Chapter Seventeen
I was nervous as I lifted Rhett out of his car seat. I tried to fight it off as I walked up Reed’s porch steps, but it was useless. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, things had changed. He and I were now different. Before, we had the distance between us, the boundary of an agreed friendship, but now it was crossed. The friendship line was voided the moment I kissed him. I took what we had to an entirely different level, and I had to admit there was no regret. That acknowledgment didn’t make it any less intimidating.
I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Almost immediately Diesel began to bark, and Rhett grew excited. I could hear Reed’s deep voice trying to calm Diesel. The moment the door opened and that gorgeous smile spread out across his lips, all the nervous energy disappeared.
“Hey you, come here, little man.” Reed held his hands out to Rhett, and in no time at all my son was lunging for him. Rhett gripped Reed’s shirt tightly and kicked his legs as he looked down at the big dog who was spastically wagging his tail. A loud squeal escaped Rhett when Diesel barked, and the sight was one I would always have etched in my mind.
If you had asked me six months ago if I would be falling for Reed, I would have laughed. I promised myself I would never go there again. Once a cheater, always a cheater, right? Now here I was, standing in his doorway, while he held my son and tickled his tummy. I could see the adoration in Reed’s eyes as he looked at Rhett. I had to accept that he had changed. Reed was no longer that selfish young boy. He had changed, things had happened that forced him to grow.
“You gonna come inside?” Reed tilted his head toward the house, and I took a step in through the doorway. His house was beautiful, and surprisingly clean. It was nothing like I expected. It had that homey feeling, the one you got when you walked into a place you belonged.
I could feel Reed against my back as he stepped up behind me. “It feels good having you here, both of you.” He kissed my head softly and nudged me forward.
“Thanks for inviting us.” I spoke softly, still not trusting my voice. I had mixed emotions right now. It felt so right to be here with him, yet I felt guilty for that. Was I moving too fast?
We decided to stay in and make something to eat. A movie on the big screen was the plan. It felt so natural for Rhett to be hobbling around the kitchen while Reed and I made dinner. Diesel was attached to my little guy’s hip. It really was the sweetest thing. If Rhett stopped walking, Diesel sat back on his hind legs next to him and waited patiently. The moment Rhett was on the move again, Diesel jumped to follow close behind.
With no highchair here, Reed chose to eat with Rhett on his lap. I offered to hold him myself, but the two of them decided his current position was exactly where he was staying. Watching Reed help my son eat overwhelmed me with emotion. I tried not to feel bad for the things Blake missed. Instead, I tried to focus on the fact that Rhett had a man in his life, one who clearly loved him. In turn I allowed myself to believe Blake would want that. He would want Rhett to feel a man’s love. If it couldn’t be him, then I had to believe he would be happy it was a man like Reed.
Before the movie had even started, Rhett was passed out. I stood next to the couch looking down at his tiny form curled up against the big beautiful husky that had now claimed Rhett as his own. It really was one of the sweetest things I had ever seen. I couldn’t stop myself from capturing the moment with my phone.
Just as the picture snapped, Reed approached from behind. “Whatcha doing?” I pointed, and a huge grin spread across Reed’s lips. “Diesel found himself a new best friend.”
I took my place on the couch next to Reed as he started to get the movie loaded up and ready.
Maria had sent me a text right as I was attempting to save the picture as my screen saver.
Follow your heart, love, you deserve to be happy. M
I am.
That was the reply I sent her, because I was. I had to be; the darkness I had been living in needed to be laid to rest. I would always love Blake, I would always talk about him. There wouldn’t be a day that went by that something, or someone didn’t make me think of him.
“Who you texting?” Reed asked as he placed his arm behind my shoulders and pulled me closer.
“Maria, she told me to follow my heart.” I shrugged, and he continued to watch me, waiting for more detail. “I told her I was coming over here tonight.” I let my head rest back against his shoulder. “I also told her I kissed you earlier.”
I watched his throat bob as he swallowed. His gaze fell to my lips, licking his own just before he spoke. “About that kiss, you think I could get another?”
I bit down on my lower lip and nodded, never taking my eyes from his. Slowly Reed lowered his lips to mine, and I melted back further against the couch. With his hand reaching over to grip my thigh, I grabbed for the back of his neck. I allowed my tongue to trace over his lips, and he groaned. Feeling his tongue brush over mine, I sucked on the tip gently.
After a few minutes of sensual kissing, we separated. Both slightly breathless, we looked at one another in silence. Letting out a deep breath, Reed chuckled. “Well, that was one helluva kiss.”
My cheeks reddened and I buried my face in my hands. “I’m sorry, I got a little carried away.”
Reaching out for my hands, he lowered them to my lap. “No need to be sorry, you can get carried away any time you feel the urge.” He winked and settled back on to the couch next to me.
“I just need to bring one thing up. It’s something that I can’t deal with. I’m not sure where this puts us. As for where we are after today, but…” He studied me in silence, and I continued. “If we are going to see where things go between us, there is something that needs to be handled. Kimberly, her flirting and touching, I can’t take that. It’s a hard limit for me, and it needs to stop.”
“I agree. I’ll take care of it,” he reassured me. “As for you and me, today changes everything. We are gonna make this work.”
We sat snuggled close as the movie played. My mind wandered in every direction. If you were to ask me what the movie was about, I couldn’t answer. I closed my eyes, remembering the feel of his lips against mine.
***
“Hey, pretty girl, wake up.” Fingertips skimmed over my cheek, down to my neck. Soft kisses feathered along my jaw, inducing chills to spread over my body. “Unless you just wanna stay here,” Reed whispered against my ear, before kissing me once more.
Grinning like a fool, I giggled when his nose trailed over my neck. The soft touch tickled my sensitized skin. “I need to get home. Blake’s dad is coming in the mornin’. He’s gonna take us to breakfast.”
When my eyes locked onto his, he looked concerned. “You okay going by yourself? I could meet ya.”
Shaking my head lightly, I slid forward on the couch. “We’ll be okay. Don’t worry.” Standing up, I approached Rhett, who was still cuddled up against Diesel.
When I bent down to lift him from the floor, Reed stood quickly and came to my side. “I can carry him out for ya. You gather up his things.”
“Okay.” It really warmed my heart to watch him with Rhett. He was so unbelievably gentle and kind. My boy looked so tiny in his arms. All six foot three, two hundred and fifty pounds of cowboy. But seeing him holding Rhett and looking at him with pure love made my knees weak.
He followed me out and gently placed Rhett in his car seat. Once he made sure the straps were tightened and his sleepy form was secure, he rolled a blanket, placing it against the side of his head. He looked back over his shoulder and smiled. “I don’t want his sleepy little head to be bobbing all over the place. That should help keep him comfortable ‘til ya get home.”
He stepped back and closed the door softly, so not to wake him. The moment he turned to face me, I stepped forward. I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest. His arms encased me against him just a little tighter.
“Thank you.”
Reed’s lips brushed against the side of my neck, and I squeezed him a little tighter. “What are you thanking me for?”
I felt a tear drop down my cheek. “Thank you for being here for me. I know it wasn’t easy, I didn’t make it easy. You still never turned your back on me, though. Thank you for giving me time, and most of all, thank you for loving Rhett.”
Reed kissed my temple and held me close, as he rocked me slowly, his heartbeat rapidly stuttering under my cheek.
“You do know that Rhett isn’t the only one here that I love, right?” I only nodded against him. It was all I could offer right now, all I had in me. I thought he knew because he never pushed. “As long as you know that.”
Kissing me once more, he continued to hold me. It was the best thing he could do, it was exactly what I needed from him.