Page 64 of Take This Heart
“Feels big, naming the place.” Goldie reaches out and takes his hand.
“It is big.” Everett gets a distant look and then shakes hishead slightly. “It’s not just about the buildings or the land, you guys. It’s about a legacy. For all of you.”
Both grandmas pull out tissues and blow.
“You want to leave something behind,” Goldie says softly.
He doesn’t deny it.
“Are you scared, Dad?” Goldie goes over and sits at his feet, her head leaning on his knees.
He puts his hand over her hair and nods. “I am, buttercup. But I’m not going anywhere just yet. I’ve got things to see. Buildings to finish. A son-in-law and daughters-in law to meet…” He looks at everyone over his readers and grins. “Grandbabies to enjoy…a puppy to win over.”
For the second time today, I see Goldie cry, but this time she’s smiling through her tears.
“You already won the puppy over.” Goldie smiles up at him.
And God help me, if I’m not careful, this woman could win me over so thoroughly, I wouldn’t even recognize myself—I already don’t.
If I’m not frustrated with her, I’m ready to bend her over the closest surface and show her how good we could be.
Who am I kidding? I want to show her how good we could be all the fucking time.
Before I leave for the night, I touch Goldie’s arm and she pauses in mid-step.
“I’d like to think that we’re becoming friends, Goldie.” I make a face. “Or something…hell, I don’t know what we are. But I don’t want to lose it. I don’t want to loseyou.” My laugh is gravelly, and I clear my throat. “I’ll prove to you that I’m different,” I tell her. “You can trust me.”
She doesn’t say anything, but I feel better for saying it anyway. They’re not just empty words. I intend to show her that I mean what I say.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TOO MANY STRIKES
GOLDIE
I’ve felt like an open wound since finding out Milo is Bruce’s nephew. Because helied. For months he kept it from us, knowing that there was every reason to distrust him.
I shouldn’t have told him about Wes.
There’s a reason I’ve kept that history squashed down somewhere that I try not to revisit. I don’t like thinking about those months after I found out, how small and broken and foolish I felt. I promised I’d never let myself feel that way about anyone again, and I haven’t come anywhere close to that.
Until now.
And it makes no sense because Milo and I aren’t even together.
But my heart seems to get more attached to him each day, whether I even see him or not.
My brain saysno, do not let him in, and my heart saysyes, please—there’s room for him right here.Trust is a precious commodity as far as I’m concerned, something that I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to fully give someone else. At least not anyone outside my circle of trust.
I can’t believe I was starting to let Milo in that circle.
He says I can trust him, but how is that possible? He already has a strike against him because he’s a man I’m attracted to.
I can’t believe he’s a Granger. That would be a big enough strike in itself. Not to mention, Ava Piper is also his cousin?
But the lies.
It’s justtoomany strikes against him.
