Page 64 of Deception and New Direction

“What’s that look for?” he asked me.

Time to find out ifTammywas right.

“You said you originally wanted a dark kitchen, but thenItold you white cabinets would bring more light into the space, and you pulled a one-eighty, and went with my suggestion.Why?”

“Cause you were right,” he responded as though it were obvious.

Alright, time to try a new detail. “Okay, but what about the furniture?Youoriginally wanted black leather.ButwhenItold you to wait untilDashandIwere gone so he didn’t tear it with his nails, you decided to order whatIhad picked out instead.Why?”

He moved off the counter and started to walk closer to me.Hegot within inches of my face and placed his hands on my hips. “BecauseIwant you to feel comfortable here, as well asDash, and if you’re worried about him on the furniture, you won’t feel at ease.”

The ladies were right.Hewanted my opinions on stuff because he saw me being in this house beyond when my boot was taken off.

I didn’t have the right words to respond, so insteadIjust sighed and leaned into him putting my forehead against his chest.Hewrapped his arms around me to hug me, which felt so nice.IknewIwas likely sending him mixed signals, but it felt too nice at that moment to break away.Eversince my mom died,I’dnever had anyone like that whoIcould lean on for support.Mybrother wasn’t a complete dick like my father, but he also was never affectionate or caring.Mygranddad cared, but he wasn’t a touchy-feely person.

“Be honest,” he spoke, his mouth just above my left ear. “Whatare you thinking about right now?”

“This feels nice,”Itold him truthfully. “Havingyou hug me.”

He didn’t respond, but one of his hands moved so that he was rubbing up and down my back in a comforting manner.

I let his comforting gesture roll through me.Isank into his embrace even more.Itcalmed me.Mademe feel…loved.

I leaned back to look at him, andIrealizedJackmade me feel these things a lot.Ithink the girls were right.IknewJackwas a nice guy, but it hit me that he likely would have given up already and moved on if he was only in it for the sex.Maybehe really did want to be with me—to actually stick around.

“Ahhh…she gets it now,” he mumbled.

“What?”Iasked softly looking right into his gorgeous eyes.

“You’re not just another notch on my bedpost,Ruthie.”

SometimesIhated that he could read my inner thoughts.Atthe same time, that comment was super sweet.

“I care about you,” he continued. “NotbecauseIthink you can’t take care of yourself but because youmeansomething to me.”

God, this man.Isaw the honesty in his eyes.Hemeant those words.Hemight be stubborn and annoying, but he wasn’t a liar.

I didn’t know what to do.Iknew whatIwantedto do, so did my body, which enjoyed being pressed up against him.Butthat didn’t mean that whatIwantedto happenshouldhappen.

But for once,Idecided to take the risky road.Totake a chance.Todo whatIwantedto do, rather than whatIthoughtIshould do.

I kissed him.Ipoured everythingIcould without saying words into that kiss.Itried to tell him thatIcared too without actually having to give him the words.

I may come across as a ball buster, butIdidn’t have an emotional backbone when it came to stuff like this.

Jack broke the kiss, looking directly at me, and spoke softly. “Ruthie?”

It appeared he needed words.Icared forJack, andInow knew he cared for me too, butIwasn’t sure if it was more than that.So,Istuck with vague honesty.

“I want this,”Itold him honestly. “Iwant to try this with you.”

“You want to try this with me,” he repeated back to me, more as a statement rather than a question.

I wasn’t sure if he needed a response or not, butIgave him one anyway. “Yes.”

My voice was quiet but firm, leaving no doubtIwas serious.

He continued to look at me, as though he were assessing whatI’dsaid.

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