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“Always.” My words were meant to be teasing, but his reply is not. He steps into me, holding me close. “I’ll always take care of you.” He dots a kiss to my nose before saying, “I don’t have a hairdryer or anything. You should probably leave some things here for nights like this. Or tell me what you need, and I can make sure I have it for you.”
“You’d be okay with that?”
“Yes.” He takes our towels and tosses them in the hamper.
I comb my fingers through my hair and remember I have a hair tie in my purse. “I’m going to run downstairs and grab my hair tie out of my purse.”
“Stay. I need to go lock up and turn out the lights. I’ll bring it up for you.”
While he’s gone, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I look like the same me, but I feel different. I don’t feel like the meek girl who stood by and let those who were supposed to love her walk all over her. I feel strong and confident.
“So sexy,” he purrs, handing me my purse. “Do you want something to sleep in?”
I bite my lip and shake my head. He gives me time like he always does to voice what I want from him. “Can we just sleep like this? Naked?”
“Yes.” There is no hesitation in his reply. If I ask and he can give it to me, he will. He takes care of me.
Once I have my hair braided and tied off at the end, he places his hand on the small of my back and turns off the overhead light. He guides me to the bed, pulls back the covers, and motions for me to climb in. He then reaches over turns off the bedside lamp and slides under the covers next to me.
I waste no time curling up against him, and he wraps his arms around me. “I always wondered what this would feel like. Lying with someone skin-to-skin.”
“Not someone. Me. You will only be lying like this with me.”
“You can’t foresee the future, Deacon.” It’s a gut reaction to his words. I’ve spent far too long not letting myself believe in happily ever after. However, I have no reason not to believe Deacon. He’s been open and honest with me about wanting us to be together. I guess it’s just hard for me to let myself hope for a future with him.
“No, I guess I can’t. How about this? If I’m breathing, you’re lying next to me.”
“That’s… okay.” I started to tell him that’s impossible to know, but I trust him. I know he’s a man of his word.
“You make my heart race,” I confess into the darkness.
“You make mine light up.” I feel his lips press against my temple. “Good night, baby.”
“Good night.” I place my lips against his bare chest and close my eyes. It’s not long before sleep takes me.
eighteen
Deacon
I’m reaching for the door of the Willow Tavern when my cell phone rings. Stopping, I remove it from my suit jacket to see Orrin calling. “Hey, man.”
“I just drove by your office, and you’re not there.”
“No. I’m getting ready to walk into the Tavern to grab some dinner.”
“My cousin has you by the balls already.” He laughs.
“Is there a point to this call or do you just want to give me shit?”
“It started out as wanting to give you shit, but it’s been a long-ass day, and I’m starving. I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be at the bar.”
“Just grab us a table.”
“I don’t get to see her again unless she’s behind this bar until Saturday morning. She works all the damn time. I’ll be at the bar.”
“Fine.” He laughs. “I’ll see you in ten.” He ends the call, and I pull the door open, anxious to see my girl.
Walking into the Tavern, I see that it’s dead, which I expected for a Thursday night. I head to what I like to call my corner of the bar, since I spend so much time there. Ramsey spots me as soon as I walk in and pours me a glass of water. She’s placing it in front of me as I lean over the bar and kiss her hello.
“Missed you today.”
“I brought you lunch at work,” she reminds me.
“That was what? Twenty minutes? Not long enough.”
She smiles and shakes her head. “What are you having tonight?”
“Orrin is meeting me. He just called to give me shit about not being at the office. I told him I was here, and he said he’d come eat with me.”
“Hi, Deacon.” Tabitha, one of the bar staff, waves as she passes by.
“Hey.” I nod in her direction before turning back to Ramsey. “What’s that smile about?”
“I didn’t tell you when I did it because I didn’t want to get either of our hopes up. But…” she draws out the word. “I talked to Hank about changing my hours. I told him I’d like to have at least one weekend night a week off, if possible two.”
