Chapter 12
Courtney – POV?
Today has been so surreal and perfect.
From the chance of sleeping in to seeing the transformation of the yard, hearing all of the repairs and changes are possible and knowing that I had a group of people willing to help was great.
It was made even better by Thane and his family. They included us, jumped in to help with the smallest of things, and laughed with us.
It was how they played along with the fairy treasure hunt. How each one gave Ava her own nickname and treated her as if she were one of their own and made plans to have dinner as if we were family.
But what made the day perfect.
Kissing.
Kissing Thane was life changing.
I felt it when we first met … last night? My God, it was only last night outside the bakery when I first saw this man and I just knew that he would be someone important to me.
And in less than 24 hours, he has made it feel like he has always been a part of my life. There was something about him that made me feel safe and protected. Cared for and seen.
It was the way he would hold my hand, caress my face or twirl my hair, as if he couldn’t go another second without touching me in some way.
And honest, my God, the man was honest. Telling me that I was his, that he wanted both me and Ava in his life.
It was everything.
Thrilling, intoxicating and terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
I have just met this man and I’m imaging a life with him. A life full of love and happiness.
It’s crazy, insane, and I should run, but there is a part of me that says if I do, I would regret it. That I would never find someone like him ever again, so I won’t hold back. I have lost too much to give up on someone that I know would mean the world to me.
So, as we spent the rest of the day with Thane walking through the town, meeting new people I let myself relax and imagine that this would be how the rest of my life would look like – and I loved it.
I loved that he talked with Ava, holding her when she got tired or too excited, that he included and thought about her.
I loved the fact that he told us stories about the town, memories of him growing up with his siblings and how much it has changed yet how some things remained the same.
After we loaded up the truck, he made a stop at the bakery, getting Ava some brownies that she could share and his mother’s standing order.
“Can we stop at the flower shop before we go back?”
“Of course, honey, whatever you want,” he said without pause, placing the bags of food on the backseat. “Is there something you’re looking for in particular?”
He grabbed Ava up to put her on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, leading us to the cute little flower shop on the corner.
“I’m not sure of the kinds of flowers that do well here, so I’m hoping Mako can help me.”
“I’s like Mako.” Ava patted Thane on the head, “she wears pretty bows.”
“Oh, yeah? Kind of like yours?”
There was a moment of hushed silence before Ava made some sort of gurgling sound and flung herself off Thane’s shoulder.
Thank God the man had quick reflexes because he caught her up before she could hit the ground, but she managed to wriggle out of his grasp and ran for the door of the shop, when she saw the pretty doll of a woman and screamed, “Mako!”
My heart was in my throat as I collapsed into Thane’s side, my hand clutching my chest, “Jesus, this girl is going to give me a heart attack,” I whispered to him as we followed her.
“Mako!” Ava yelled, then squealed when she turned around. “Mako, I’s have a bow like you!”
Mako was also holding her chest, startled by the scream, before she started laughing. “It’s a beautiful bow, Ava,” Mako said, kneeling down to look at it, a huge smile spread across her face.
“Now, we’s both preddy dolls.”
“We are,” Mako agreed. “You know I have a bow I made for you.”
“Weally!” Ava clapped her hands.
“Yep, I was going to drop it off at the Inn, but since you’re here I can give it to you now.” Mako stood up slowly, “if that’s okay?”
“Absolutely,” I said, walking up to her, accepting her hug, “and I need some help too.”
Thane grabbed my hand before I could walk inside, “hey, love, I’m going to go across the street really quick, okay. If you get done before I do, just come and get me.”
I smiled and squeezed his hand, “alright.”
He held my hand tight for seconds longer, before I heard a mumble, ‘fuck it,’ then he kissed me, quick and hard. “Be good Poppy.”
“I’s always good.”
“Yes, well, no more jumping off high places.”
She looked confused for a second, then shrugged her tiny shoulders, “os'kay.”
I watched him walk across the street, momentarily stunned by how well his jeans fit.
“You have so much explaining to do,” Mako’s soft voice broke through and I blushed from ear to ear.
I threw my hands over my face, “you have no idea,” I mumbled to her.
“That’s the whole point, dammit,” she said, planting her hands on her hips, “I have no idea! You lucky little …”
“Mako, is the bow inside?”
“Oh, yes, sorry sweet pea, let’s go get it.”
Ava and I spent the next hour looking at flowers and catalogues and getting advice from Mako and sweet Ms. Bernice, the owner of the store.
I told them that I wanted to have a ‘wild-natural’ flower garden in the front of the house and a vegetable garden in the back.
They immediately began listing off flowers and veggies that would work in the climate, what pairs better with others and if I wanted to sell some to the flower shop Ms. Bernice said that she would handle the process.
That was surprising. I hadn’t thought of making any money off the garden, but it was a good idea.
