Page 91 of My Heart To Heal

‘Remind me to thank the girls.’

‘I lost my family, Nick. I lost pretty much my entire family in one day. I tried to build a new one with Bax and Jonah, and you know how well that went. It’s all I have ever wanted, and then you come along — this beautiful, perfect, hardworking, sexy, funny, kind man, and you want that with us!’

He smiles now but tilts his head to the side like a confused puppy.

‘Miss, there’s nothing I want more.’ Sliding along the lounger toward me, Nick reaches up to cup my cheek. ‘I never had much in the way of family either, not really. They were there, but it wasn’t a happy one. I swore to myself I would never be like him, and if I got the chance to be a dad, I would be the best dad there is. Me and Jonah, we got dealt the samehand in the dad stakes, so when you’re ready, when he is, I want to be the one to make that right for him, do better for him, and maybe even give him a sibling or a two.’

I gasp, my lips parting at his words.

‘You want to put a baby in me?’ My voice is high, pinched, full of emotion, and he laughs.

‘Miss, I’d put a baby in you right now if I thought you’d let me.’

I shake my head but can’t keep the smile off my face.

‘No babies, not yet, but we can practice.’

Grinning, I stand and hold out my hand for his. Taking it, he pulls me back down, and I shriek at the sudden movement until his lips find mine.

‘We’re all alone, Miss. We can practice right here.’

‘I don’t wanna,’ I whine, and Nick laughs.

‘Quit it and get your butt in the car.’

We’re leaving the cabin. We stayed an extra night on Doug and Cara’s orders. We sent them all a photo of us and told them we were officially a couple, and Doug said we were taking another day at the cabin.When we protested, Cara said she wasn’t giving Jonah back even if we went home, so we might as well stay. So we did.

We made love all night, ate breakfast in bed, swam and made out in the lake, and lay in the sun, both of us reading and enjoying that calm joy that held us. We showered together, cooked dinner together, and talked some more. I asked him if my scars bothered him, and he reminded me that he had his own. Then he kissed them and assured me, with his body on top of mine, that he loves every inch of me exactly as it is.

It's been perfect and wonderful, and as much as I miss Jonah, as much as I love Forest Falls, a huge part of me never wants to leave this bubble we’re in.

‘Are you going to stay at my place tonight?’ I ask, turning to find Nick smiling as he drives.

‘Do you want me to?’

‘Of course I do. You’re my man.’

His smile grows, matching mine, and he turns his gaze on me briefly before returning it to the road.

‘I am a man in a relationship now, so I will just do what I’m told,’ he quips, then reaches across to grip my thigh. ‘I will stay over whenever you want me to, but I also don’t want us to go too fast and freak either you or Jonah out. Been a long time since you have a man sharing your space.’

Part of me wants to dive in with both feet, say screw it, move in, we love each other, but his words hit home. I love my own space and my own company, and Nick and I haven’t even been on a real date yet.

I place my hand over his on my leg and gaze out of the window, watching the countryside pass us by as we drive in calm silence.

We’re good. There’s no rush.

‘Oh my god, you’reglowing.’

Zoe’s voice calls out from the iPad on the table, and I grin, happy.

‘Well, a couple of days of hot sex will do that to a gal,’ Bree answers, and I laugh.

‘Also, a couple of days sitting out and swimming in the sun.’

‘Yeah, sun, right.’ Cara raises an eyebrow and sips from her glass.

‘So, you two are like fully on and official now. How is it?’ Zoe asks, and oh my god, I have not stopped smiling this entire time.

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