Page 71 of Reckless (Adventures in Love 3)
“We have a lot to talk about. I have a lot I need to explain.”
“When you’re ready, I’m here.”
“I got in my own way, baby. I realize that sounds like an excuse, but it’s the truth. And even when I knew I should have told you that I lied, that I did want everything you did, I convinced myself that you wouldn’t give me another shot after the shit you’ve gone through, so maybe it was better if I just tried to let you go.”
“Us not being together would never be better for me.” She cups my cheek, then leans up to touch her mouth to mine. “And just like you promised that you’ll take care of my heart, I want you to know that I’ll do the same with yours.”
“I know you will.” I hug her, then lean back and search her gaze, still shocked that she’s here in my arms and that we are good. “We should head inside. It’s cold, and this is your party.”
“You’re probably right, even though I feel like we should be heading home and celebrating us getting back together.”
I grin at that and touch my mouth to hers quickly. “We will definitely be celebrating that when we get home.” I lead her back into the shop, and as soon as we get inside, we notice that everyone is quiet and focused on Margret, who is crying, and Mason, the two of them standing in the middle of the room embracing.
“What happened?” I bark out, and Margret spins around toward us.
“I’m getting married.” She holds up her left hand, and the ring on her finger glitters under the lights of the shop.
“Oh my God, congratulations,” Jade says, sounding like she might cry.
“Thank you.” Margret does a little jump right before Mason spins her around and bends her over his arm to kiss her.
I laugh at the two of them, not feeling envious like I have in the past, because I know one day a moment like that will happen between Jade and me.
And I look around at my friends, all holding on to their women as they watch the newly engaged couple, and know that I have what they do, which means I’ve got everything.
Epilogue
MAVERICK
Six months later
After walking into the living room, I stop at the edge of the couch, where Jade is lying with a book in her hands, reading, and shake my head. I never would have thought that Caz would be the kind of cat to accept human cuddles or another animal, especially one of the canine species, but I was wrong. Both Caz and Pebbles are attached to Jade. The two of them wait for her by the door when they hear her car pull up to the house, and if she’s somewhere reading, they both cuddle together just to be close to her, like they are right now, curled into the curve of her waist. Their attachment is something I understand; I’m addicted to her, and even with all the time we get together, it never seems to be enough.
I never thought a love like this would be in the cards for me, but she proved that I was capable of so much more than I thought I was. With her I can clearly see my future, one that includes her at my side for the rest of our lives and our little ones running around us, driving us both crazy. That future is not only something I’m looking forward to but something I’ve started to crave for myself. Over the last six months, she’s moved in to this house with me, and I thought that might be enough to hold me over for a while, but it’s not, not even close.
“I can feel you staring at me.” Her words bring me out of my thoughts, and I focus on her as she lowers her book to meet my gaze.
“Do you want to go on a ride with me up to the house to check the progress?” I ask, and her smile makes my chest warm, and the piece of metal in my pocket feels a million times heavier than it actually is.
“Of course I do.” She carefully gets off the couch, leaving both Caz and Pebbles cuddled together. Two months ago the builders who are building our house put up the walls, and yesterday they added the tub in the master bath, a gift for her that she doesn’t know about yet. “Let me just put on something a little warmer.”
“While you do that, I’ll pull the four-wheeler out,” I tell her, wrapping my hand around her hip when she leans up on her tiptoes to kiss me.
“I’ll meet you outside.” She grins before she falls to her flat feet, and then she rushes to the bedroom, her hair down around her shoulders, her legs on display under my T-shirt, which she put on this morning after we got out of the shower.
