Page 71 of I'm Yours

“Don’t be. I didn’t mean it like that or to make you feel bad. It’s just that I didn’t expect us.”

I glance down at Emmy who’s no longer coloring but listening intently. I smile at her and look back to Reed. “Me either.”

“We’ll talk,” he says knowingly. Now’s not the time, and that’s okay.

“We will.”

He stands up and grabs the ticket while I throw down some cash for a tip. He tries to stop me and I glare at him. “Let me at least get the tip, okay?”

Shaking his head, he mumbles something about me being stubborn and places his hand on my lower back as we make our way to the cashier to pay. He hands them a twenty, which covers our entire meal because the price of food here hasn’t changed in over two decades, and we make our way outside to his pickup.

Same as before, he helps Emmy while I climb in and soon we’re on our way back to the studio.

Everything feels so normal… except for me leaving in a different car than with them. I want to stay cozied up in the cab of his big pickup truck while the three of us lumber through town until we get to a home we share. The thought sends a ripple of excited panic through me. I shouldn’t be wishing for this so quickly. Reed and I are barely an us and I’m already practically planning our married future.

He pulls up next to my car and grips the handle like he’s going to walk me to my car but I stop him. “I think I can make it from here,” I tell him and nod in the back seat at the little girl with huge brown eyes paying close attention to what’s going on with her dad and dance teacher.

Reed gives me a small smile and nods. “Thanks for joining us for dinner tonight.”

“Thanks for inviting me. I’ll see you next week in class, Emmy.”

“Okay,” she says quietly then yawns.

For a girl who normally talks non-stop, her one word reply seems a little weird but then I realize that it’s eight-thirty at night and it’s probably well past her bedtime. “Sleep well,” I tell her and she gives me a lazy smile.

Once I’m in my car safely, I wave at Reed and he gives me a little wave back before he lets me drive away first, his headlights shining into the back of my car as he follows me. I turn off the main road first and he sticks his hand out the window and waves.

I wonder what it would be like to be traveling to the same destination.

For us to tuck in Emmy together then climb into bed and fall apart in each other’s arms.

I wonder if that’s what he wants because after tonight, I can admit, I want more with Reed Sanders.

Chapter Seventeen

Sadie - One Month Later

It’s been a month since Reed, Emmy, and I shared a meal at the diner. A month of stealing moments after Emmy is in bed and taking rides on horseback while she’s in school. A month of “surprise” meetings for pizza or burgers with Emmy and Reed. Stolen kisses when we were sure no one was looking, late night phone calls, and texts throughout the day.

Earlier tonight we went to dinner again. This time, Reed and Emmy picked me up and Emmy made the two of us sit on the same side of the booth. She smiled at us and it appeared as if she was working at becoming a little miniature matchmaker. At the end of the evening, she demanded that Reed walk me to the door. He leaned over, kissed my cheek, and I lifted my hand to touch the warmth he’d left there.

My phone rings and I answer without looking. I know it will be Reed. After tonight, we need to figure out what’s happening. Clearly his daughter is on to us.

“She fell asleep talking about you.”

My heart pitter-patters as I think about the sweet girl and how much fun I had earlier tonight. It felt good that it seemed like she was on board with me being a part of their lives.

“She’s amazing, Reed.”

“She is. We need to talk, though.”

My heart drops, sure that he’s about to tell me it’s too soon for him. For his daughter. His wife died and neither of them are ready to move on.

“Okay,” I try to keep hurt out of my voice but I know he can hear it.

“It’s not like that,” he says quietly. I hear a squeak followed by the light slam of the wooden screen door that leads to their porch. Closing my eyes, I can picture him leaning against the railing, looking out over the expansive land that surrounds his family’s ranch. Possibly sitting on the top step or having a seat in one of the chairs on the porch, leaning back against it, sipping on a bottle of beer. I curl up in the oversized chair in the corner of my bedroom, tucking a soft blanket around my feet.

“Do you drink alcohol?” I blurt out, suddenly realizing I don’t know little things about him as an adult.

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