Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
He cooked a delicious meatloaf, and while we eat, Taylor tells us all about her upcoming competition and what it will mean if they place.
When we’re done with dinner, Taylor helps with the dishes and then takes off to her room—because she and Casey need to go over their weekend outfits—leaving Shane and me to spend some time alone.
He pours me a glass of wine and grabs himself a beer, and we head out back. I haven’t been out here yet, and I immediately notice the big yard and beautiful porch, complete with a wooden swing. While Becky runs around the yard, we sit on the swing, me tucked into Shane’s side and his arm wrapped around my waist.
Neither of us is speaking, simply enjoying the cool night while sipping our drinks and watching the dog, but it feels nice. Relaxing … for the first time in a long time, I feel content.
“What are you thinking about?” Shane asks after a while, as if he can hear my thoughts.
“I didn’t realize how alone I felt,” I admit. “I pushed everyone away, and I didn’t grasp how badly I’d isolated myself until you came along and pushed back.”
“You did what you had to do,” he says, leaning in and placing a chaste kiss on my temple. “I looked it up, and they say everyone handles grief differently.”
“You looked it up?” I ask, shocked by his admission.
“I needed to know what I was working with,” he says, glancing down at me when I look up at him. “I’ve never been where you are, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t cross the line or say something stupid.”
Oh, my heart.
Without thought, I set my wineglass on the table and climb into his lap, needing to be closer to him. He immediately catches on and sets his beer down so he can hold me with both hands. With my legs straddling him, I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Thank you,” I murmur, my eyes locked on his. “I couldn’t see beyond my grief until you came into my life, and for the first time since I lost my family, I can see a future for myself, and it’s with you and Taylor. The way you both welcomed me into your life means so much to me. I’m so grateful for your patience and persistence … I just … I feel like I’m living a completely different life.”
Shane smiles and then captures my mouth with his, giving me a quick but emotionally filled kiss before he pulls back. “That’s all I want, Sour Patch. To live my life with you. To enjoy each other’s company. There will be good days and bad, happy and sad, but I want to have them with you.”
“I want that too,” I tell him, moving my arms down so they’re wrapped around his waist and I’m able to rest my head on his chest and inhale his masculine, comforting scent.
Shane tightens his hold on me, and we sit like this for a long time, content with just simply being together.
When my eyes start to drift closed, Shane chuckles, his chest vibrating and making me look up at him.
“As much as I love that I’m comfortable enough for you to sleep on, I should take you home, unless you want to spend the night.” He waggles his brows playfully.
“I’d like that, but I don’t want to set a bad example for Taylor. We only just started dating, and I think it would be best if we take things slow. For me too.”
“I love that about you,” he says, tilting my chin and giving me a quick kiss. “I always told myself that whoever I dated would have to accept the fact that I was a single dad. I dated a few women, but we never made it past a few dates before they would make comments about not wanting to deal with another woman’s child or saying that it must be rough, raising a teenage girl. One asked if I expected her to fill in the role of Taylor’s mother.” He shakes his head. “But with you, it’s different. Hell, I think you accepted Taylor before you accepted me.” He smirks.
“You’re not wrong,” I say with a laugh. “And those women were stupid because they had no idea what they were missing out on. Taylor is such a breath of fresh air. Anyone would be lucky to have her in their life in any capacity, and the fact that you two come as a package only makes it that much sweeter.”
I think about something and then sit up, needing to get this off my chest. “I really like Taylor,” I tell Shane. “And I know we don’t know what the future holds, but if things don’t work out with us, I need you to promise that I can stay friends with her. I mean, if she still wants to.”