“I might have to get you an entire wardrobe of those skirts.” He chuckles, kissing the tip of my nose. “And I might never fuck you in a bed again.”
“You know I love this place.” I trace my fingers in the soft, dark waves around his ears. “It’s our happy place.”
He lifts his chin looking around the dark patch of woods. “I’ll do some research. Maybe I can buy the land and make it private property.”
My nose wrinkles, and I lean forward to kiss his full lips. “We can’t have horny teenagers interrupting us.”
“We’re the only horny people allowed.”
“It can be on the sign. Posted, no horny people allowed except us.”
He laughs for real, and I bite my bottom lip. I love the sound of his laughter. It’s such a rare thing, at least it has been for the time we’ve been together. Maybe I can change that.
Maybe I’m presuming too much.
Only it doesn’t feel like I am.
“I’d like for you to spend the night with me.” He leans down to kiss my cheek. “But Pepper has school tomorrow, and when you’re in my bed, I forget to get up and see her off. She’s been giving me shit for it.”
“Oh, no,” I cover my laugh with my hand. “Does she know we’re sleeping together?”
“I don’t think so. She only knows I’ve been falling down on my job. The last time you weren’t even in my bed when I woke up.”
His brow lowers like he’s pissed, and I reach up to trace my fingers over the line in his forehead. “I’m pretty sure I was trying to help you solve a mystery.”
“Only mystery left is where are we going to dinner tonight? Got any favorite places?”
“As a matter of fact, I do! I want to go back to Slim Harold's and learn to do that shag dance.”
He reaches across, picking up our shirts from the passenger’s seat. “In that case, I’d better get you to bed. You’ll need your rest if you’re planning to dance all night.”
We hold hands the whole drive back, and I sit sideways in my seat, watching the lights illuminate the line of his perfect nose, his square chin, scruffy beard. When we reach Uncle Hugh’s, I unfasten my seatbelt and lean across to kiss him one more time before we say goodnight.
Placing my hand on his cheek, I look into his eyes. Such intense, focused, beautiful eyes, they steal my breath.
Still I manage to say what I’ve needed to say for so many days, “Thank you.”
My voice tightens, and I try to move away quickly. I don’t want to cry, but he’s too fast. He catches my arms, pulling me back to him and making me meet his gaze once more.
Again, it’s too intense, too focused and beautiful. His brow is lowered, and he holds my chin as he speaks.
“You never have to thank me for protecting you. I want to be that for you. Your uncle hired me, but I would never have accepted money. Even if you’d sent me away, I would’ve made sure you were safe. I… I hope you believe that.”
Butterfly wings flood my stomach, and I nod, afraid to speak. He kisses my lips so softly before releasing me, and I drop my chin scooting out of his truck quickly. I need to sleep. I need to collect my thoughts and clear my head, and I need to talk to Hana. And my uncle.
“What exactly are you worried about, Blake?” Uncle Hugh sits across from me in his study as we share a morning coffee.
He looks at me like something I’ve never had–a doting parent who is actually interested in my problems and in helping me solve them. Jesus, we should’ve moved here years ago.
My legs are bent under me, and I barely slept last night from turning over everything in my mind. “I was thinking, first of all, you’re so kind to let Hana and me stay here with you. I can look for a permanent place for us to stay in town if we’re under your feet or in your way–”
“You’ll do no such thing.” He cuts me off, and for the first time in my life he seems upset. “This is your family home. It belonged to my father, your great, great grandfather, and you have as much right to be here as I do.”
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to offend you.” I shift in my seat. “I was only worried you’ve lived alone so long, maybe you were accustomed to things being a certain way, and we might disrupt that.”
“I like having my family in the house. It’s part of the reason I sent Hutch to New York to get you. I had hoped you’d consider staying here, making it your permanent home.”
“That kind of brings me to the other thing I wanted to talk to you about.” Looking down into my cup, I want to say this in a way that doesn’t sound wrong. “I’d love to stay here. Only, what would I do in Hamiltown? It’s a lovely place, but I can’t just sit around and not be useful. I’ll go bananas.”
His brow relaxes, and he stands, rounding the desk to sit across from me in a matching wingback chair. “Tell me what interests you. We have so many options, you’d be surprised. I’m thinking about writing a memoir of my life and our family history here. I could use a research assistant if you’re interested in that sort of thing.”
Pressing my lips together, I try to think of the nicest way in the world to say I’m not really interested in research.
He reads my expression at once. “Or if you prefer retail, I’m certain Carmen would love to have your help at the store. She goes on buying trips to Atlanta several times a year, and I bet you have excellent taste.”
Again, he sees the lack of enthusiasm in my failure to meet his gaze. No one ever believes I hate shopping.
“Ah, wait a minute!” He holds up a finger. “What was your major in college? Psychology?”
Chewing my lip, I nod. “But I don’t have any clinical experience. I only got my bachelor’s degree, so I don’t know what I could do with it.”
“Dirk is very into criminal psychology. He’ll be teaching a course at the college this fall. Granted it’s only a community college, but a lot of kids start there on their way to vocational training or larger universities.”
I nod, unsure where he’s going with this. “I don’t think I’m qualified to teach.”
“Probably not, but he could make you his assistant or even connect you with someone who could find a place for you.” Leaning forward, he takes my hand in his. “We won’t stop until we find something you like. If you want to stay here, you’re going to stay.”
“I do want to stay…” My mind drifts to Hutch, and I want to say I want to stay with him. “The last thing I want to do is be a burden or sit around doing nothing, like I expect someone to entertain me or…”
Marry me. The words flit across my brain, and just as fast, I shake them away. It’s too soon and far too presumptive. I have to make my own way, and if more happens, so be it.
My uncle is on his feet, holding out his hand and escorting me to the kitchen. “Relax your mind. I’ll be sure you get what you want, I promise. I got you this far, didn’t I?” He gives me a mischievous wink, and I wonder if he can read my mind. “Now I have to make some calls.”
He leaves, and my shoulders fall. Glancing at the clock, I realize I’ve got a little more time before I can even start to get ready for our date.