Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
GABE
When I open my eyes, I’m half convinced that last night was a dream. That I’m going to roll over and discover that I’m alone because Hallie, in my arms, in my bed, was just a figment of my imagination. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve woken up aching for her.
But when I turn on my side and reach out, I find her there. Her bare skin is warm against mine as I tug her closer. With her back to my chest, I wrap my arm around her waist, securing her there. The content sigh she lets out makes me smile.
She stayed .
I place a kiss on the top of her head. “Morning, beautiful.”
Hallie groans, pressing her face into the pillow. “Is it already morning?”
I chuckle as my arm tightens around her. “Afraid so. How did you sleep?”
She turns to face me. “The best I have in a while. Since the night of the storm when you made me stay with you.”
I didn’t think I’d get to experience that again—falling asleep with her. The night of the storm, and the morning after, when I asked her to move into the main house, feel like a lifetime ago. So much has changed between us.
Flashes of last night play across my mind. For a split second when we got home, I worried I had shown my hand without any guarantee. But something about what happened with Deacon shifted things for Hallie. Whatever it is, I’m damn grateful.
I roll onto my back, taking Hallie with me. She squeals as I position her over me, straddling my waist.
I hum. “I think I like this position.”
Hallie rolls her eyes as she crosses her arms, covering her breasts. Her cheeks are already stained in a pretty pink blush. “I’m sure you do.”
I reach up and take her hands, pulling her arms away from her chest. “You don’t have to be shy with me, Foster. I love every fucking inch of your body.”
I thought I showed her as much when I ripped my shirt over her head after she came back into the bedroom after cleaning herself up. I was trying not to let that initial panic of finding my bed empty get to me, so I focused on Hallie and her pleasure instead.
Now, for emphasis, I let my eyes roam. My cock is already hard, and when Hallie shifts under my gaze, she rubs against it. When she bites her lower lip, I groan.
“Your parents will be dropping Abbie off soon,” she says. “We probably shouldn’t be naked when they get here.”
Reluctantly, I let her slide off of me. She grabs my shirt from last night and slips it on again, then starts collecting her clothes. I get the strangest urge to have her leave them on the floor, just to prove she was here. That last night was real.
“I’m going to shower,” she declares.
“Want some company?” I ask with a grin.
She smiles, but it doesn’t sit right—doesn’t fully reach her eyes. “You know very well that shower wouldn’t be productive. I’ll meet you downstairs after I’m done.”
And then she’s gone.
I run a hand through my hair as frustration washes over me.
Did I push her too hard? Again? After last night, I thought we were on the same page.
I thought everything was falling into place, the way it should have when we were eighteen.
I can’t regret those years we spent apart because they gave me Abbie, and I wouldn’t trade her for anything.
But having this second chance—this chance to do things right with Hallie… I won’t mess that up.
With a sigh, I stand from the bed, then head to my en suite to take my own shower.
Now that the lust has been cleared from my brain, I know Hallie was right.
Showering with her likely wouldn’t have been productive, and I would rather not scar my daughter by being found in a compromising position when she gets home.
So I shower and dress, and then I make my way downstairs to get started on breakfast.
Just as I finish cooking the scrambled eggs, soft footsteps pad across the floor, and Hallie appears in the doorway.
She’s wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt— my t-shirt—but fuck, she looks beautiful.
She always looks beautiful. Her hair is still damp from her shower, but I know she prefers to let it air dry.
“Hey,” she says, almost shy.
“Hey, yourself.”
“So, um.” She glances away and then back up, meeting my eyes. “We should probably…talk about last night. I know things maybe got said in the heat of the moment and?—”
“Last night,” I say, cutting her off as I cross to her in two quick strides, “I meant every fucking word I said.”
Her blue eyes widen. “Gabe, I…”
I cup her face, and my right thumb smooths over her cheekbone. “I adore you, Hallie Foster, and I meant it when I said I want you. I’ve been wanting you, for as long as I care to remember.”
Her fingers curl into my shirt, grappling for something to hold on to. “You want me…for sex?”
I frown in confusion. “No, baby, I want you . For so much more than just sex. I want it all.” She shakes her head, disbelieving, so I continue. “I dreamed about this when we were younger. Getting to hold you like this.”
She closes her eyes, leaning into my touch. “You did?” Her words are a mere whisper.
“I did. But you, the real you, is more than I could’ve ever hoped for.”
Her eyes open with startling clarity. “I dreamed about you, too.”
Then why did you run?
She explained some when she apologized the other day, but I still don’t understand where those impulses came from.
Why my feelings scared her so much. I don’t let myself ask, though.
This thing between us is fragile, and I fear that bringing up the past will put our future in jeopardy. So for now, I swallow my curiosity.
“What do you say?” My eyes trace her face, drinking her in. “Will you give us a shot? A real shot.”
