Page 50 of Worth the Risk
“You’re beautiful, Winnie.” I blush and look around to make sure no one else is listening.
“Thank you.” He stands and walks towards me, then leans in, caging me against the railing. I can feel his breath tickle the side of my face.
“You’re beautiful and I can’t stop thinking about touching you. It’s killing me that I can’t show everyone that you’re mine.” I melt as he backs away. “I’ll grab your bags and meet you out front.”
“Okay.” I stand there a second longer and smile. I really like the sound of being his. I look up and straighten when I see Mary in the kitchen window. I give her a little wave and she smiles knowingly back at me. Well, if I wasn’t sure about her seeing me and Rhett, I am now. I slip my sneakers on and lace them up, unsure about facing Mary, but I guess I better go inside.
“Do you need any help cleaning up?” I ask.
“That’s alright, sweetie. I can manage.”
“Are you sure? You know I don’t mind helping.”
“I know you don’t, you’ve always been that way, but there’s really not much left to do and I think Rhett’s ready to head out. I saw that you rode here together.”
“Yeah, it just made sense. him being my neighbor now.” She looks at me with a very mom look on her face.
“Mhmm…how’s that going? Him being next door?”
“Good. I mean, fine. We’re both busy.” I’m getting more flustered by the second.
“I’m sure you are.” She smirks. “Well, I hope you’ll be at all family lunches from now on.”
“Sure. You know I love seeing you all.”
“We love seeing you, too, Winnie. Always have, always will. I’m not sure what happened all those years ago and I don’t need to, but I don’t want you to stop coming around again. Understand?” I swallow the lump forming so I can answer. I love Mary so much. The thought of losing her is unbearable.
“Yes. I understand.”
“Good, now go on. Have a good night.” Her eyes twinkle as she says this.
“You, too. Bye.” I walk out the front door and Rhett is throwing Hazel in the air in the yard. My ovaries grow heart eyes.
“You got a little drool on your chin there, Winnie.” I’ve been caught. Knox has an amused smirk on his face when I look over.
“Oh, shut up. I was just admiring how adorable your daughter is.” He laughs.
“Uh huh…sure you were.” I roll my eyes.
“Bye, Knox.”
“Bye, beautiful!” he chuckles. I walk down the steps and towards the truck. Rhett sets a squealing Hazel down to run toward me. I crouch down and pick her, twirling in a circle. I kiss her head and she toddles off to Knox at the steps.
“Bye, Hazel baby!”
“Buh Bye!” she says and waves. My heart squeezes.
Rhett is smiling at me and has my door open when I turn around. I run and jump into my seat, smiling back at him.
“Points for style,” he says laughing and I grin, taking an imaginary bow.
“Thank you, thank you.” He shuts my door and walks to his side, getting in. All I can do is stare at him. I want him. Desperately. Even though I know that giving in to what I want may derail my life if this doesn’t work out. Colt told me that he was offered a coaching position with a team in the AHL. He’s left before to pursue his big dreams and he could do it again. Leaving me absolutely devastated in the process. Because that is what it would do to me to lose him a second time.
“What are you thinking about so seriously over there, honeybee?”
“Us,” I answer honestly before I can think of a lie.
“What about us?” I guess honesty is the only way at this point.
