in love with you, and everything I learn about you has me falling deeper. I’m going to do my best to show you that through actions and words. You’ve always been the brave one, and it’s my turn to be that for you.”
A whimper was the only warning I got before she dove for my neck, tucking her head beneath my jaw. Her shoulders trembled as she burrowed into me, getting herself as close as she could without finding her way under my skin. I wrapped my arms around her, letting my head fall back on the cushions from the relief of finally freeing the thoughts that had been whipping around inside me like a brewing storm. My mind was calm now, content with Alice knowing exactly how I felt for her, needing nothing from her in return. Not now. Not today.
This was all I needed.
Peace with my girl in my arms.
Chapter Forty
Alice
Mymindwasabattleground, fighting to accept Caleb was in love with me. Logic knew, understood, and embraced every word he’d shared, but the dark corners of self-doubt tried to shove it away—cloak his love in impossibility, denying it could be true.
He hugged me through it. As my thoughts rushed and clashed within my skull, his embrace never wavered. He didn’t demand a response or seem to be put off by my silence. Caleb was patient as ever, relaxed with me tucked in his lap, circled by arms so strong, they were close to breaking through to me.
If he hugged me a little longer…