Hallie smiles softly. “I think I can manage that.”
I grin. My hand slides into her hair, and the other settles on her waist, pulling her closer. I haven’t even had breakfast yet and this is already the second best day of my life, following close behind Abbie’s birth.
Some small part of me warns to be cautious. She already left me once before. I brush it off. I’m not going to let that fear take root. Not when I have Hallie here, in my house, in my arms, wanting to be with me. This is how I wanted that day on the beach to turn out.
Hallie peers up at me. “Can we…maybe not tell anyone?” she asks. My heart sinks, and my smile falls. “Not for long! I just… This is a lot, Gabe, and everything feels so complicated right now. You know I love your family like they’re my own, but…”
I swallow back my disappointment. “They can be a bit invasive.”
Her eyes plead with me to understand. “I know it’s not fair to ask, and I’m sorry. I just need a little time.”
A little time. I would find a way to give Hallie the whole world if she wanted it, so a little time is pretty tame in comparison. I can do that. If it was solely up to me, I wouldn’t want to keep this from anyone, but Hallie has her reasons.
“I’ll give you time,” I say. “To get used to this. Used to us . But if you think I’m going anywhere, you’re mistaken.”
Her hands tighten in my shirt again. “Promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
The first touch of her lips is gentle. Then she pushes onto her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around my neck, and leans in. I let her take the lead this time. Even in this, she’s a little shy, but she’ll get used to it.
I turn her around and start walking her backwards. When her back meets the island, my hands find the backs of her thighs, and then I hoist her up onto the countertop. Situating myself between her legs, I return my mouth to hers.
If only eighteen-year-old Gabe could see me now… All I wanted back then was for Hallie to give me a chance. Finally getting to kiss her—to fuck her—is better than my wildest dreams. I want to soak her in and let her flood my veins.
Hallie pulls back, but then she presses a kiss to my jaw and runs her fingers along the waistband of my sweatpants. I grab her hand, bringing it away from my groin, and interlace our fingers.
I raise a brow. “That is a dangerous game, Hallie. One we don’t have time for. Though I will gladly show you how I would have won later.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You’re rather cocky this morning, Bowman.”
“Happy,” I correct. “The word you’re looking for is happy.”
Hallie’s expression softens, and her usual blush spreads across her cheeks. “I’m happy, too.”
I press another kiss to her lips. “Good.”
“I’ll be even happier if you show me what you made me for breakfast, though.”
I chuckle, helping her down from the island. The eggs and veggie bacon, which I have come to appreciate, are a little cold once we get to them, but we don’t care. We eat quickly, stealing glances at one another. Hallie’s blush seems to be permanent at this point. I love it.
The pink in her cheeks only deepens when there’s a knock at the front door, followed by voices and three pairs of footsteps. As we’re setting our plates in the dishwasher, Abbie and my parents come into the room.
“Good morning, Daddy!”
My daughter makes a beeline for me. This part never gets old. I know one day, her greetings will get less enthusiastic, so I cherish each one I get. I wrap my arms around Abbie, lifting her off her feet as I hug her. “Hi, Princess. I missed you.”
“Good morning,” Dad says to Hallie.
“Morning,” she squeaks, then takes a long sip of her orange juice.
I cough to hide my laugh. For someone who doesn’t want my family to know we’re together, she isn’t very good at acting inconspicuous.
“How was your night?” Dad asks. “Get up to anything exciting?”
Hallie chokes on her juice. Mom pats her back, then looks between the two of us suspiciously. She assesses Hallie. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”
“Oh, me?” Hallie waves her off. “I’m fine! And last night was good. Great. Really great.”
When she meets my gaze, I wink. She blushes harder.
Thankfully, Abbie steals everyone’s attention away. “Can I paint today?” she asks, pulling out of my arms. “I have my paints from Mommy’s house. Please, please, please . I promise I won’t make a mess.”
I openly laugh at that. There’s no way we’re getting out of this scot free. “You can.”
She turns to Hallie, clasping her hands together. “Will you paint with me again?”
Hallie smiles warmly. “Of course I will.”
“I’m gonna go get my paints! And my brushes!” Abbie tears out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
“Thanks for taking her last night,” I say to my parents. I itch to move closer to Hallie, but I refrain.
Mom shakes her head. “You know it’s no trouble, sweetie. We love spending time with our granddaughter.” Her eyes ping-pong between me and Hallie again. “We’ll babysit anytime.”
When Abbie comes back downstairs with her paint supplies and starts setting them up at the kitchen table, my parents see themselves out.
Before Hallie goes to help, I grab her hand. “Hey,” I say.
She smiles. “Hi.”
My eyes flick to my daughter, but she’s engrossed with her art, so they settle back on Hallie. “I just want to tell you that I really like you, Foster.”
She squeezes my palm. “I really like you, too.”