Page 40 of Don't Hurt Us
“What are you thinking about?”
With my question, she spins in my arms and stares up at me with tears in her eyes.It breaks my heart to see her upset.
“No crying, beautiful.”I swipe my thumbs under her eyes, removing any moisture.
“I'm an idiot.”
“No, you’re not.Why do you think that?”
“Because you’re this amazing man!You keep going out of your way to put me and my children first.All I’m doing is keeping you at arm’s length and that’s the dumbest thing ever!Why aren’t I clinging to you and begging you to marry me?”
“Well, you don’t need to beg me to marry you.I already asked, you just need to say yes.”
“I'm scared,” she whispers, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest.
“I know.I get it, Syd.I'm not trying to push you, but I think we’re really good together.I just want you to keep giving me a chance.I'm not Rob and I'm never going to let you down the way he did.”
“You’re nothing like him and I'm fully aware of that.I think that’s what scares me the most.I expected nothing from Rob and learned to never count on him… but if I let you in… I could learn to depend on you.I’d get used to having a partner in life and as a parent.I'm scared of what would happen if all of that gets torn away from me.”
“I'm not walking away from you.I'm here for the long haul.”
“You can't know that!What if you decide a year from now you hate having us in your life and you don’t want to raise someone else’s kids?”
“That’s not going to happen,” I whisper as I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.“I love those kids.They’re so amazing because they have an amazing mother raising them.”
She stares up at me and swallows hard.I know this is difficult, but I want her to trust me.I want her to count on me always being there.
“You promise this isn't temporary?This isn't a fling?”
“Sydney, I think I fell in love with you the first time I met you.I stayed away for years because you were married and I'm not that sort of man, but now you’re free to date whoever you want and I think that should be me.I want you in my life.I want you living in my house and I want to be the father your kids never had in Rob.”
“I think I want that too,” she whispers, swiping at her cheeks again.
“Then let’s stop hiding this.We should let the kids know we’re dating in the morning and give this relationship a real shot.”
“Ok.”
“We’re doing this?”I duck down to meet her gaze.I want to make sure we’re on the same page.
“Yeah, let’s do it.”She grins.
“Good.Then I think it’s bed time.I'm exhausted and I think you should sleep in bed with me.”
“Oh, yeah?And why is that?”She giggles as she takes my offered hand and walks down the hallway towards my bedroom with me.
“Because Bree got to sleep on my chest all afternoon, I think it’s your turn now.”
“Do I get to wear one of your t-shirts too?”She smirks, nudging my shoulder with hers.
“I’d absolutelyloveto see you in my t-shirt, baby.”
Chapter 18
Sydney
Iblinkmyeyesopen to the bright morning sun.That might’ve been the best night’s sleep I’ve ever gotten.I don’t think I’ve ever slept that soundly.
I roll away from Maverick and stretch my arms above my head.I glance in his direction and find a sleepy smile playing on his lips.