“Here you go, dearie,” Ms. Bernice said, handing me one of her thick catalogue books. “Why don’t you take some time and look through this and come back and we can talk about what will work, what won’t and maybe we could find a substitute for those that don’t work.”
“Oh, thank you so much.”
She patted Ava on the head, and smiled, “I know you are staying at the Inn. Helen and her boy, Devin, are very good at picking flowers and such, so talk to them as well.”
“Oh, of course,” I had completely forgot about Devin. I knew he was in landscaping, but I figured that meant more of lawn care and not flowers. “Thank you both for the help. We need to get going, got brownies in the truck.”
Ms. Bernice waved us off, but Mako followed us out the door. “You and I are going to have a long, detailed talk young lady,” she said, looping her arm through mine. “I want to know how you managed to get that grumpy man, cleaned up, talking and smiling like a normal person.”
“I have my ways,” I snickered.
“Oh, you little tart,” she laughed, but it was cut off when she saw Thane talking to Hunter. “Bloody jerk,” she mumbled, unwinding her arm from mine, “we will talk later, okay. Bye-bye sweet pea!”
“Bye-bye Mako!”
I watched confused as Mako made her way back across the street without a backwards glance. It seemed like some alternate reality to see a Victorian ‘little-bo-peep’ walking across the street with her platform Mary Jane shoes, white tights with lace detail without a care in the world.
When I turned around, I noticed that Thane was holding Ava, talking about flowers, but Hunter had his eyes pinned on the retreating figure in white.
Mako was not happy around him, but I wasn’t sure if he was happy or not, because he looked like a kid who lost his chance at getting a treat.
Yeah, she and I were going to have a very long talk.
“Hey, there cowboy,” I said, forcing him to break away from staring.
“Hey, there sweetheart.” He didn’t hesitate and wrapped me up in a hug. “Glad to see this lummox hasn’t run you off.”
I laughed, “nope, I’m here to stay.”
“Good, that’s good,” he said, “how about I take you out on a date? Show you around town and –”
“You say one more word and I’ll forget that I think of you as a brother,” Thane growled out, low and menacing. “Ava and Courtney are off limits. They are mine.”
Not going to lie, that sent my heart beating like crazy. I mean, yes, he has kissed me … publicly, which is a kind of claim, but to full-out declare it to his friend … wow, be still my heart.
While I was completely enamored and flustered by his statement, it sent Hunter into a fit of laughter.
Thane growled something again, but I couldn’t hear it as he immediately turned around with his arm flung around my back, pushing me forward to the truck.
“He is a damn menace. Never knows when to take things seriously.”
Thane had stopped by the passenger door and helped me inside before he shut it and moved to the other side of the truck to buckle Ava into her car seat.
I could see him mumbling to himself the entire time and it hit me.
I loved him.
I loved him!
God, I have no idea how that is even possible to fall in love with someone in less than 24 hours, but I did, I have. This big grumpy bear who was so sweet and kind, so honest and open was mine, just as much as I was his.
He got into his seat, still mumbling as he turned on the truck and flung his arm over the back of my seat to reverse out of the parking spot when I leaned forward and kissed him full on his grumbling mouth.
My hands came up to hold his face as I practically crawled over the console to get closer to him, pouring all my emotions into the kiss.
Needless to say, I stunned him. He was the one who always initiated the kisses, but he didn’t take long to join in and soon he took over. Dominating and growling in my mouth as he swallowed my whimpers and moans.
“Are you’s done? I’s hungry,” Ava chirped from the back.
We slowly broke apart, staring into one another’s eyes. I smirked, dragging my nails gently down his beard, putting my lips right on top of his, “mine.”
I watched his beautiful green eyes darken, his whole body tightened, muscles swelling before he forced himself to ease back, relaxing slowly.
“You better be sure about that, honey,” his deep voice sent shivers racing up and down my spine.
His hand clenched around the steering wheel, turning his knuckles white.
“I am willing to wait. I will go as slow as you want … as you need. But if you tell me that you are mine, if you say that I’m yours. I won’t let you go.”
“Do you promise?”
He let out a breath I didn’t realize he was holding. “I promise that you and Ava are it for me. I promise that I will be what you need; the safe place for you to rest, the shelter from the world –”
“The bear?” Ava asked quietly from her seat.
Thane leaned over to look at her, “yes, Poppy, I’ll be the bear to chase away all the scary things and to give you the biggest hugs,” he looked back at me, “I want that more than anything, but only if you want that too.”
“I …” I looked back at Ava, who was watching everything quietly, “we … have lost a lot but I don’t want to be afraid and not grab something that means so much to me. It’s less than a day and you mean so much to me Thane –”
“And me!”
I smiled and pulled him back down to give him a soft, quick kiss. “I want this. I want you.”