Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Derek
I walk with Amber to my bedroom, watching her soft smile under the warm hallway light. It feels surreal, how natural it is to stand here with her, just the two of us. The entire night has been something I never expected.
I follow her inside, closing the door quietly behind me. There’s no need for small talk anymore; the silence between us speaks louder than any words could. She steps closer, resting her hand on my chest, and I pull her into me, letting her warmth settle against mine. Every touch, every brush of her hand feels like coming home, and as she looks up, it feels like she’s been in my life for years. I pull her into the bed with me, tugging her in close.
We lie side by side, her head resting on my shoulder as her breathing slows, each breath soft and even against my chest. The room is quiet, and I can feel her fingertips tracing slow circles on my arm, lost in thought.
“Derek?” Her voice is soft, thoughtful, and she shifts so she can look up at me.
“Yeah?” I brush a stray strand of hair back from her face, unable to stop myself from smiling.
“Where do you think this is going?” Her voice is cautious, like she’s choosing her words carefully, but her eyes are open and honest.
“I’d like us to be exclusive, to make this real. If that’s something you want too.”
She breathes out a soft laugh, relieved, and her fingers lace with mine. “I was hoping you’d say that. I don’t want to see anyone else, either. It’s just…there are some things we’ll have to think about.” She hesitates.
“The kids,” I say gently, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know this could be complicated.”
Her smile is tinged with a bit of worry. “Yeah. It’s one thing for me to date you, but it’s another to think about how it might affect them. Casey is one of my students, and I’m—”
I shake my head, reaching up to brush her cheek with my thumb. “Hey. She’s my daughter, yes, but more than that, she adores you. And I know she’d love to see you happy.”
Her eyes soften as she looks at me, searching my face as if seeking reassurance. “I just don’t want this to be uncomfortable for her. Or for Eric. And then there’s the rest of the school, the parents...”
I nod, understanding her concerns. “How about this? We take it slow. We don’t have to make any big announcements, just let things unfold naturally. We’ll talk to Casey and Eric when it feels right, but until then, we just focus on us. No pressure.”
She exhales, her face relaxing. “I like that idea. They’re both old enough to understand, but we don’t want to make it weird for them, either.”
“Eric already told me that he and Casey were both okay with us dating.”
She nods, her hand moving gently against mine. “I just want to be sure she doesn’t feel uncomfortable.”
“Same here,” I agree, turning to press a light kiss to her forehead. “It’s going to work out.”
For the next few minutes, we lie there in comfortable silence, the understanding settled between us like something solid, grounding. I can feel her breathing even out as she drifts closer to sleep, and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close.
“Derek,” she murmurs, her voice heavy with sleep but filled with quiet confidence. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I ask, smiling against her hair.
“For being… well, you.” She laughs softly. “I’m excited about this. Nervous, but excited.”
“Me too,” I say, meaning every word.
She drifts off soon after, and I stay awake a little longer, thinking about how grateful I am to have found a woman who’s willing to consider the kids’ feelings in all of this.
* * *
The sun’s barely breaking the horizon when I slip out of bed, careful not to wake her. Amber is still curled up under the covers, her face relaxed and peaceful, one arm stretched across my side of the bed. Seeing her here makes me want to stay, but the farm has a way of calling early, so I pull on my boots and head out the back door.
I wish that we could stay here all day, but I know that I have to get things moving. I have to get her home before it’s time for me to grab the kids from Teddy’s.
I do a quick check on the barn and the horses, making sure everything’s set for the day. But as I walk back toward the house, I find my thoughts drifting to her again, still asleep and curled up in my sheets.
When I get inside, I decide she deserves a wake-up call with a little something special. I set up the grinder, and soon, the rich, nutty scent of coffee fills the kitchen, blending with the sound of sizzling eggs in the skillet. I catch myself smiling.
As I’m plating up eggs and bacon and setting a steaming mug of coffee beside it, I hear soft footsteps padding down the stairs. I glance over to see her framed in the doorway, one shoulder draped with a blanket she pulled from the bed, her hair a wild, tangled mess, and somehow, she’s more beautiful than ever.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” I say, grinning as she rubs her eyes.
Her lips curve into a sleepy smile. “Mmm, that coffee smells like magic.”
I wave her over, pulling out a chair for her at the table. “Sit. It’s all yours.”
She takes a seat, lifting the coffee to her lips, and sighs in contentment after the first sip. “Alright, now you’re just showing off. This is really good.”
“Told you, fresh-ground beans are key.” I chuckle, sliding her plate across the table. “I’m glad to know you’re capable of functioning before two cups. This is important information.”
She narrows her eyes at me playfully. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m only awake because you made it impossible to stay in bed with all these smells.”
“Oh, so it’s the coffee keeping you here?”
She rolls her eyes but bites her lip, looking just shy enough to make my heart skip. “I mean…the coffee and maybe one or two other things.”
I chuckle and pull out a chair to sit across from her, watching as she digs into the breakfast I made.
“Do I get breakfast like this every time I stay over?”
“Only if you’re lucky,” I tease, reaching across the table to swipe a strand of hair from her face.
“You’re making it really easy to get used to this,” she says, holding my gaze.
All I can do is stare at her, feeling this overwhelming urge to pull her close and never let go. I lean in, closing the distance between us, our lips just inches apart.
There’s a loud creak as the front door swings open, and in walks Josiah, stopping dead in his tracks when he sees us. His eyes go wide, and I swear his face turns three shades of red in the span of a second.
“Oh! Sorry, uh—sorry, I’ll just—” he stammers, backing up so fast he nearly trips over his own boots. “Didn’t know you had company, boss. I’ll, uh…I’ll catch you later.”
He practically bolts out the door, and Amber’s laughter bubbles up. I shake my head. I can feel my face flush with embarrassment for all of us.
“Guess we’re not gonna get away with any privacy around here,” I say, grinning.
She’s still laughing, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “Poor guy. I’ve never seen anyone look that mortified in my life.”
I reach for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You’re not embarrassed, are you?”
She gives me a soft, honest smile. “Not even a little.”
We linger a while longer over breakfast, trading jokes and easy conversation, and every time our eyes meet, it’s like a silent reminder of just how right this feels.
Once we’ve finished, I grab my keys and walk her out to the truck to take her home. She settles into the passenger seat, pulling her legs up and tucking them under her. I reach over and take her hand, resting it on my knee as I drive, just needing to feel her close.
“You know,” I say as we pull onto the main road, glancing over at her, “I was thinking we could make this whole ‘breakfast date’ thing a regular occurrence.”
She tilts her head, grinning. “Is that your way of asking me to stay over again?”
“Maybe,” I say, feigning nonchalance. “Unless you’re not up for another early morning farm breakfast.”
She laughs, the sound like a burst of sunshine in the quiet cab of the truck. “Oh, I think I could get used to it.”
When we finally pull up in front of her place, I hop out and go around to open her door. She steps out, looking at me with that same open, honest gaze, and I can’t resist leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead.
“Thank you for this morning,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.
I give her a gentle smile, brushing my thumb along her cheek. “Anytime, Amber. Anytime you want.”
She nods, her fingers lingering on mine for just a second longer before she heads toward her door, giving me one last smile before disappearing inside. As I walk back to the truck, I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face, thinking about the next time—and every time after that.