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“For what?” he asks. It’s the first time I realize we’re standing close. Very close, actually. I could set my hand on his chest or maybe even step forward and feel his arms wrap around me. Our lips would be dangerously close too.
“For the flowers.”
“They were Max’s idea,” he says, glancing to the side to where his son sits in the back seat. “They were growing wild in the ditch down the road and he thought we needed to stop and pick some.”
“That’s a sweet thing to do. Did you teach him that?”
Jensen shrugs. “Yeah. Last year, we stopped once on our ride home and picked some flowers for his mom.”
“That’s nice.”
He nods.
There’s a several second pregnant pause and my anxiety starts to kick up a notch. “I was going to try to get out of it,” I blurt out.
He takes that half step in my direction, and suddenly, I can feel his body heat radiating against me. “Out of what?” he asks, though I think he already knows the answer.
“Today. I wasn’t sure it was wise I come,” I confess.
He toys with a strand of hair before moving it behind my ear. “I know we have some things to talk about, but I’m really glad you’re coming with us. Max enjoys spending time with you, and frankly, I’d love to hang out with you too.”
“He’s an amazing little boy,” I tell him, though I’m sure it’s nothing he doesn’t already know.
Jensen smiles softly before releasing my hair. His hand is suddenly cupping my cheek and running his thumb along my jaw. “Thank you for being so awesome with him,” he whispers.
I start to lean forward before I even realize what I’m doing. “It’s easy to do when he’s such a great kid.” My words are whispered, my breath bouncing off his lips.
And then those lips I’ve been longing to kiss since he left yesterday slide softly across mine. It’s a tender kiss, yet one that packs quite the punch to my ovaries. I don’t know if it’s the kiss or the man with the magical lips and the fact he’s an astounding dad, but something deep inside me pulls hard and it’s like my biological clock actually starts to tick.
“Let’s go! Grammy has chocolate chip cookies!” Max hollers from the back seat, making us both laugh.
“We better get going,” I mutter. Though, I wouldn’t mind exploring more of that kiss.
“We better or he’s liable to climb behind the wheel and drive himself to Grandma’s,” Jensen quips. He takes a step back, putting a little distance between us, and helps me climb inside the truck. Before he pulls away, he leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. Without a word, he moves back and shuts the door.
Max chats the entire ride to Grayson Bed and Breakfast, so I don’t even have another opportunity to get nervous. It’s surprisingly comforting to sit there and listen to father and son chat about playing at the park earlier today. Apparently, Max wanted to go down the big slide, but the only way he would do it was if Jensen went with him. I only wish I would have been there to capture the moment with a photo.
When we pull off the road and onto the shaded lane that leads to his family’s bed and breakfast, I start to break out in a sweat. All those nerves I wasn’t feeling on the ride are now alive and well, furiously causing some major sweaty pits under my shirt.
Glancing around the property, I see it’s in much of the same shape as I remember. The yard is lush and green and the shrubbery hedged perfectly, no doubt at the hand of the man beside me. The blooms are vibrant and colorful, even as we approach the end of summer, and the old garage looks freshly painted. The Grayson homestead sits proudly in the center of it all, a spacious house turned bed and breakfast.
There are a handful of vehicles here, but I don’t see any sign of Jensen’s family or of the guests who are staying. I’m glancing around the homestead, taking in the few changes they’ve made and pretty much lost in my thoughts, and don’t even realize we’ve parked and the truck is shut off until Jensen appears at the passenger door.
“You okay?” he asks as he opens my door.
“Yeah.”
Warm hands slide against my cheeks as he turns me to face him. “Breathe, Butterfly. No one’s going to bite you. Don’t look so scared,” he says with a lopsided grin.
“I know that,” I reply as I unbuckle my seat belt, but I’m not really sure that’s the truth. I’m terrified one of them might actually bite me (figuratively, that is) for all of the heartache and damage I caused Jensen.
“Stop thinking about that,” he insists, his thumb now caressing my bottom lip.
“I can’t,” I whisper, my tongue slipping out and tasting the tip of his thumb. His eyes flare before narrowing in on my mouth.
“You’re making it real hard not to just throw you back in this truck and take you to the nearest bed,” he whispers, careful the young ears behind him don’t overhear.
“That wouldn’t be so bad,” I confess, not really minding at all if Jensen were to strip me naked and have his wicked way with me again.
