But she wouldn’t. Not now, not ever.
She took the opportunity and snuggled into his chest, accepting the comfort he offered, closing her eyes and sighing as he wrapped her in his arms and his scent of leather and hard work.
He might be the prankster to everyone else, but to her, he was home.
Chapter Twenty
Tommy was losing himself.
In her eyes.
In her touch.
In the way she felt in his arms.
He loved protecting her.
To be the one she leaned on, who kept her safe.
He knew what she thought.
That he had given up everything for her.
But that wasn’t the truth at all. The truth was, she had given his life meaning that he hadn’t known he needed. He couldn’t imagine being without her now.
He wasn’t sure who he was or what he was doing.
He had never been this man. Too afraid to take the next step. Uncertain of how to act around a woman, of what to say for fear that he would choose the wrong words.
He never thought about that kind of thing.
He acted on instinct, doing whatever felt right.
But with Minnie, if he did that, he just might scare her away earlier than he had anticipated.
She lifted her head from his chest, angling her face uptoward him, her eyes glancing over his lips, and he knew that if he tilted his head down, she would be willing and accepting of his kiss.
And yet, he hesitated.
Why? Why Tommy?
To kiss her would feel better than anything he could imagine. It was what felt right, what would finally, perhaps, fix this hole that had grown between them.
He was worried that if he kissed her, he wouldn’t be able to stop, and she would be scared away too early.
Before the threat was over.
Before he could finish his task of keeping her safe.
After that, well, their future would be up to her.
He stepped back, running his hand through his hair as he saw the disappointment cross her face.
“Tommy?” she said in a small voice. “Is something wrong?”
“No, not at all,” he said, forcing a smile. “Come, let’s look at the ledgers.”
She nodded, biting her lip, and followed him to the small kitchen table where the books were laid out. She was likely far better suited for this exercise, having more education and being far more intelligent than he was. But he would do his best to help.
