Page 10 of Always Yours

I want to be mad. They’ve cussed me and called me names, but I’ve deserved every one of them. I deserve all of this. “I know. Fuck, I know it’s worth it. She’s worth it. I need to go. I need to check on the shipments going out today before I go home. And I need to check on Ally.”

Each of my brothers takes a turn hugging me before I walk out. They’re the only ones that can cuss me one second and hug me the next, but I wouldn’t trade one of them for anything.

And I know they’re right. I can’t fuck this up. I need to fix it because I know that Ally and I are meant to be together. It may have taken me awhile to get my shit together, but I can see how good we can be together. I just have to convince her to give me a chance… and then make sure she never regrets it.

Chapter7

Ally

It’s after work, and I’m exhausted. I feel as if I can barely lift my head off the couch. Austin cooked dinner, plying me with protein and vegetables. He’s waited on me hand and foot, refusing my offer to clean up since he cooked, and insisted I sit here and rest. I should be in a good mood. My blood pressure is in the normal range, I’ve been fed, and I have nothing to do until I have to be at work tomorrow, but I can’t seem to get myself out of this funk.

I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that Austin is walking around my house without his shirt on. Has he always looked this good? I wave my hand in front of my face because it feels like it’s gotten at least ten degrees hotter in here in the last few minutes.

Why is it so sexy to watch him load the dishwasher? The muscles in his back flex as he moves, and I bite my lip to hold in the groan. He closes the door to the dishwasher, and I force my eyes to the popcorn ceiling.

As he walks into the living room, I keep my eyes averted. Austin knows me better than anyone, and I definitely don’t want him figuring out what I’m thinking right now.

He stands next to the couch, and I still focus on the ceiling as if I’m enthralled by the water stain that’s been there as long as I can remember.

“What’s wrong, Ally?”

“Nothing,” I mutter.

“Ally.” He sing-songs my name, and I force myself to look at him.

“What?”

He’s standing over me with his hands on his hips. Damn, he’s handsome. He’s making me feel things that I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

I close my eyes because he’s too much to look at. That’s it. For the next few months until these pregnancy hormones are under control, I’m going to just refrain from looking at him. “Nothing’s wrong.”

He leans toward me and brushes the hair off my face. “Talk to me, Ally. Something’s bothering you.”

When I ignore him, he asks again. “Ally…”

With my eyes closed, I ask him, “Do you know, everyone in town thinks we’re getting married?”

“Yep,” he answers.

I clench my eyes shut. “And that everyone thinks this baby is yours?”

He’s just as fast to answer. Absolutely no hesitation. “Yep.”

I let out a long breath. “We’re not getting married, Austin.”

He just laughs. “Yes, we are.”

“No, we’re not.”

I shrug my shoulder, refusing to fight with him about this. I feel his leg brush my arm, and I assume he’s walking away. I’m surprised when I feel him wrap his hands around my ankles. My eyes fly open, and I come up on my elbows. “What are you doing?”

He lifts my legs and sits down, then rests my feet on his lap. “Relax, I’m just going to massage your feet, that’s all.”

I’m about to protest until he presses his fingers into the arch of my foot, and instead of stopping him, I let my head fall back with a loud, guttural groan.

He stops, and I jerk my head up to look at him. “God, don’t stop.”

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