Page 63 of Make Me Whole
Chapter Thirty
BRADLEY
I heard therumble of the four-wheeler long before the knock sounded on the door. My dad had probably sent Sawyer or Beckett to drag my ass back home. But he could damn well wait. He'd dropped a freaking bomb in my lap before going to bed as if his world hadn't been upheaved at all.
Hanging my head, I covered my ears with my hands and wished whatever idiot was banging on the door away. When the knocking finally stopped after who knew how long, I let out a slow relieved breath.
"Bradley, I know you're in there." The blood in my veins turned to ice. How did she even know where I was? "Open the door, please?" My gaze frantically moved across the small space that appeared to be as messed up as I felt.
I glanced down the length of my body and took in my sweats and wrinkled t-shirt. I looked like shit, probably didn't smell too great either. Screwing my eyes shut, I held back the groan that wanted to rip from my lungs.
Then her beautiful face filled my vision. Big green eyes looking at me as if she didn't even care about my broken parts. Beautiful plump lips that not only set my pulse ablaze but also healed every part they touched—even the ones they couldn't reach.
Parting my lids, I pushed to my feet and lunged for the door. My hand had barely curled around the cool metal handle when I yanked it open. Inside my chest, my heart started it's wild thumping again.
Ba boom. Ba boom. Ba boom.
I'd thought I'd felt relief earlier when the knocking had finally stopped, but that didn't even come close to what I was feeling right now. No doubt I was still hurting something fierce, but one look into those worried eyes of hers had a sense of peace settling in my bones.
"Sweetness," was all I managed, before I had to give in to the need to touch her. One step and the distance between us was gone. My arms circled her waist right before my mouth closed over hers.
I kissed her long and slow; drawing strength from her with every stroke of my tongue. With her hands poised on my shoulders, she allowed me to take my fill a while longer before she gently pushed me away.
A groan of protest worked its way through my chest as I reluctantly pulled back. Hailey's hands immediately came up to cradle my face between her palms. "What happened?"
Curling my fingers around her wrist, I led her into the cabin and motioned for her to sit on the bed. Perched on the edge, she fidgeted with her fingers in her lap while peering at me through those thick lashes.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I rocked on my heels. "Do you remember that trip my dad took a few days after you arrived?" Hailey nodded tentatively and pushed a few strands behind her ear. "It wasn't a business trip. He'd gone to see a lawyer."
"A lawyer? Why?"
I puckered my lips and let out a long breath. "Apparently he needed to be present when...when…" A violent curse fell from my lips. Grinding my teeth, I tilted my head back and stared at the beams. How pathetic was it that I couldn't even say the stupid words?
"Hey." Hailey's arms banded around me; giving me comfort and courage in equal measures. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me anything."
I realized in that moment that I wanted to tell hereverything. Gripping her chin between my fingers, I tilted her head back so I could stare into her eyes. "I want to." Dragging my hand up, I pressed my palm against her cheek.
My heart frantically tried to escape from its confines when her lids fluttered closed and she pressed deeper into my touch. I wanted nothing more than to carry her back to the bed and make love to her until pure exhaustion took hold of us.
But I needed to open up to her first, no matter how difficult it might've been. I didn't want any ghosts—past or present—stealing even a second with her.
"My mom died a few months ago and that trip my dad took was to see her lawyer." The words came out in one big rush.
Hailey's eyes flew open and her jaw dropped. "What did you say?"
I inched my face closer so I could steal a quick kiss before taking a step back and raking my fingers through my hair. "You heard right, sweetness. For over twenty-seven- years, we didn't hear jack-shit from her. No birthday cards or postcards. Nothing."
That edgy feeling was back, and I started pacing to shake it off. "She wrote letters to my sister, my father, and myself, before instructing her lawyer to hand it over after her death."
When I looked at Hailey, I could tell she was debating on whether she should come to me or not. I made the decision for her by eliminating the distance between us in three easy strides.
Cupping the back of her neck, I pulled her into my chest. How was it even possible that her presence alone was enough to calm the storm that had been raging inside me for almost twenty-four hours?
I was beginning to realize this woman was everything I never knew I needed. She was becoming such an important part of my life that I could hardly remember a time before her. I knew it was crazy talk, but it was impossible to ignore what my heart was yelling.
"What did it say?" Hailey's whispered words broke through my thoughts.
"What?" The emotion lodged in my throat gave my voice a raspy edge.
