Page 89 of Finding Redemption

She tilts her head, studying me. “What do you suggest we do?”

“I have several ideas. Let’s talk about them this weekend.”

“Friday is gonna be a big day, isn’t it?” She worries her lip, not making eye contact.

“Look at me.” I wait for her. “Reese, look at me.” Her eyes find mine and I’m rooted to the spot when I find the same feelings looking back at me. “Am I going too fast? Tell me. Please.”

She lays her hand against my cheek, gazing into my eyes. “Never.” She hesitates. “I’m not used to having people who care. Relationships are hard for me.” She points at herself. “Daddy issues. Insecurities abound in this head.”

I press a sweet kiss on her lips. “I’ve got you. Always.”

“You’re too sweet.” She lays her head against my chest. “He called again today.”

“You should talk to him.”

“Why? What could he have to say after all this time? And my mom, she’s gonna flip shit when I do.” She knots my shirt in her hands.

“Do you want to talk to him?”

She shakes her head, then begins to nod. “I do. What should I do?”

“I can’t tell you what to do but if you want to go, I’ll go with you. If you’re not comfortable with me going right now, take Alden.”

“I hadn’t thought about a buffer. I could do that, make it public.” She stares into the distance, a line forming between her brows.

I reach up, rubbing my finger into the line until she looks at me. “There’s my girl. You’ve got this. You’re a badass.”

She rises to her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on my lips. Her eyes lift, and the burning behind them sends waves of heat through my body. When she pulls me to her, we ignite. Colliding into each other the only way we can, with a force like no other.

A knock on the door disrupts our pleasure. “Hey, guys. I have the district attorney on line one for one of you,” Maisyn says through the door.

“All right. I’ll get it.”

“Give me two minutes?” Reese kisses me and steps out the door into the restroom.

“Thank you, Maisyn.” I glare at her as I walk over to the office.

“No problem.” She snickers, handing me a tissue. “Lipstick, lover boy.”

“Sorry. Thank you, again.”

She waves over her head. “No problem.”

Reese and I spend the evening helping as many families as possible. We work well together, coming up with a schedule to filter families through a short informational process. I love this work. Helping people who otherwise have no one or no way of getting help.

I glance around the room, catching Reese staring at me. She smiles at me. My lips part, releasing an appreciative gasp as I take in her beauty. Her long, red hair lays in waves down her back and I fight the urge to walk and sweep one side behind her ear.

Her green eyes dance in the light, sparkling even if she isn’t smiling. She’s intelligent and knows it. Her heart is bigger than Texas and the way she cares for people rivals Lea. Mom will love her. The words stop me mid-thought. Love.

It’s too soon. Stop it, Walker. Do not fuck this up. She’s too important and means so much to you. Don’t try to control it. Let it happen.

“You okay?” Reese’s words catch me off guard.

I force a smile. She pushes her chair out, excusing herself. When she passes me, she slides her hand across my back. My breathing slows, and I stop fidgeting.

She bends, whispering in my ear, “Take your time. We have plenty of it.”

For the first time in my life, I know I’m not forcing it. It’s organic and I don’t have to shift it one way or the other.