Page 68 of Safe With Me
I flicked a finger toward Tick and his wife. “I want that.”
“Hanging out with your cousin?” She scoffed. “You and Trace are together all the time–”
“Hannah.” My chest seized tighter than an engine with a blown piston. I wet my lips, gulping against the urge to vomit. “I love you.”
Her eyes widened, a hint of panic in the hazel depths. She took a step back. The champagne glass hit the grass.
“Hey, no, wait.” I followed, stepping in to cup in her face with both hands. “Don’t run from me. Please.”
She stilled, tremblings, tiny little tremors I felt all the way to my elbows. The music played on, tinny and flat to match the muted conversations. A cool breeze lifted her hair and brushed it against my fingers.
I stroked her cheek, frustration burning my throat. “Shit. Fuck. I should have done this at home. I’m sorry, baby. I’m not him.”
Grimacing, I jerked my chin in Tick’s direction.
“Pfft.” Her warm breath puffed over my wrist. “I don’t want you to be him, Tate.”
“I know we said we wouldn’t, but I do, Hannah.” The words spilled like corn pouring into a silo, a steady, never-endingstream. I shrugged. “I love you. Needed you to know even if you only like me back.”
A smile curved her lips, something sweet and fine sparking to life in her eyes, like the best champagne. She relaxed under my hands. “I love you, too, Tate.”
Shock poured over me, my mouth open and closing. I had to look like a landed fish. She loved me? Hannah Hall lovedme.
I managed to suck in a breath. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She giggled, the sound bubbling through me.
With an awkward lunge forward, I wrapped her in a hug before landing a hard kiss on her mouth, holding her face as gently as I could when I wanted to fucking absorb her into me. I drank in the taste of her, the feel, the safety of being in her arms and having her love me.
“I love you.” I pressed my nose and forehead to hers. “So one day I’ll ask you to marry me. And we’ll do the engagement thing and a wedding and maybe have a couple of kids.”
She laughed, arms wrapped around my neck. So pretty and so secure I couldn’t stand it. “One day, huh?”
“Yeah. You know, maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week.” I chuckled, the sound rough and a little rusty. Kissing her again, I hugged her tighter and rocked us side to side. “I mean, right now I just want to take you home and fuck you silly.”
This time, her laugh emerged as a snort. “Oh, my God. You’re so romantic, Tate.”
I shrugged, unable to stop touching her, unable to get her close enough to me. Hell, being inside her might not be close enough, but I’d damn sure try. “You know me, babe. Call it like I see it.”
“I know. I do know you.” She fixed me with a serious look, eyes soft and glowing, and touched my jaw. “It’s why I’m safe with you.”
That touch, those words, went straight to my dick, hard and pressing against my zipper. I shifted my stance, trying to relieve that ache, and grabbed her hand. “That’s it. We’re getting out of here.”
She didn’t argue, giggling a little as I pulled her toward the gate.
And toward home.
Epilogue
Five Years Later
Hannah
“Sec Edwards, boy, if you don’t sit your butt down.” Affection outweighed the exasperation in Tate’s voice, and I paused in folding back the fresh sheets and duvet on our bed. Summer meant long days at the farm, so having Tate on hand for bathtime was precious, for me and the boys.
For Tate, too.
He was the best daddyever, surpassing Andy, and that said a lot. Of course, he’d had a sweet little childhood, and his daddy had been great so I don’t know why I’d even been surprised at how hands-on he was. He’d been all over our boys from the time they were born, and I loved it.
