Page 71 of Words We Didn't Say

“You really don’t want to see me again for a whole week?”

A crack splintered through my chest. “I was trying not to be too pushy,” I admitted softly. “I want to see you every day.”

Every day. Every night. I wanted to bundle Eden up, park her on my lap, and never let her go. I wanted to curve my hand around her big belly when our baby was in there. I wanted to hold her hand when we watched our grandkids playing in our backyard.

I didn’t want much—onlyeverything.

Eden’s eyes skimmed my face. “Zach.” She caught her bottom lip with her teeth. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Cautiously, my finger explored the chunky knit cables crisscrossing her sleeves, gliding over the ridges, wondering how honest I should be. I was standing with my toes curled around the edge of the cliff. Vulnerable. Eden was trying so hard. When she’d already admitted her fears, hurtling over the edge, the least I could do was leap after her.

“I was thinking how much I want to see your face every day of my life,” I said.

Her head swivelled just enough to show me the smile curving her lips. The pretty sight was enough to fuel my thumping heart with more courage. I scooped more of the wisps of hair springing from her ponytail behind her ear.

“Now,” I whispered, “I’m thinking I’m the luckiest bastard in the world to even have a chance of being yours again.”

“You want to be mine?” Eden’s breath was coming quicker.

“Only yours.” I lowered my hand to the curve of her hip, letting it sink into the fluff of pink wool. A new hope urged me to dig my fingers in deeper. “And now…”

“Y-Yeah?”

I leant close enough to smell the strawberry shake hinted on her breath. “I’m thinking I’d give almost anything for you to say I can kiss you.” But not her. I’d never give her up.

“You can,” she whispered.

I scanned the diner from the corner of my eye. “Here?” A teenager was gaming on his laptop in the booth behind us. Two guys at the counter were having a heated discussion about interest rates. Not much of a venue for a sexy kiss.

I didn’t imagine Eden leaning into my grip. “Even a re-date needs a first kiss, right?” She whispered the words huskily along my neck.

Was I dreaming? After everything I’d done, after the torture of the last few months, was this happening?

The tip of my nose bumped hers. I waited for her to change her mind, to push me away, but she didn’t. I pressed my lips to her jaw.

Eden let out a huff of frustration. “You know I likeproperkisses.”

“Yeah,” I said, dusting another kiss on her cheek.

“So, what are you waiting for?”

“You.”

A quick kiss landed on my chin. “Your turn.”

I smiled. “Oh, is it? You want something like”—I brushed my lips over hers—“that? Or…”

I breathed through the nerves curling from my toes before sealing my mouth over hers in a soft, sensual kiss. My fingertips pressed into her neck, thumb soothing her cheek, coaxing her closer, tempting her sweet mouth open to slip my tongue in to savour her even more.

Eden responded with as good as she got. She was juicy watermelon lip gloss and urgency. Her fingers clung to my shirt, and as she kissed me back, she pressed the pink wool cables of her dress into my cotton shirt like she wanted to brand the pattern into my skin, barely letting me catch my breath.

I eased back. A smile pinched my cheeks, and laughter rumbled in my chest. I just felt so…so…happy.

“Wow,” I said.

“Old people are so gross,” the kid behind us muttered.

Eden giggled and buried her face in my neck. “Thank you for tonight,” she whispered. “Even with the venue change and all themessy,I had a great time.”

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