Page 91 of Almost Always

“How about I whip up some coffee and we go for a walk?” Wyatt suggested. “Digest all of this before we dig into Roe’s signature dessert.”

“Sounds good. Let me help,” Rafferty said, halfway up.

Roe was on her feet, waving him back down. “You two be cute as fuck, I’m going to fool around with my husband for a minute.”

They gathered everything and took it back into the house and Daisy knew better than to offer to help. Instead she tugged Rafferty out of his chair and away from the patio. She tilted her head back and smiled when a few stars started to appear. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed at the sight.

“The stars have nothing on you,” he said softly.

“You’ve really turned up the charm today, haven’t you?”

He chuckled and kissed along her bare shoulder and up her neck. “It’s easy to be charming when the object of my affection is sheer perfection.”

She swooned at his words. It wasn’t even a line. He was being genuine and it was in the definite way he said it. Turning slightly to look at him, she smiled.

“You’re perfect.”

“Takes one to know one,” he replied. She laughed and shivered when a cool breeze wrapped around them. “Be right back,” he added and took his warmth away as he hurried back to the patio.

She kept her eyes on the sky, smiling as the colors changed and the sun sank lower. She felt him return, along with something sliding over her shoulders. Snuggling into the warm coat, she inhaled his delicious scent.

His arms came around her again and she settled back against him. “I love that we can stare at the stars together again.”

“Me too, sweetheart.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Thank you for inviting me tonight.”

She shook her head. “That too, but I meant in Wildes. Herewith me.”

She felt his lips curve into a smile against her skin. “Never been more grateful to move to a small town that doesn’t appear on a map.”

A laugh burst out of her and she closed her eyes. They were exactly where they were meant to be and she knew better than anyone that fate didn’t give you a second chance unless she was absolutely sure you were going to make the most of it. And she was going to make this count for the rest of her life.

CHAPTER 27

Nausea woke her up, followed by a low throb along her forehead. When she tried to open her eyes, her stomach lurched and the throbbing got more aggressive. Unpleasant was too tame a word for what she was feeling and all attempts to move were thwarted by the arm banded around her waist.

“Raff,” she croaked, trying to extract herself.

A soft grunt greeted her as she finally managed to move his arm. “What’s going on?”

“Bucket,” she mumbled with as little effort as possible.

“What?”

“Bucket!” she said it louder.

He moved away, footsteps rushing up and down the stairs before he said, “Here.”

She opened her eyes to check where he was, then leaned over the edge and vomited. Another groan rocked through her as the hum in the back of her head got louder. It evolved into a strange vibrating sensation and she whimpered at the pain. Pulling the covers up, she burrowed into her bed.

Unfortunately, twisting into the fetal position didn’t stop the roiling in her stomach.

“What do you need, sweetheart?”

A hand landed on her back and she pressed into his touch, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She knew what needed to be done, but the pain was distracting her from being able to recall any of it. He kept rubbing her back and she was grateful for it. Even if the action wasn’t helping with the migraine, having him there was enough.

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