Page 63 of The Model

When her chin started to tremble, I pulled her into me. I hated to see her cry, but I was getting accustomed to her tears. Lexie cried at the drop of a hat these days. “No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t even know you.”

“Tell me the truth; is it because of my hair and tattoos?”

“He’s not like that. I promise he’ll warm up to you.” At least I hoped he would. My dad had never reacted that way to my girlfriends in the past. And although Lexie was twelve years my senior, she looked like she was twenty-four, so I knew that wasn’t what was eating at my dad.

Pushing back enough to look up at me, Lexie tried to blink back the wetness in her eyes. One lone tear traveled down her cheek. “So, you do admit he does have something against me.”

Wiping her tear away, I leaned down until our foreheads met. “I admit he wasn’t acting his usual self, and for that I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable while we’re here.”

Lexie squeezed her eyes shut. “Maybe I should go back to LA and…” she huffed, “I don’t even know. We haven’t talked about what we’re going to do yet.”

What was she talking about?

Taking a deep calming breath, I tried to be patient. Why hadn’t she mentioned anything on our long drive up here? “I thought we were in this together. I was planning to talk to my parents and explain to them why I would be going back to LA with you instead of being here for Christmas.”

“We never talked about it.” Stepping out of my arms, she wrapped her arms around herself. “Why are we so bad at this?” Her voiced hitched.

“Because all we’ve been doing is working, having sex, and sleeping for the last week. I need you to be able to talk to me and tell me what you want, so please tell me what you need. Do you want us to leave now and go back to LA?”

She looked up at me with sad eyes. “Not us, but maybe me. I know how much you’ve missed your family and how much they mean to you. I’d never ask you to not spend time with them.”

She didn’t get it. “Where you go, I go. What do you say we take our stuff inside and break our other news to my parents?”

“Why not?” She threw her hands in the air.

“Hey,” I said as I backed her up against the car, “my mom already loves you, and I know my dad will too.”

The corners of her lips tipped up. “You told her about me.”

“Of course, I did. I don’t keep anything from her, and you are no exception. She told me to follow my heart and not to give up when you changed your number. And I never did. I didn’t know how long it would take to get you back, but I wasn’t going to stop until you were mine.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “Never did I think I’d walk into that room, and you’d be standing there, or our little surprise.” I kissed the other corner of her mouth as I rested my hand over her stomach. “Promise me you’ll talk to me, and I’ll do the same. I know it’s only been a week, but we’re a team now.”

Tears built in her eyes and glinted in the fading sunlight. The sun had dipped behind the mountain, and the temperature had started to drop while we were out here. “I like being on a team with you.”

“Don’t cry. This is a good thing.”

“I know it’s a good thing.” She rested her hands on my biceps. “I never thought I’d have any of this. I’m happy. This,” she pointed to her eyes, “it’s these damn hormones. I can’t control when I cry, and it’s stupid.”

Leaning down, I kissed her nose. “It’s part of being pregnant, and I promise I won’t hold it against you. Now relax.” Taking her hands, I held them between us and kissed her knuckles.

“Is this what it’s always going to be like with us?”

“Me kissing you?” I pressed my hips into her and brushed my lips against hers. “Every chance I get.”

“Not the kissing. I’ll never tire of your kisses or you for that matter. What I was talking about is you talking me down, making everything okay. Normally, no one can calm me down, but a few simple words from you, and I’m putty.”

Damn, that made me feel invincible. Little did Lexie know, she did the same for me, and I knew it was because we were meant for each other.

Bringing our hands up, she used them to hold my face between her hands. “Thank you for coming back into my life.” Pressing up on her toes, our mouths locked. Her tongue met mine in a dance that was our own, slow and passionate. When we broke apart, I was left panting. Little puffs of breath skated across my skin as Lexie spoke the most beautiful words. “I love you.”

It was strange that we’d only said the words a few times, and every time I heard them, my heart rate sped up.

The front door squeaked open. “Ryder, honey, is everything okay? Do you need some help bringing your things in?”

“No, Mom, we’re fine. We’ll be inside in just a minute.”

Lexie pressed her forehead into my chest. “Oh god, I’m making the worst first impression ever.”

“I promise you’re not. Now let me grab our stuff.” It would take me at least two, maybe three trips to bring everything in. I’d learned my wife didn’t know how to pack lightly. She had two large suitcases and a large bag of toiletries to stay here for a week.

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