Page 40 of Behind the Cascades
Sandra chooses that moment to pop back over with Hayes' food and set it down. "Anything else, you two?"
I shake my head and avoid eye contact with both of them. I need a minute to compose myself. A minute to figure out how, even after all this time, Hayes still has me wrapped around his stupid finger.
"Thank you. It looks great." Hayes responds in his typical chivalrous-sounding way.
She leaves, but Hayes hasn't moved an inch. I can feel his gaze burning holes into me, but I stare at the same spot on my plate.
"Sunshine. You okay?" His gruff voice comes out, sounding pained.
I look up into those brown eyes and almost lose it again. "Dammit, Hayes. You can't just waltz in here and say all the right things, looking the way you do!" I should be making him suffer. I thought I'd want him to suffer. Make him beg a little, do a little dance, or something. But, no. All I want to do is drag him back to my house and never let him out of my sight again.
His returning grin sends all the butterflies in my stomach fluttering. "I've been driving for the last seventeen hours. I was in no way, shape, or form prepared to see you here," he says, his voice filled with genuine surprise. There’s exhaustion in hiseyes and weariness etched into every line on his face, but he’s still as attractive as he’s always been.
"I'm so sorry, Char. I shouldn't have left you that way. I should've listened to what you were saying instead of letting my emotions control me. I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive myself, or if you'll ever be able to forgive me, but I need you to know how sorry I am."
The last of my resolve snaps, just like I knew it would. I can tell the guilt has been eating him alive since he found out.
I reach across the table and grab his hand, intertwining our fingers together. “No, you shouldn’t have. But I also shouldn’t have had a crazy stalker break into my apartment. This isn’t your fault. My leaving South Carolina wasn’t your fault either. I needed to be on my own to know I could make it.”
His head nods, but I can tell he isn’t ready to believe that yet. “What made you choose here?”
Smiling, I squeeze his hand. “The mountains. This town. The people. I love it here. I’ve made this place home.”
The furrow of his eyebrows and lips pressed thin is a guarantee he doesn’t like that answer. He was probably hoping to whisk me back to South Carolina.
“Does that mean you won’t leave with me?”Called it.
I shake my head. “I don’t want to leave Three Sisters.”
I watch as his shoulders droop low and he hangs his head.
“But you’re more than welcome to stay.”
His gaze snaps to mine as he gives me one of those huge, knock-me-on-my-ass smiles.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Charlie
Iwoke up to a very large body wrapped around my entire body. A thumb lightly grazes across my stomach as the rest of his fingers sprawl out. I'm in my own Hayes cocoon that I never want to get out of.
His breathing is even, but I know he's awake. Moving my butt closer into him and wiggling, his thumb stops moving and he lets out a small chuckle.
"Good morning, Sunshine."
I grin into his other arm and roll over with a pouty face. "You fell asleep on me."
He nods as he scans my face, like he's trying to memorize every detail. "I did. You wouldn't let me shower with you, and the second my head hit the pillow and I knew I had you back, it was lights out."
"I had things to take care of. Surprising a girl like that is romantic and all, but I didn't have any time to prep. My leg hair alone would have rivaled Bigfoot."
Grinning, he tickles my ribs. "I've always wanted to go 'Squatch hunting. Now, I've got my very own."
"Har har. When you got back from the first deployment, I had spent days waxing, tweezing, and pampering. Guess you get what you get this time."
He kisses me with a long, slow kiss. "You're perfect. Seeing you yesterday almost took my breath away. You've only gotten more beautiful."
"I love you." It's the first time I've said it since he's been back. I'm done beating around the bush.
