Page 50 of Almost Love

Once the pans were filled with donuts and put into the oven, he took his shot. He caged her in at the counter where he’d done the same thing the night before. This time, she didn’t look afraid. She stared at his chest, her hands resting at his waist.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked, loving the way it sounded to call her that.

“Nothing,” she breathed out.

“Clem.”

“I’ve got donuts to make and a kitchen to clean.”

“Clementine,” he said, voice gruff and worried. “Look at me.”

When she lifted those gorgeous brown eyes to his, he saw something unidentifiable reflected back at him. His hand brushed back the few stray strands of hair hanging in her face and she leaned into his touch. Her eyes fluttered shut and he sighed softly, kissing her forehead.

“What did I say?”

She sighed, shuffling on her feet before speaking. “You’ve been through so much. Losing your family, rehab…I know it’s not about me, but it’s a lot to wrap my head around.”

Oakley closed his eyes, forehead pressed against hers. If she only knew that there was more to his trauma than that. Would she still want anything to do with him after all of that?

“I’m sorry for dumping all of that on you.”

Shaking her head, she squeezed his side. “I appreciate you telling me.”

“It’s in the past, okay?”

“But you’re okay, right?”

“I’m okay, baby. I promise. I’ve been sober for eight years.”

“If that changes, you’ll tell me. Right?”

If you’re still in my life.“Absolutely,” he said with a firm nod. Even though rehashing all of it was difficult, he was glad she knew that much about him.

With a gentle tap to his stomach, she narrowed her eyes and hissed, “No morebaby.”

He snorted as the oven buzzed and stepped aside to let her go. She pulled the pans out one at a time and set them on the counter. Her face lit up with a brand new smile and he rubbed his chest with one hand.I’m going to make her and that smile mine forever.

Setting the mitts aside, she asked, “What flavor are we making?”

“Vanilla,” he said with zero hesitation.

“That’s boring. Pick another one.”

He shook his head, moving closer to her. “Nope. That’s what I want.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what you taste like.”

Her breath hitched and he watched her swallow hard, the long line of her throat bobbing with the action. A look he couldn’t describe flashed over her face as she said, “You haven’t tastedall of me.”

“Yet,” he added with a playful grin. “But I’m a patient man.”

CHAPTER 15

MARCH

Clementine wasstillhorny baking.

---