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Pulling away, he trails his thumb across my cheek, catching my soft tears. “I love you, Savannah. I’ll spend the rest of my life cherishing you.” He feathers delicate kisses down my jaw and over my neck as his hands roam freely over my body, sending a blaze of heat up my skin. Cradling me in his arms, he gently claims me marking my flesh with his hands and mouth. Sex has never been this passionate, so consuming. But with Luke, it’s perfection. Much like the gentle ease of which he handled me last night, we make love tangled up in each-others’ arms until we find our release together.
Chapter Twenty Three
She rests her head on the window of the truck, watchin’ the world pass by. It’s hard to look away from her, I’m so entranced and love struck. If it weren’t for crashin’ the truck into the mountain side, my eyes would never leave hers. She hasn’t said much all mornin’ and although she’s been quiet her smile hasn’t faded even the slightest. I reach across the seat linkin’ our fingers together and bring her wrist up to my lips. When her eyes meet mine, the biggest smile splays across her face. She slides across the seat and rests her head upon my shoulder while she traces small circles with her fingertip over the palm of my hand.
“Your hand is clammy.” She whispers against my chest. I chuckle and clench both hands over the steering wheel firmly, noticin’ the cool, sweaty glaze that glides against the leather. Been fightin’ a panic attack all mornin’ long – ever since Savannah woke up in my arms. This is all that I want, but I still can’t help but worry that somehow it will all be ripped from my grasp.
We pull up Carly and Colton’s driveway and park. I help Savannah down from the truck, then walk with her hand in hand up to the front porch. As she knocks on the door I huff out a loud, hard breath. She turns towards me and smiles curiously. Tiltin’ her head she asks, “Why are you acting so funny?”
“Don’t know, sweetheart.” She giggles and rolls her eyes.
Carly opens the door and immediately notices our close contact, but doesn’t make any mention of it. Brailee and Braden come racin’ through the hallway and about tackle Savannah and me both back out the screen door, which tugs my heartstrings a little tighter.
“Y’all get all settled in?” Carly asks, takin’ a seat on the couch.
“Just a few more things to put together. But it’s already home,” Savannah replies, smilin’ from ear to ear. Carly glances over at me, her fierce restin’ bitch face in place, then it slowly transforms to some distorted mix of a scowl and a smile – only a face Carly Jo Weston can pull off.
“Luke Ashton, I’ll kick your ass if you hurt my sister. Do you understand me?” I nod, which apparently ain’t enough for her, so she starts in again. “You need to fully understand the context of my words, asshole! I don’t mean – oh I’ll playfully kick you in the ass…hell, no. I mean I will fully beat the damn brakes off of you! Simple enough for ya?!”
Tryin’ my damnedest not laugh in her face, I drop my head to my chest to hide the amusement on my face. Scrubbin’ my hand up the back of my neck, I say, “Yeah, beauts. I completely understand what’cha mean. But I promise you, she’s safe right where she’s at.”
She shakes her head and does that whole eye roll thing she’s always doin’ that I’ve never understood – but ain’t about to question. “Well, I guess y’all are ready to get your little family home then.” She pounces up to her feet and pads off down the hallway to get Braden and Brailee’s duffle bag. Nothin’ was salvageable from the fire and Savannah only picked them each up a few things to get ‘em through the week. She asked if we could take a trip to Lexington next weekend to do some shoppin’ and let the kids have some fun. I’m up for anything that will make them smile, so I happily agreed.
“Did you get Heidi Jo a bag of clothes, Carly? I told Colton we would take her tonight,” Savannah asks.
“Thanks, Sis, but I think we’re gonna have us a girls evenin’ since Colton’s helpin’ Bill down at the truck garage. But we might come by tomorrow evenin’ if y’all ain’t got plans,” Carly tells us with a wink.
“That would be great. Come by for dinner, say six o’clock,” Savannah replies, while helpin’ Brailee and Braden get their shoes on. I feel like I should be doin’ somethin’ to help, but I’m not really sure what exactly. So I just take their bag and shuffle back and forth on the balls of my feet, anxiously. Once the kids are ready they say their goodbyes and we all head out to the truck.
“Braden and I need to make a quick stop, but we won’t be but a few minutes. That alright with you, Sav?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Where are we stopping?” Savannah asks.
“Just a little surprise, sweetheart.”
Ten minutes later I bring the truck to a stop. Savannah looks over at me suspiciously
as I pop the latch on the door and climb down from the truck. I help Braden down from the back seat then approach the front door of the house.
“Alright little man, I have a big surprise for you. I know that everything has been changin’ a lot lately and you’re probably a little confused and maybe even scared.” Braden gives me a curt nod as he tightens his small hand around my fingers. “Braden, I want you to know before we go in here that I’ll always do whatever I can to take away the fear. You can count on me, little man, okay?” He nods, never much for words. I rap my knuckles over the front door and seconds’ later Jase answers. We step inside, closin’ the door behind us to keep the cold air out. Jase makes small talk for a few minutes then excuses himself down the hallway, leavin’ Braden and I alone. “Ya alright there, little man?”
“Yeah, I guess. Just kinda confused on what the big de…” his brows draw tight as soft pitter patters pounce against the hardwood floor. A small puppy slides across the floor in a heap of excitement, then circles around Braden’s ankles several times before jumpin’ up on his legs. “A-a-a-a p-p-p-pup-ppy! You got me a p-pup-ppy?” He shouts, droppin’ to his knees lettin’ the dog lick at his face.
I squat down beside him and pet the American Bulldog’s head. “Do you wanna take her home?”
Braden leaps into my arms, wrappin’ his little hands around my neck. “Luke, this is the bestest surprise ever! Thank you!” I’ll take that as a yes. I pay Jase for our new puppy and the supplies he so kindly handled getting for me, then we make our way back out to the truck. The look on Savannah and Brailee’s faces is priceless when they see Braden carryin’ the puppy.
I open the back door and help Braden up in the truck, buckle his seat belt then place the pup in his lap. “Alright, son, introduce your little girl to ya momma and ya sister, okay.” He gives me a high five and a toothy grin. A grin that locks a chain around my heart like a vice.
“Luke, you cannot be serious about this!” Savannah laughs, her face full of shock and awe.
“This ain’t fair, Luke! Why does Braden get a puppy?” Brailee shrills, crossin’ her arms over her chest, stickin’ her lip out.
“Baby girl, ain’t you ever heard that boys are made of frogs, snails and puppy dog tails? Does any of that sound like you?” I ask her, but she finds no humor in my statement.
“Well, just what’s her name, Braden?” She huffs out. It’s obvious that her feelins’ are hurt. But they won’t be for long. Ya see, I never did take Brailee out to the house to see Buttercup. Savannah has known she was there for the last month, but I was just tryin’ to find the right time to bring the kids to my home. I didn’t wanna push things too fast and scare them. Fact is, they are a part of Savannah and if something doesn’t work right for her children, it won’t work for her. That wasn’t a risk I was willin’ to take.
“Momma, do you remember that rotten white puppy in that movie that you used to watch with us? ‘Member, the one we would all cry over?” Braden inquires.
