Page 26 of His Wild Storm
“Being silly is fun,” I point out. “Maybe one day we’ll draw silly. What do you think?”
Wilde’s eyes light up and his fingers twitch like he wants to grab his sketch pad and pastels to dive into the idea right now. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did.
This little boy has an artist’s soul. I can’t wait to see how it continues to grow.
“I have so many ideas,” Wilde muses, his words soft like he doesn’t even realize he’s saying them out loud.
“Before you head out to draw ‘silly’,” I pull his attention back to me, “hopefully with a child pirate in there somewhere, how about putting away the fruit? Do you know where they need to go?”
“I bet they need to go into the playroom. There’s a little store playset in there. Do you think that would be the right place?” Wilde looks toward Haven to see if she agrees with him.
When she nods, he stands up and rushes toward the bowl. “I’ll put them away and then take the bowl back to the kitchen since it belongs there.”
I look at Haven and wink, “You were right about him being the perfect right-hand man.”
Wilde doesn’t walk to complete his mission, he struts. The confidence coming off him makes my chest warm from the inside out. He deserves to feel good about himself. He deserves to know his worth, to feel it intrinsically, and have it reflected back to him by the people closest to him.
Haven has done an amazing job with him. He’s thoughtful and kind. Sure, he’s wary, but that has nothing to do with Haven. It is the fault of the person they left in their past.
A past I hope never finds a way into the present or the future.
I turn toward Haven and find her blue eyes locked on me already. “You have an amazing son,” I murmur the words softly, meaning them with everything I am.
“I know,” she shoots back at me with all the sass she can muster which has me chuckling under my breath. “He’s a good kid.” She pauses, her eyes searching my face. “You better not be someone who disappoints him; he doesn’t deserve it.”
The warning she’s putting at my feet is obvious and it’s completely understandable. The last thing I want to do is further traumatize Wilde. Or Haven.
I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I was the cause of any pain for either of them.
“I will never hurt Wilde,” my voice is fierce. I can only hope she can see the sincerity in my eyes. “I’ll never hurt you either.”
She blinks at me a few times, her beautiful blue eyes filled with questions and hope which she’s trying to tamp down.
“Just don’t hurt Wilde,” her words are slow and measured, as if she’s convincing herself his feelings are the only ones which matter.
I know the truth, though. Having her afraid of me, of what is between us, isn’t going to work for me. It’s just that simple.
“Never,” I growl, and she sucks in a sharp breath in response. I lean toward her, wishing I could reach for her and touch her. I know it’s not the right time or place, but it won’t stop me forever. I’ll earn her trust and then her heart. “But you gotta know, Haven, there’s something here.” I motion between us, my voice dropping, “I really want to find out what it means and where it can go.”
She looks away while a soft pink color rises on her cheeks. It’s adorable and I want to make her cheeks turn that color over and over again.
“I’m not sure that is such a good idea,” she hedges.
“I get it might not be the best timing I’ve ever had in my life, but I refuse to let an opportunity pass me by when I’ve never felt anything like this before,” I tell her honestly.
“Felt anything like what?” Her voice is a whisper, barely there and feels like being kissed by the sun.
“This connection,” I murmur. Our eyes lock, and I can’t look away; I don’t want to. “This feeling. It’s intense, sure, but it’s real. I’ve been attracted to women before,” she cringes slightly and I have to fight to keep my face neutral, “but this is different. You are the most stunning woman I’ve ever met, but there is something deeper, something more, here as well.”
“I don’t,” she starts to say, but then her words die on her lips.
I don’t know if she was going to try and deny this connection or say that she’s not ready for a relationship. I wouldn’t want to hear either option, honestly.
My soul is screaming at me that we’re meant to be. Meant to be a family. Meant to step into our future together. Meant to make forever filled with something special.
Her mouth opens and closes, as if she can’t get the words out and doesn’t even know where to start in the first place. I smile, and place my hand on her knee, hoping to ground her, hoping to ground me.
“I get it, it feels like a lot right now,” I tell her. “You’re not ready and that’s okay. There’s no pressure from my side. I won’t ever pressure you,” I enunciate the words, needing her to hear them. “All I’m asking is for a chance to get to know you and Wilde, and for you both to get to know me, and maybe earn your trust.”
