Page 47 of Almost Love

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, unable to fathom what she’d do without her family.

“I spiraled after that, drugs, booze, everything you could possibly think of. I was alone and struggling, but instead of getting help, I fell into a deeper hole. Met my sponsor during one of my many rehab stints and she set me up with a therapist. They’re the reasons I survived. Kristof, my therapist, gave me the idea to adopt an animal and travel as much as I could, find my purpose. And now here I am.”

She stared at Oakley, unable to process that the happiest man she’d ever met had been through so much. Sliding off her stool, Clementine cupped his face and his sad eyes brightened.

“Here you are.”

“Right where I’m meant to be,” he added softly and her heart all but leaped from her chest into his.

CHAPTER 14

Oakley had no intention of spilling his guts. One question led to another and he was telling her about his family. Outside of Kristof, he never talked about his time in rehab. He was ashamed of giving into the grief in such a deep way, ashamed that it had almost ruined his life. But with Clementine, he wanted her to know everything about him. There was still so much to talk about and unwrap, but given that they were slowly building trust and getting to know each other, he was taking it easy.

The best part? Instead of pity, he saw understanding and sympathy. Despite her scowling, he already knew that she was an empath. She held so much compassion in her eyes and he’d been lucky enough to witness it in the few hours they’d spent together.

If the universe didn’t want him to fall in love with her, it needed to try a little harder to make her uninteresting.

When she slid off her stool and stepped between his spread thighs, her fingers moving through his hair, Oakley relaxed. He let his hands settle on the crinkled waistband of her shorts, because her damn T-shirt was so tiny. Really, this woman was hell bent on destroying him.

He’d never been this hungry for someone before.

Clearing his throat, he shook all thoughts of naked Clementine out of his mind. “What about your family?”

“Still in Iowa. My parents are first generation Indian-American and I’ve got two brothers,” she told him, her wide hips still between his spread legs. “Met my best friend Mack when I was about four? He lived across the street with his parents and I stole his football, because I wanted to play and he wouldn’t let me. Been best friends since.”

“Is Mack here too?”

She nodded, her fingers still weaving through his hair. He could fall asleep like that. “Moved here a few years ago, with his kid. Surprised you haven’t run into each other considering they come by the bakery quite often.”

“Maybe next time I’ll spend more time there, just to meet them.”

She snorted and attempted to move away, but he spread his hands around her hips to hold her steady. She narrowed her eyes and dropped her fingers to wrap around his wrists. “We need to finish eating and clean up.”

“We will. Stay with me for a minute.”

Sighing heavily, like it was an imposition, she released her grip and crossed her arms over her chest instead. He smiled at how hard she was working to not look at him. He could watch her forever, so if she wanted to pretend like he wasn’t there, that was fine by him too.

“Why do you kiss me like that?” she asked, voice quiet and almost shy. It was so unlike the Clementine he’d been interacting with so far.

“Like what?”

“Like you might regret it if you don’t.”

Oakley smiled, because thatwashow he kissed her. Then again, if she knew how desperately he’d waited for the chance tokiss her, she wouldn’t be surprised. When he shook his head, his glasses slid down his nose. Before he could push them up, she was adjusting them. They stared at each other for a long moment and he felt a shudder run through her.

“That is how I feel,” he finally said, voice gruffer than expected. “Is it too much?”

“No. I’ve never been kissed like that before.”

“I like kissing you and your mouth is so inviting that sometimes I get carried away. Sometimes it feels like I need to take my shot when I can. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Ilikeit.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded, the tips of her fingers tap-dancing across his mouth, her own lips parting at the action. He watched her in fascination, the perfect shape of her pink lips and her beautiful, bottomless brown eyes. How did he, a random dude from California, get a chance with this woman?

“Do it again?”

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