Gemma finished and took in the fact that Eddie hadn’t moved a muscle. His eyes had never left her face. He heard every word she said – and she could swear there was a shimmer in his eyes like he was holding back tears.

Shit, she didn’t want to sound so downtrodden that she made a man cry. She didn’t want his pity, and she told him so.

“I didn’t say that so you would pity me, Eddie. I don’t need that. I grew up with others seeing my life and feeling bad for me, but not lifting a finger to help a little girl out of that life. So pity doesn’t help me. I got myself out of that life. I realize that where I live and how hard I work might not seem like I’ve made it very far from that life. But I’m working on it. There isn’t vomit on my floor at night from a drunk. I get hugs and kisses every day, even if they are from a four-year-old. It’s still love.”

Gemma could see Eddie was trying to form words. His mouth was doing that thing where it opened and closed a bunch of times while he tried to figure out what he was going to say.

Finally, both of his hands came up to her head, cupping both of her cheeks. His eyes were searching hers, desperately flitting between them.

“Fuck me, baby. You know how to shred a man,” Eddie said, his voice deep and raw.

“I wasn’t trying to,” she whispered back.

“I get that, but you just tore my heart out and I need a minute to put it back together,” he said roughly.

Gemma watched him swallow and attempt to pull himself together. She realized the hands that were cupping her face had a slight tremble in them. This big strong man was shaking because of what she said. Gemma had no clue how to deal with that. This was unheard of; guys like him did not get emotional over girls like her. Hell, men in her world had no emotions.

She ventured softly, “You okay?”

“No, Gemma, I’m not fucking okay. You had a fucked-up life. No child should be left alone. They should be hugged and kissed, and told how fucking amazing they are every day – just like a woman should be treated, too. Your parents had the responsibility of caring for you. They obviously dropped the ball on that. If your dickhead of an ex, and yes I realize I haven’t met him, but he let you go so he’s a dickhead. If he couldn’t figure out how amazing you are and what a goddamn gift you could have been to his life, then he doesn’t deserve you.

You’ve worked hard all your life. You’ve made a life for Dash that you didn’t have. It’s not the greatest, but that house is yours. Gemma Ellis put that roof over her son’s head. She pays for it by working two jobs that suck. Don’t let anyone tell you that you haven’t gotten out of the life you used to live because you have. I’m proud as fuck to know you.

I won’t lie. I can see that you’ve built that life and I’m not trying to minimize how much effort you put in. In fact, what you’ve accomplished in such a short time is a fucking miracle. How can I not want to be with a woman like that?

I also won’t lie and say that I don’t want to make your life a hell of a lot easier. Not because you can’t do it yourself, but because I can do it for you. I can give you a break. Baby, you fucking deserve it. I’m not looking to date you. Well – I am, but not temporarily. I want to be in your life – and Dash’s. I need to be with you.

From this moment on, with every challenge you face and every obstacle that drops in front of you, I want you to think, how are Eddie, Dash, and I going to fix this? Because that’s what I want. The three of us. Together.”

“I still don’t understand. Why me?” Gemma asked. Her heart was pounding, her lungs wouldn’t fill with enough air, and she was barely holding back her tears.

“Because you are mine, Gemma. I wish I could explain it better. You are mine and I am yours. We belong together. Can’t you feel it? Doesn’t being in my arms feel right? Like there is nothing better than just being here together?”

Gemma wasn’t sure how to describe what she was feeling with her body against his and his warm hands cupping her face so gently.

“It feels like home,” she finally whispered to him. The tears she’d been holding back started to slide down her cheeks.

“Baby, don’t cry,” Eddie moaned. He brought his mouth to hers. Kissing away her fear and confusion. His bear didn’t like the tears and he was letting him know it. Eddie didn’t fucking like her tears either, but he realized that they meant she was feeling something akin to what he was experiencing, and that was an open door. He could show her now what she meant to him, without her having to guess why he was doing what he was doing.

Gemma kissed Eddie back. She hadn’t realized until she said the words that he did feel like home. Not the place where you slept and watched TV. Home, where your heart was free to be itself; where there was no fear or uncertainty. That was home.

Breaking off the kiss, Gemma pulled back to look into Eddie’s eyes. “So you want me and Dash to date you?”

Eddie gave a chuckle. “I’ll date you and convince Dash that I’m the coolest best buddy on the planet. That’s what I want – at least, for now.”

“I’m pretty sure Eddie Claus secured that title already with the gifts,” she sniffed back.

Eddie brushed away the tears that were still tracking down her cheeks.

“Eddie Claus? Shit! Don’t let any of my relatives hear that name; I’ll hear it until I’m old and gray.”

Just then, the buzzer on the washer made a horrible noise and Dash came busting out of the bedroom yelling, “I’m hungry!” He stopped short when he saw Gemma on top of Eddie on the couch.

“Yeah, wrestle time!” Dash screamed and started running to take a flying leap and land on Gemma’s back. He was giggling and laughing which instantly had both adults doing the same.

“Ugh, he’s so heavy,” Eddie mockingly groaned at the bottom of the pile.

“I win!” Dash said, bouncing up and down on his mom.

“Yes, baby, you win. Now get off mommy so she can breathe,” Gemma groaned.

Dash climbed down and waited for his mom to get up. She did this reluctantly. She liked the warmth of Eddie. She had a sneaking suspicion, though, that she could snuggle him whenever she wanted; a theory she would happily test later.

Eddie got off the couch last. “Who wants pizza?”

“Me, me, me! Pupperoni!” He said excitedly.

“Pepperoni, little dude,” Eddie corrected.

“Not if it’s made out of puppies!” Dash said, his tone mischievous.

Gemma frowned. “Eww, Dash, gross.”

Dash and Eddie apparently thought grossing out the girl was the height of hilarity. Both of them were laughing. Eddie scooped up Dash and threw him over his shoulder to walk into the kitchen.

“I’m upside down,” Dash giggled.

“Babe, what do you want on your pizza?” Eddie asked, grabbing the house phone.

“Whatever you like is fine,” she said. She really didn’t care. Anytime they had pizza, she chose pepperoni because it was what Dash liked.

“Babe, what do YOU want on your pizza?” Eddie tried again.

“Seriously, I’ll eat anything.”

“I know you will. I’m asking what you want, what you like. If you don’t give me an answer, I will order one of everything and we will be swimming in pizza,” he warned.

“Pizza shark!” Dash yelled, still hanging off of Eddie’s back.

“You heard him, pizza shark. We can’t have sharks in the house, babe.”

“Fine, I like ham and pineapple. If I were going to get really fancy, I would put fresh tomato slices on it after it’s cooked. Not before, or they get gross and soggy.”

“Sounds tasty. I’m an everything kind of guy – as much as they can cram on it, minus those little fishies,” Eddie said with a shudder.

“Anchovies?” Gemma asked.

“Yes, gross. Okay. I’ll call, you switch the laundry,” Eddie said, flipping Dash over his shoulder and setting him on the counter. “Here little dude, you dial. I’ll give you the numbers.”