Page 51 of Floodgates

Instead, I stood there, staring at him.

“Please,” he croaked out.

It was too much to look and not touch him. I gave up at the same time he gave me a gentle tug. I sank down onto the couch beside him. When he lifted his arm, I curled into his warmth and put my hand on his broad, muscular chest and my head on his shoulder. I craved his solid strength, and I closed my eyes when I felt him brush his lips across my forehead. The tenderness undid me, and I pressed in tightly against him. I was almost holding my breath, worried the moment would pass, but he seemed content to hold me, and I was content to let him.

“Thanks,” he muttered, low and hoarse in my ear.

“What’re you thanking me for?”

“The trust right here. I’ve been hoping for it.”

“I don’t think trust has ever been our issue.”

“No?”

“Not in a physical way,” I tried to explain. “I mean, I know you would never let anything happen to me—like you would never allow me to get hurt.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“It’s my heart that would have been in jeopardy,” I said, hoping to sound playful.

“Not anymore.”

I nodded.

“You don’t believe me.”

“Are you hungry?” I asked, changing the subject. He’d asked me, but I hadn’t checked on him. “Do you want to eat with me?”

“I would love to,” he said, nuzzling his nose against my temple. “But, really, Trace, I swear, your heart would never be in danger with me.”

I stared at him, uncertain what I was supposed to say.

“You can count on me.”

Could I? On Cord?

He smiled suddenly. “You think your dad will bring me some soup too?”

I turned and asked my father to bring a bowl for Cord as well, and he seemed pleased. “This is so weird.”

“What?”

I brought my gaze back to his. “I’m in some alternate dimension where you, Cord Nolan, actually like me,” I teased him.

“I like you just fine.”

He was making my stomach flutter.

When my father brought over the chunky, spicy chicken soup, so much better than chicken noodle or something from a can, Cord inhaled the delicious aroma and smiled at me.

“You’re gonna love it,” I said, passing him his napkin.

“I’m already good,” he said, his voice warm.

I nudged him with my elbow, and we ate together quietly while the others played. It was nice to just sit and talk with him and not feel like one or the other of us was going to run away, like we normally did.

“We should do this more often,” I said after a few minutes.