Page 35 of If You Loved Me

For a moment, I looked up at the blanket of stars wondering which one sent this angel to me. When I looked back at her, I snaked my hand around the back of her neck, letting my fingers tangle in the silken strands of her hair. “I don’t deserve you.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“When you stop thinking that is when you’ll finally have me. The only thing getting in your way is you.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Smart woman.”

She shrugged. “I’ve been told that a time or two.”

When I nipped her lip she hummed and pulled me toward her, drawing my face close so her lips were near my ear. “Thank you for telling me what happened that night. I can only imagine how difficult dealing with the aftermath must have been.”

“You’re the first person I’ve talked to about it since I was released.”

Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I…I didn’t realize.

“No.” I took her face between my hands. “Don’t do that. Don’t question yourself with me, Sarah. I told you my story because I trust you and I want you to feel the same. If you have a question, I want you to feel comfortable asking it.”

It was the truth. But the part I didn’t say was that I would tell her anything she wanted to hear. There wasn’t a single part of myself that I wasn’t willing to cut wide open for her to see.

“Okay,” she replied with a demure smile before she let her head fall against my chest.

“Okay,” I repeated, my voice a hushed whisper as my hands moved to cradle the back of her head. I held her there for what felt like hours of precious moments.

I’d never been one to get lost in the moment. I was always looking too many steps ahead. But tonight I let myself be consumed by her. The little movements of her chest rising and falling with each breath. The way loose strands of her hair fluttered in the night breeze, tickling the edge of my jaw. How, with every inhale, I felt like I was breathing in the comforting scent of my favorite fall spices. And how she fit perfectly in my arms.

By the time I drove her home, I knew I was a goner. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. And I fucking loved it.

Chapter 15

Sarah

If a person could float on a cloud without falling through to their early demise, that’s what I was doing. Floating.

Two nights had passed since my date with Ranger and I couldn’t stop the euphoric feeling that filled my chest. If this was the beginning of what love felt like, I was mad at myself for not pursuing it earlier in life.

It didn’t matter that my mom had blown up my phone yesterday, sending me text message after text message saying she had something important she wanted to talk to me about. I ignored every single one of them, not wanting anything to take away from the high I was riding.

For so long, I’d hidden myself away in my work, letting it be the only thing I focused on because I couldn’t afford not to. Failure wasn’t an option. Because failure meant I would have to crawl back home to my mother and father and let them claim victory. Even more than that, itwould mean they were right and that pursuing something of my own wasn’t a viable option.

There wasn’t any time to focus on the idea of falling in love. Of giving part of myself to another person. That was until I saw Ranger at Deacon’s bonfire two summers ago and a seed was planted. The man I’d had my eye on since I was a teenager had come back to town. More handsome than I could even remember. But it was more than that. Like kindred spirits, I was drawn to his presence and Saturday had confirmed that.

The seed was growing, giving space for a new way of life. Maybe I didn’t have to go at this all alone. Maybe there was a chance for me to have it all, just like Willow and Johnny did.

I couldn’t let myself think too much about it though. If I did, I’d probably talk myself out of how I was feeling and I didn’t want to do that.

“Willow and Johnny are ready for you,” Stephanie popped her head through the door of my bakery’s kitchen. It was the day of their cake tasting and I wanted everything to be perfect for them.

“Give me just a minute and I’ll be right out to get them.”

“Okay, I’ll let them know.”

The door swung shut as I quickly placed two forks next to each miniature cake, making sure they were aligned with precision and there weren’t any drops of extra frosting on the plates.

This was the first time I was hired for a wedding and even though it was for my two best friends, I still had areputation to uphold. While I loved having my bakery, it was only the first step in my long-term plan. Weddings and private events were where my heart was at and this was the first chance I had to showcase my talent with not only wedding cake design but taste.

“Alright you two! If you’re ready, we can head on back,” I said to them as I opened the door, excitement blossoming in my chest.

Willow clapped her hands together as she bounded toward me. “Eek! I’m so excited!” She gave me a big hug and Johnny placed a hand on my shoulder.

“This is the best part of the wedding planning in my opinion.” He grinned at me before he slid his arm around Willow’s waist and they followed me through the door.

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