Page 75 of Kiss Me Forever

“Bella—” Reece began, exasperated.

“I said I would. Don’t worry. We will make you a baking star.”

“Why do I feel like there’s going to be flour all over my kitchen?”

I looked at Reece then, my arm wrapped around Bella’s waist, hers around mine, and smiled. I hoped it reached my eyes. “Hi.”

“Hey Freckles. Sorry it took us so long to get here. I wanted to make sure you had time to rest.”

I knew it wasn’t quite the truth, but with Bella here, there wasn’t much else to say. “I’m really okay. I could have gone back to work today, but my dad yelled at me. Lex yelled at me, and Dash scowled. There’s a lot of yelling going on.”

Reece’s jaw tightened, and he gave me a slight nod. “I was scared,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you in front of your team.” He looked at Bella and sighed. “I shouldn’t have yelled at all.”

“In the heat of the moment, I understand the yelling. I shouted as well, but we’re going to need to figure this out.” I looked between the two of them. “I think all three of us are going to need to figure this whole thing out.”

“That means talking about relationships,” Bella said slowly and dramatically. “Using real words and everything. Don’t worry, I have a book on this.” She sounded so serious, that I had to press my lips together so I didn’t laugh.

“God save me from you two working as a team.” Reece shook his head. “I’m sorry, Freckles.”

“Apology accepted. And I’m sorry for storming off. I think I was embarrassed that of all the people that a house could fall on, it was me. The one who tries to be the big boss.”

“We all know that Lex is the big boss that likes to move you all around like chest pieces,” Reece said dryly.

“Okay, fair.” And then I was in Reece’s arms, and he kissed the top of my head, and Bella held me close.

“Does this mean we can get ice cream?” Bella said softly, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Tomorrow, kid. You two can go get the ice cream that you’ve promised each other.”

I looked up at him then and smiled. “Really?”

“Don’t look so surprised. You and Bella said you wanted a girls’ trip, and I need to help my brothers out at the station with one of their enrollment gigs. So I do assume you’re going to bring me ice cream as well.”

I laughed and finally pulled them into the house fully.

“Of course we’ll bring you ice cream. Bubblegum, right?”

Bella made gagging sounds as Reece didn’t even bother to answer. Instead, he went to my kitchen, began to make coffee, and poured milk for Bella. He was there in my kitchen, acting as if he knew what he was doing, and comfortable with it.

I would never understand this man, not fully, but I truly wanted to figure him out.

“Ice cream tomorrow for you two, but tonight, movies, popcorn, and we’ll order a pizza.”

“Yay for junk food,” Bella said as she danced around the living room.

“Do I get a say in this?” I asked, laughing.

“Not in the slightest.” Reece leaned forward and kissed me softly on the mouth and just like that, the tension that had been riding my shoulders began to ease. “I’m sorry, Brooklyn.”

I cupped his face, his beard soft under my hands. I should tell him I loved him, but I didn’t. The words would come, but in this moment, it just needed to be us.

“It’s okay. You should have yelled. Maybe not those exact words, but screaming was a must.”

“I don’t know what I would’ve done if you’d been hurt even more than that.” He let out a shuddering breath and kissed my temple. “Just be careful with trees or anything else that could hurt you while you’re at the job, okay?”

“You’re the one who works with fire, I should be more worried about you.”

He kissed me softly again, and I ignored Bella’s fake gagging behind us.