Page 59 of Hold the Line

Making a decision I truly hoped I didn’t regret, I turned my hand to lace our fingers together. “I’m going to hold the line, Deacon, and give you the chance to prove it.”

“Hold the line,” he repeated, tasting the words. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I’ve had weeks to think it over. I miss you. And if we’re going to close this breach, I need to be with you. It might take time to get past what happened...but I’d like to spend that time with you.”

“I’d really like that too.” His free arm curved around my waist, drawing me closer. “Can I start by taking you to dinner?”

I slid my hand up his chest and over his shoulder. “A date?”

“Yeah, sugar.” His lips brushed mine. “I’d like to take you on a date.”

Just like that, this man made me glad I’d chosen to hold the line for him.

Chapter Twenty-six

Deacon

I’dgottenmyoneand only second chance with Phoebe, and I wasn’t going to waste it by keeping her locked up behind closed doors. We were doing this right this time—that meant facing down public opinions head-on.

No sense in delaying the inevitable.

Knowing Phoebe how I now did, she could withstand anything thrown her way. The trouble was, I didn’t want her to have to, not on my account or for any other reason. But she’d chosen me, and I had to trust she was going in with open eyes.

Joy caught sight of me the second I pushed through her door, and her eyes lit up how they always did when she saw me. Had been that way for as long as I could remember. But they brightened in a way I’d never seen when she locked on my hand, joined with Phoebe’s.

“Come with me to say hi to Joy?”

“Of course,” Phoebe replied. No hesitation.

I led her around a few tables, pausing so she could greet a couple people. I tried my best to put on a friendly face for her sake, but I wasn’t sure I was doing a great job. I’d have to ask her to give me lessons when we were alone—I was far better at avoiding polite conversation than engaging in it.

We sidled up to the bar together, and I pulled a stool out for Phoebe before parking myself on the one beside hers. Joy strolled over to us, her curious gaze bouncing back and forth between us.

“I wasn’t expecting you tonight. Are you feeling better?”

I nodded. “Yep. I’ve been back at work all week.”

Phoebe hissed. “You didn’t tell me you worked the whole week. You should’ve been resting. What if you’d hurt yourself? It’s too soon, Deke. Way too soon.”

“I’m doing fine,” I assured her. “Chris put me on light work this week, and today, I just finished up a project in the shed. I didn’t push too hard.”

She didn’t look convinced. “I can’t believe Chris let you come back to work at all. Then again, he didn’t see you at your worst. I bet you didn’t tell him exactly how sick you were. If I see him—”

I squeezed her hand. “I’m good. I’m gonna take it easy tomorrow. Swear it.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Considering tomorrow’s my day off, I’ll make sure you do.”

“I won’t mind that at all.”

Joy had watched our entire interaction. When I finally turned my attention back to her, a wide grin split her face.

“I see,” she drawled. “I understand it all now.”

“Uh…what do you see?” I asked.

Joy braced her elbows on the bar opposite us, her grin turning into a smirk. “Why you’ve been in a good mood recently. You’ve been hiding things from your aunt, haven’t you?”

“Not hiding.” I lifted our joined hands. “Taking things slow and keeping it private until we were solid.”

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