Chapter Nine
Everlee
I shake my head as if it will help make sense of what Brooks just said. We’ve known each other for barely a day. He can’t possibly be serious, but the earnest look on his face tells me he really thinks we’re not only in a relationship, but in love because we slept together.
I slowly back away from the man who just melted me in the best of ways, but is now giving off crazy vibes. Becca vouched for him, but maybe he’s got some hidden mental problems she wasn’t aware of. He seemed perfectly normal until he just declared me and the baby his.
“Look, you’re really nice, and the sex was great, but, uh, we just met.
” My gaze darts around looking for an exit route, but I speak calmly, hoping it will have the same effect on him.
“You’re probably just feeling left out with Kayla and Austin matched up now.
I happened to be the woman who appeared on your doorstep after you realized you wanted a relationship. ”
The corner of his mouth tips up in a half-grin.
“I think it was fate. You showed up when I finally realized I was ready for more. My relationships up to this point have been preparing me to meet you, so I would recognize you were my person. I know I sound crazy, and I’m ready to start our lives together this minute, but it’s understandable you may need some time. ”
I’ve halted my retreat, at least he knows he sounds unhinged, but still, this can’t be real. People don’t fall in love this quickly. Lust certainly, infatuation most likely, but love?
He continuous, “Something Austin said to Kayla when he told her he would marry her makes a lot more sense to me now, especially knowing he was harboring feelings for her. He told her she was welcome to take the next one hundred and seventy-nine days to find true love or even just someone better than him, but that he would be waiting on day one hundred eighty to have the honor of marrying her. I get it now.”
His hands come up to cup my cheeks, his eyes swirl with emotion as they hold mine mesmerized.
“I’ll wait however long you need until you’re ready.
Until then, I’ll be with you every step of the way through this pregnancy if you’ll let me.
I’ll love and cherish both you and this baby with every last fiber of my being, because you’re the other half of my soul and you both deserve nothing less.
Not because you showed up when I was most lonely.
You take all the time you need, Everlee I’m not going anywhere. ”
His lips brush mine before he drops his hands and steps back. “It’s your move now. You know where I stand. As much as it will kill me, if you need space, I’ll give it to you and make sure you make it to Becca’s safely. You know where to find me when you decide what you want.”
I stand frozen in place as he walks away from me.
I should be feeling relief. Instead, overwhelming despair overcomes me.
The feeling throws me for a minute as my heart feels like it has just been torn from my chest. It’s then I know he’s not crazy.
If he is, then I am also, because damn if I don’t think I love him too.
“Brooks, wait!” I hurry towards his retreating form.
He spins at my call, smiling when he sees me rushing towards him. He doesn’t hesitate a second when I crash into him, slamming my mouth to his just as the snow begins to fall softly around us.
When we break apart, his hand comes up to brush away the snow on my cheeks. “I didn’t scare you off?”
I shrug. “Maybe for a moment, but then the thought of walking away scared me more.”
His shoulders slump. “Well, thank God for that. I thought for sure I’d ruined everything by speaking without thinking. I knew I needed to go slow, but the words just slipped out. I’m not sorry, though, since this is the result. Kissing sure makes the snow a lot more romantic.”
I smile. “You can kiss me in the snow any time, cowboy.”
He doesn’t waste another minute in taking me up on the offer.