Page 210 of Ice Darling
I cover my mouth with both hands and gape at him. “Whatisthat?”
Renthrow straightens and walks confidently toward me. “It’s an electronic bike with a sidecar.”
I notice the pedals. It’s an e-bike, but the designers were very inspired by motorcycles. I see lots of elements of a classic design here.
“What’s she working with?” I murmur. Sliding to a crouch, I run my finger over the engine hub and spot the numbers embedded there. “Nice. It’s a 750-watt battery. How fast can it go? I’d guess twenty to thirty miles an hour tops?”
I look up and find Renthrow staring at me with an amused expression. Realizing that I should probably pay more attentionto the man than the machine, I clear my throat and pop to my feet.
Renthrow laughs softly.
I smile at him. “Did you ride this here?”
He nods and steps toward me.
Nerves jangle in my stomach. The last thing I said to him was crushing, and I realize I still haven’t apologized for it.
“Renthrow, about what I said in the garage?—”
“You don’t need to apologize.” He continues moving into me, and I almost have a heart attack from how bright and magnetic his hazel eyes are in the sunshine.
I avert my gaze. “I’m still processing a lot right now with… everything. But eventually, I’d like to return to the discussion.”
“Baby steps.”
“What do you mean?”
He pushes forward, and I step back only to realize that I’ve hit the side of the apartment building. Renthrow sets his palm flat to the bricks and looks down. The muscles on his forearms flex, threatening to pop out of his tight shirt. The muscles, paired with the hazel eyes, put a spell on me that keeps me from breathing.
“I mean that I want you, Cordelia Davenport.You. And I don’t need you to move a muscle. I don’t need you to change a thing. I’m coming to you. Whether it’s a thousand, ten thousand, or a million steps, I’ll keep taking them until I get to you.”
My heart skips a beat. How is this man so incredible?
I slip my arms around his neck to bring him closer to me. “What if I’m not worth it?”
His gaze dips quickly to my lips before he meets my eyes again. “Impossible.”
“What if you regret it?”
“Never.”
“Even if it means you’ll make the same mistake twice?” I whisper, my heart beating fast.
Renthrow’s expression turns very stern. “Me loving you is not a mistake, Cordelia.”
My jaw drops. Did he just…
Renthrow continues, “I take us as seriously as I take being a father.”
Wow. That’s a loaded statement. I know what a good father Renthrow is.
“I respect what you want, and I respect you.” His thumb slides across my cheek. “I won’t pressure you to do or be anything you don’t want to. I just want you in my life, Cordelia. As long as Gordie and I have you, we can figure out what life together looks like on our own terms.”
“People will judge us,” I remind him.
“Let them. I might not be a perfect man, but my daughter is about as close to perfect as one can get.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. “And so are you. That’s all that matters to me. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
“Neither do I,” I admit. “I feel like I was wandering around in the dark, and then you and Gordie appeared. And there was…so much warmth. I didn’t even realize what was happening to me, but I just knew I wanted more. I can’t imagine my life without you both. I love you too.”
