AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, Dev.” I sigh and put enough space between our faces to talk. “You don’t have to explain anything. Maybe it’s odd, but I don’t hate her, and I certainly don’t blame you.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less. You’re an amazing woman with a gracious heart.”
“I’m still a woman with a jealous heart,” I remind him with a cocked brow. “I hated that you were with another woman. It hurt like hell, but I don’t have the right to be mad at you, Dev. I told you after New Orleans that I didn’t expect you to wait for me. Maybe if I was honest about the aftermath with Anders and his family, you wouldn’t have let Palmer back into your life.”
“Maybe if I’d had more patience.” His gaze lowers. “I just wanted to be with you. I tried to force you to get over him. I should have understood how difficult it would be. I was selfish.”
I lift his chin. “I was selfish, too. I didn’t put myself in your shoes. I took you for granted instead of taking the time to reassure you.”
“Love makes us crazy.”
“Love, huh?” I chew on the edge of my lip.
Devin’s grip massages my hips. “Yeah, baby. Love. Time and distance couldn’t turn those feelings off. I love you, Nova Pratt. We may not have the typical love story, but I know we’re going to fall more every day. This love is ingrained like it was built into our DNA. Since day one. We didn’t stand a chance.”
I settle deeper in his lap, interlacing my hands in his hair. “And what makes you so sure I love you back?”
A near growl vibrates in his chest as he gathers me close, sinking one hand through my roots, the other around my waist in a vice. “You got on the plane.”
“I couldn’t miss the opportunity to hit my last state.” I bite back a smile.
He tweaks my side. “You showed up at my hotel room.”
I tilt my head in nonchalance. “I wanted to congratulate you for making it to the majors.”
Devin tugs the back of my head, bringing our lips a breath apart. “You left your groom at the altar.”
“Technically, he wasn’t at the altar,” my head bobs side-to-side, holding in a smile, “and it wouldn’t have worked out anyway.”
Shaking his head, an impish smirk breaks free. “You never could make this easy.” The tip of his tongue grazes across my bottom lip, a tease, a dare. Tendrils of want course through my veins.
“What would be the fun in that?” I nip at his lip, then lick the spot like a salve.
His gravelly groan holds little restraint, and then his hands fall to my hips, pulling away as he relaxes against the couch. “Play your little game, Spitfire. I’ll wait as long as it takes. I’m not walking away this time.”
Bringing my hands to the sides of his bristled jaw, I cradle his face. Anticipation wars with patience in his brown irises while tenderness seeps into my smile. “I love you, Devin Hawthorne.”
On a shaky inhale, Devin closes his eyes. “Say it again.”
“You stole my heart somewhere between Chicago and Washington. I love you, and I can’t wait to keep falling more and more in love with you.”
With a satisfied grunt, Devin’s large hands slide along my jean-clad thighs, his grip tight and sure. “We’re doing this Nova. It’s you and me for the long haul.” I hold his golden gaze “No more detours.”
“No more detours,” I agree, grazing my lips over his. With soft brushes and strokes, we breathe in the contentment of being free of every interference. Though, there’s one major part in our story we never quite worked through.
“This might be a heavy end to the evening, but I think talking about it now rather than later might help me understand you more and help us move forward.”
Reading my mind, Devin asks, “Tara?”
I nod.
“What do you want to know?”
forty-three | devin
“Anything you’rewilling to tell me.”
I’m grateful Nova’s never pushed for information about my childhood and Tara. Even after I confessed the whole truth about Damian’s letter and the photographs when we were in New Orleans, she didn’t ask questions. The best part is knowing she’s not asking out of curiosity but out of love. I’ve shared all the parts of my story with four people: Mom, Willa and Arch, and my therapist. I’ve shared bits with three others: Palmer, Brett, and Nova. It’s past time the woman I’m in love with better understands my history.
