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But with his warm hand wrapped securely around mine, his eyes on me, I push away the worry once more.
He’s here now, and as long as he’s here, there’s hope.
Jarett’s humming a melody while fixing a broken kitchen cabinet, and I’m staring, trying not to drool, as he wields the tools, his brow creased in concentration.
He’s pretty good with his hands. And the heat spreading over my face at the thought of just how good his hands can be doesn’t surprise me anymore. Flushed and breathless seems to be my natural state around Jarett.
He’s singing now, his voice a nice bass.
My ears perk. “What are you singing? Didn’t know you could sing that well.”
“I can’t.” He grins sideways at me, and my thoughts falter. He’s hot when he’s brooding, but when he smiles he dazzles me.
“Sounds good to me.”
He hammers a nail into the cupboard, his grin twisting. “Don’t stroke my ego
. It doesn’t need it. I’m arrogant enough as it is.”
But I’m not so sure about that. I touch my hands, where they touched his. My neck where he kissed me. My lips, still burning from his kisses. He likes to tease, but he’s not arrogant. He can be rough when he wants me, but also gentle.
This boy. He once accused me of thinking too low of him, but he does an even better job of it himself.
“If you think you’re so bad, tell me, would you change anything about yourself?”
He stills, then glances at me. “Is this a trick question? The list is fucking endless.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He grabs another nail and lifts the hammer. “Even if you could erase my past, sweets… erase my record about shoplifting and the destruction of property, and my time spent in juvie… You know what I’m caught up in now.”
I hang my head, sadness welling inside me. “I’m no saint, either, you know. I also went through a shoplifting phase, back when I was a teen. Drove Mom up the wall.”
His eyes widen as he turns them on me.
Then he shakes his head. “You’re nothing like me, girl. I’m a selfish bastard. I pissed on every couple who thought about adopting me cuz I didn’t want them. I thought they couldn’t replace…” He sighs. “Never mind. What I thought doesn’t matter. I was a stupid little shit. I should have told my foster dad how grateful I was to him for seeing past that and taking me in. I should have…” He puts the hammer down on the counter. His eyes fall shut. “Should have told Mrs. Lowe what she means to me.”
Oh God. I step closer, put my hand over his. “I’m sure they all knew. You’re a great guy. Much more than you give yourself credit for. And for the record, I wouldn’t change anything about you.”
He blinks at me. “You wouldn’t?”
“I know you, Jarett. And I like you.”
More than you’ll ever know.
His mouth curves into a faint hint of a smile. “You’re crazy to like me. But I’m not gonna complain.” He turns and wraps his arms around me, crushing me to him.
Then he dips his head and kisses me.
So softly.
The world halts.
Every memory of a previous kiss is wiped clean the moment his mouth covers mine.
I’ll never want another man the way I want Jarett. I’ll never love another the same way, and that’s the truth of it.
The truth of me.
