Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I blink, trying to keep the tears from falling, and shove the screwdriver in my back pocket.
He reaches for me but stops short of making contact. Instead, he smiles. “I came here to tell you that I will never walk away from you again and I’m a fucking fool for doing it the first time. I’m fighting for us and I won’t stop.”
I gasp, sucking in a breath that isn’t discreet. It earns a twitch of his lips.
“My respect for you runs deep,” he says. “If you don’t trust me, if you want to protect your boys, that’s fine. I understand. But I will work every fucking day to show you that I’m committed. I’m here. I will fight for us, even if you think it’s over.” He takes a step toward me. “Because it’s not over for me. It can never be over. Because I love the hell out of you.”
“Jay . . .”
His name breaks across my lips, and tears flood my cheeks. I consider that I’m dreaming—that I tried to change the outlet and finally got electrocuted. But when he slides his arms around me and brings his lips to mine, it’s real. He’s real.
This is real.
He rests his forehead against mine. “You’re in control. You call the shots. I’ll play by your rules as long as you let me play.”
“I didn’t expect this. I’m kinda unprepared.”
“Will you let me love you?” he asks. “Can I have another chance?”
He pulls back and searches my face, undoubtedly looking for a sign of hope.
“Before I agree to anything,” I say, having already decided what I will do, “what kind of a chance do you want?”
“All of it. The whole chance. As much of a chance as you’ll give me.” He flashes me his crooked grin. “I have Dylan’s blessing, in case that helps.”
“What?” I laugh. “How much did you guys talk last night?”
His grin grows wider. “Long enough for him to not hear you cry in bed.”
My stomach drops. “He heard me?”
“Yeah. And he came over and asked me to make you stop.”
My sweet, sweet boy.
The tears come again, but for a different reason this time. It feels better to cry out of happiness and relief than sadness.
“Well, I’m glad you listened to him,” I say.
“You have no idea.”
I don’t know what that means, but I don’t ask. Something tells me the two of them share a secret. It’s more than I could have hoped for.
Jay takes both my hands. “I love you. I thought I might, and that’s partially why I bailed. But I realized last night I love you so much that I can’t walk away. All I could do was hide from it—or try to, anyway.” He strokes the back of my hand with his thumb. “But I also care about your boys, Gabrielle. That’s a stickier situation, but I want to be here for them. As much as I missed you, I missed Carter needing my pumper and knowing Dylan was okay.”
The stress and weight on my shoulders evaporates into the warm air. Suddenly, everything is as it’s supposed to be.
“I love you,” I say, watching his face light up. “That’s why it hurt so bad when you broke things off. Because I had already trusted you with my heart. I just didn’t realize it.”
He plants another kiss on my lips. This time, he lingers a little longer.
“One more thing,” he says, his hands roaming down my back. “No more electrical.”
He jerks the screwdriver out of my pocket and shoves it in his.
“Hey,” I protest, laughing.
Jay scoops me up, my legs going over one arm and my back supported by his other. I wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me inside.
“How long until the boys are home?” he asks.
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“Because I had to fix things with my girl. Priorities.”
I sigh happily. “The kids will be gone for another six hours.”
“I know a way we can pass the time.”
“Me too.” I kiss him again. “Let’s change the outlets.”
His eyes twinkle. “Well, since you need my help, you’ll have to buy my time. And I’m not cheap.”
My stomach clenches. “And how do you suggest I do that? What kind of currency do you trade in, Mr. Stetson?”
“Let’s go upstairs. I have lots of ideas.”
I giggle as he carries me to my bedroom.
EPILOGUE
GABRIELLE
Boys! Time for dinner!” I shout into the backyard.
My heart sings as I wait for a reply. Happiness bubbles out of me so freely that I annoy myself. Life is damn good.
“Mom! Come here!” Carter’s voice finds me before I can find him. “You gotta see this.”
I toss the hand towel I was carrying onto the kitchen counter and make my way onto the deck. Carter and Jay are in the field between our houses, playing catch. Dylan is in Jay’s driveway with the derby car and a pint of paint.