Page 74 of Every Now and Then
“Are you always this perky in the morning? If so, this might be a deal breaker,” I mumble.
Throwing my arm over my eyes, I squint to see Hayes standing in front of me, grinning. With bedhead, bare feet, sweatpants, and a fitted V-neck T-shirt, Hayes looks goodenough to eat.
I patted the space on the bed next to me, inviting him to sit. “I can think of a much more fun way to wake up, but it doesn’t involve clothes, Hayes.” Swinging off the blankets, I add, “Luckily, I’m not wearing any.”
With an agonized groan, Hayes draws a hand down his face before replying. “Any other morning, I’d gladly jump you, but today, we’re on a deadline.”
He leans down and kisses me softly. I refuse to let him slip his tongue into my mouth, though. Morning breath. We can save the sexier kisses until after I’ve brushed my teeth.
“What? Why?” I moan.
“Come on, Yankee. I’ll give you a few minutes to drink your coffee, but you’ve got to get moving. The girls will be up soon, and I doubt you want them stumbling in to find you naked in my bed.”
He’s got that right.I didn't mean to fall asleep in his room last night, but it felt so nice to be held that I couldn't pull myself away.
I take a large, very unladylike slurp of coffee, burning the roof of my mouth. “Damn, that’s hot.”
“Yeah, I am,” Hayes quips with a silly wink. He slaps my thigh. “Now get up, woman.”
Tossing off the rest of the bedcovers, I follow him as he saunters into the attached bathroom. “Fine,” I grumble, feeling chilled as soon as the cool air hits my body. “But we need to figure out a couple of things first. Like, how do we act in front of the kids? You’re going to have to keep your hands to yourself and your sexual innuendos to a minimum."
Yesterday, we acted like good friends with one another, but rekindling our physical relationship has changed our dynamics. It will be extremely difficult to hide how we feel today.
I hate the idea of sneaking around, but I don’t want the girls to know about us yet. I’m not worried about them not liking Hayes, because it’s obvious they already adore him, but I’d like to date Hayes for a bit before telling the girls. You know, like test-driving a car before committing to buying it. I just need to make sure we work as a couple before involving my daughters.
Because my worst-case scenario would be telling the girls and then breaking up. Following Kyle’s death, that would be traumatic for them to have another father-figure abandon them.
In the bathroom, Hayes stands behind me and pulls me into his arms, resting his chin on my head. I stare straight ahead, watching his reflection in the mirror. And trying to pretend that I’m not naked. I already feel vulnerable enough as it is.
“Annabelle, I’ll side with you on whatever you decide to tell them about us, but we can’t hide this forever.”
“I know. We’ll tell them… eventually,” I hedge.
“Okay, but make no mistake, Annabelle.” Hayes’ penetrating gaze never wavers from mine in the mirror’s reflection. “I'm in love with you.”
I gasp in surprise at his words as my heart stutters in my chest. I spin in his arms to face him, my hands finding his stubbled jaw. “Hayes.”
“Yes, Yankee?”
“Do you really mean that?”
“With all my heart. I’ve never wanted someone more than I want you.” Leaning forward, Hayes slides his hand against my cheek before tangling it in my hair.
“And you said…” I sputter.
“I said I love you. I started falling for you the night we met. As soon as you started spitting insults and staring me down with those sunflower eyes, I was a goner.”
My eyes drift to his chest, where he has a sunflower tattooed on his skin. Permanent. Indelible. I am forever etched on his body, and my soul sings in response.
“The next morning, I walked out of Tank’s a very different man from the one who walked in. You changed me, Annabelle. I love you.” Kissing me softly, he adds, “You’re not alone anymore. I’ve got you—you and the girls.”
My heart thumps wildly in my chest as his words wash over me. “God, Hayes. How do you always say the thing I least expect but need to hear the most?” Brushing my lips against his, I murmur, “I love you, too.”
The words fall from my lips with ease. Over the past few weeks, Hayes has chipped away at each of my worries and hesitations, until I could no longer deny the seriousness of my feelings for him. Like a weight thrown into the ocean, I fell fast.
But if Hayes is going to stick around, there’s more I should probably tell him. I don’t want to ruin this moment, or this ranch trip, with depressing family secrets, though. The truth has been locked up tight in a small recess in my brain for the past year. I can wait another couple of weeks before bringing it to light.
“I know you do, baby. I feel the strength of your love every time you touch me. I see it burning in your eyes, and I hear it in every word you speak."
