Page 68 of Tough Love

“They’re ready, Addy.”

She throws the blanket off and jumps off the tailgate. “Show me how to light them.”

I grab the two gas lighters that Harry left by the first row and hand her one. The long, bendable wands of the lighters keep you far enough away from the spark when the fuse catches. “It’s pretty easy.” I bend down, click the lighter on, and hold the flame on the end of the fuse of the first one. It catches and sparks.

I step back, and Addy lights the next one. “Oh, I love this.”

“How about we take opposite ends so the colors mix as they go off? Then I’ll meet you at the truck.”

“Sounds good,” she says and walks to the opposite end of the row and starts lighting the back row. I step through the first row and light every fuse, leaving a minute or so between them so Addy’s shoot up between mine. The first one fizzles as the fuse hits the base of the canister and it shoots into the air. The air around us is rank with the tang of gun powder, the hiss and crackle of dozens of fuses.

One of Addy’s takes off and she snaps her head up, watching it. Some fuses are longer than others. We finish our rows and scramble back to the truck to watch the show. I wriggle back when she wedges between my legs, resting the back of her head on my stomach. I drape my arms over her shoulders, and she grabs my hands. I fold mine around hers, letting them fit inside, as I nuzzle her hair for a moment, breathing her in. A man could get used to this.

Color bursts over us and she gasps, looking up as the most beautiful blues light up the dark night sky. Her eyes glitter under the sparkling crackles above us. I glance up, but if I’m honest, the view below me is much, much more beautiful. Her smile stretches her face; her perfect scattering of freckles pop on the apples of her cheeks.

“Heavens above, Addy, you are gorgeous,” I whisper into her hair. She turns and pulls my face to hers, her hands planted on either side of my jaw, and claims my mouth.

“Take me somewhere, Huddy.”

She moves out of my hold, and I slip off the tailgate, shutting it behind me. Addy is sitting in the passenger’s seat by the time I’m behind the wheel. As we drive into the darkness, her gaze hasn’t left my face since I started the truck. I smile and glance at the fireworks in the rearview mirror when we’re far enough away.

Happy birthday, Ma.

Forty minutes later, Addy is quiet, leaning against the window of the truck. I pull up out front of my half-built house. “Wait here.”

Checking that everything I organized earlier today is still in place, I walk in and stride through the house to the master bedroom. And to be honest, I’m stalling. My heart thunders. Everything is raw. I light the candles that I have scattered around the house, hundreds of them. It takes a solid ten minutes.

I check the water is running. No electricity, but at least we have rainwater tanks installed already. A flushing toilet and a shower. Even if there’s no mirrors, doors, or furniture. Or kitchen. But the cooler that I packed after lunch today and packed full of ice has enough food to carry us through.

I realize that every date-type of occasion Addy and I have had has been out of a picnic basket or cooler bag, if you’re not counting the Italian restaurant. Gonna make up for that. Mental note—done.

“Huddy?” Addy’s voice is soft but lined with wonder.

I spin back from where the cooler bag sits against the wall where the oven will stand. Her shoulders are wrapped in the blanket from the back of the truck. Her hair is disheveled, eyes reflecting the flames of the candles between me and her. When I close the space between us, she drops the blanket, taking my collar in her hands.

I claim her mouth with mine, grabbing her up and onto my hips. Her legs wind around my waist. This, right here, is my version of heaven. Nothing else will ever come close.

I break from her hunger, and she rests her arms over my shoulders, breathing heavy.

“You want to go to bed, Adeline?” The words are no more than a rasp.

“With you, always.”

“Oh, good. I am kinda tired.”

She slaps my chest, and I release a hearty laugh.

“Don’t you dare go to sleep on me, Hudson Rawlins.”

“Never.”

“Always you and me, never sleeping. We’re off to a good start,” she whispers before her mouth finds my neck. The stretch in my jeans is almost uncomfortable, but I’m going to take this as slow as I can. If this takes hours, it will still be not enough time. When I turn and head down the hallway, Addy is busy exploring my neck and face with her mouth, her hands.

I make my way into the master bedroom and set her down, spinning her around. Her breath stills and her head turns as she takes in the room. The mattress on the floor is adorned with white linen and way too many fucking pillows. A small wooden box is to one side, and hurricane lanterns sit around the walls of the room with dozens of candles in between.

Yellow wildflowers from the first hill I took her to are scattered over the mattress and the floor between the candles. They reminded me of the sundress she wore to Sunday lunch. That dress gave me a rock-hard cock. So damn beautiful.

She glances back, a hand landing on my chest as she tracks her gaze up, eyes lined with silver.

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