Chapter 20 - Reggie
Twenty
Reggie
By the time we get home, I’m exhausted but in the best possible way. The kind of tired that comes from laughing too much, staying up past your bedtime, and having more fun than you thought possible at a place designed for eight-year-olds.
“Mom, do I have to brush my teeth?” Annalise asks as we pile out of Blayne’s truck. “I’m so tired.”
“Yes, you have to brush your teeth, baby. That’s not optional.”
“But we’re celebrating.”
“We can celebrate with clean teeth.” I poke her side and she giggles.
Blayne’s walking next to me toward the house, and I’m hyperaware of his presence. The way he moves, all big dick energy. How he smells of soap and something purely Blayne Madison. Like a whole damn forest.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. Just tired.”
“Maybe we should’ve stayed home.”
“And missed all the fun? Not a chance.”
We exchange a soft smile.
Inside, the kids are getting ready for bed, and I’m left alone with Blayne in the living room.
He’s taking off his jacket, and I’m staring at the way his t-shirt stretches across his chest, the way his jeans fit his thick thighs just right.
Lord, I hope I’m not contagious anymore.
Cause I need to get me some of that tall, muscular yumminess…
“That was really fun, babe,” I say, because I need to say something before I do something stupid like tell him how hot he’s making me feel.
“It was. Kids are great.”
He’s standing in front of me, towering over me, looking into my eyes, one hand in my hair, his thumb gently stroking my face.
So big, so hard, so warm, so fucking handsome.
Smelling so freaking good after a whole day of running around, all I want to do is rip off his clothes and lick him all over. Before I ride his face…
There’s definitely something simmering between us right now. Something that’s been building all day, every time he touched me during our mini golf “coaching” session, every time he looked at me with heat in his blue eyes, every time he claimed us as his.
“Blayne?”
“Yeah?”
“When that hostess asked if we were married…”
“I shouldn’t have said what I said. I just…”
“I’m glad you did.”
He stops what he’s doing and looks at me. Really looks at me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. It felt… right. All of it felt right.”
“Reggie…”
“Mama!” Nia calls from down the hall. Goddammit. “Can you help me with this stupid brace?” I love my child. I love my child. I love my child.
Blayne is smirking like he can read my thoughts.
“Coming!” I call back, but I don’t move. I just want a few more seconds of being this close to him. Smelling him, feeling him, having his eyes on me. His hands. Of sharing the anticipation of what we might do later.
“Go,” Blayne says softly, his full lips stretched in a teasing smile. “Help your daughter.”
“Are you staying tonight?”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“Yes. I always want you to stay.”
The sexy smile broadens. “Then I’m staying, love.”
Twenty minutes later, I’ve helped Nia with her brace, made sure Annalise actually brushed her teeth instead of just running water over her toothbrush, and listened to Jaylen recap every detail of his tryouts for the third time today.
When I come back to the living room, Blayne’s on the couch scrolling through his phone, and the sight is so easy, so normal, it takes my breath away. This is what I want. This man in my house, comfortable, relaxed, part of our lives.
“All settled?” he asks, raising his sky-blue eyes my way.
“Finally. Though I think Jaylen’s going to be too excited to sleep.”
“Making varsity’s a big deal.”
“It is. And you being there made it even bigger for him.”
“Good. He deserves to have someone in the stands cheering for him.”
That makes my chest tight. “His father never came to his games. Not once.”
“His father’s an idiot.”
“Yeah, he is,” I reply softly.
Blayne sets his phone aside and stretches out his arm my way.
“Come here,” he says.
I don’t hesitate. I walk over to the couch and sit next to him, close enough that our thighs are touching, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off his huge body.
“Thank you,” I say again. “For today. For everything.”
“Baby, please stop thanking me.”
I don’t let him interrupt. “You made today perfect.”
“You made it perfect. You and your kids. I just… tagged along.”
“You didn’t tag along. You were part of it. The best part.”
He reaches up and cups my face, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. “Reggie…”
“I’m falling for you, Blayne Madison,” I interrupt, because if I don’t say it now, I might lose my nerve. “Hard. And I know we said we were just gonna see where things go, but… I’m falling for you, and my kids are falling for you. And… I need you to know that.”
“Sweetheart…”
“I’m scared!” I blurt out. “I’ve been hurt before, and I don’t know if I can handle it if we don’t work out. But I’m more scared of not trying. Of letting fear keep me from having you.”
“Are you done?” he rumbles gently, pinching my chin between his thumb and index finger. Drowning me in his blue eyes.
“I think so.”
He chuckles low and deep, making me smile. Filling my heart with so much love, I feel like it’s gonna explode. “Good. Because I need to say something too.”
“Okay,” I whisper softly, my heart beating fast.
“I’m not falling for you, Regina Mason.”
My heart drops. “Oh.”
He shakes his head, smiling, looking so fucking beautiful my heart hurts.
“Already fell. A while ago. Maybe the first time I saw you in your parents’ kitchen, maybe when you measured me for that suit, maybe when I watch you with your kids.
I don’t know when it happened, but it happened, sweetheart. ”
“Blayne…”
“I love you, Reggie. I love your kids. I love the life you built for them. And I want to be part of it. Not just us fucking. Or the fun stuff. All of it. The sick days, the tryouts, the family fun centers. The good, the bad and everything in between.”
“Really?” my voice comes out choked.
“Really,” he replies in a low gravel.
And then he’s kissing me, soft, sweet and full of promise. When we break apart, I’m breathing hard and my heart is pounding.
“I love you too,” I whisper against his lips.
“Good,” he says with a grin. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Later, after we’ve moved to my bedroom, I lie in his arms listening to him breathe and thinking about everything that’s changed.
A year ago, I was married to a man who made me feel small and unimportant. Now I’m lying next to an amazing cowboy who makes me feel like I’m his fucking queen.
My kids were struggling to adjust to a new life. Now they’re happy, settled and have a man in their lives who treats them the way they deserve.
I thought love was supposed to be hard, complicated, full of conditions and expectations.
Now I know it can be simple. It can be a man who shows up when you need him, who makes your kids laugh, who holds your hand during mini golf and tells waitresses you’re married because it feels right.
It can be coming home.
And that’s exactly what being with Blayne Madison feels like. Home.