15. Paris
FIFTEEN
PARIS
“I still can’t believe you live here,” I say as Austin pulls the helmet from my head and sets it onto the seat of his ATV.
When he first turned onto his driveway, I honestly thought it was another road with how long it was.
The canopy of branches that covers the narrow, paved stretch swallowed us as we drove, eventually ending with the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen.
The house—made of brick and stone—is huge, easily big enough to sleep an entire football team.
The expansive yard is lush and green, going on for miles in every direction and disappearing into a quiet, dense forest. He insisted that we come back here before it got too dark, citing that it was the perfect place to just exist with nature.
As reluctant as I’ve always been to get on a four-wheeler like his in the past, I felt nothing but overwhelming trust when he extended a hand and helped me climb on behind him.
He smiles, those two adorable dimples visible beneath the scruff that covers his cheeks. “This”—he gestures around us—“is what sold me on the place. The whole property is gorgeous, but the moment I came back here, I knew I was home. Before it, I hadn’t felt true peace since my parents were alive.”
I swallow, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. “How long have they been gone?”
He takes my hand, weaving his fingers through mine as we slowly make our way toward the dirt footpath that peeks from the greenery.
He’s been doing it a lot today, and every time, it sends my stomach tumbling.
As nervous as I am around Austin, with the age difference and the fact that I have virtually zero experience with men outside of Braxton, there’s an unexplained familiarity between us.
I feel like I’ve known him my whole life, yet being with him makes me giddier than a teenager with a crush.
Either way, it’s exhilarating, even if it never goes beyond hand-holding and playful flirting.
“It’ll be seventeen years next month,” he replies, our feet padding against the earth as we disappear under the umbrella of trees. “It seems like yesterday and forever ago all at once. I miss them, but I’d rather they be together wherever they are than here with me.”
My chest tightens, empathy tugging at my heartstrings. “I’m sorry for your loss. That must’ve been incredibly hard for you.”
“It was,” he replies with a harsh exhale. “They were so supportive, never missing a single practice or game. Making it to the pros was for them, just as much as it was for me. I wish they could’ve been here to see it.”
“I’m sure they would’ve been very proud.
” I can’t stop my mind from wandering to Rowan, Rhys, and Lennon.
Every time they hit a milestone, I want to shout it from the rooftops, no matter how big or small it is.
I imagine that watching them do what they love at the highest level would have me ready to burst. I could barely contain myself when Memphis was drafted, so I can’t even begin to think of how it would feel to see my own child get called up onto that stage.
I hate that Austin’s mom and dad didn’t get to experience it before they were taken from him.
“I hope so.”
We fall into step, with nothing but the quiet tranquility of the forest surrounding us.
I fill my lungs with oxygen, my mind slowing as I take in the scenery.
There are trees and bushes to our left and right, butterflies and other winged friends going about their day as we pass.
The trail we’re on was definitely manmade to some degree, but not in a chainsaws and shovels kind of way.
It almost looks like the area has just been traveled so much that nature created a walkable path to enjoy.
My lungs burn more and more the further we go, making me painfully aware of how out of shape I am.
I vowed to get into the gym after my divorce, but that was before I knew how demanding it would be to care for three kids, maintain a home, and work full time.
Add in the boys’ new obsession with football, and I barely make it to my bed every night before I pass out.
I don’t even know when I’d be able to squeeze in a workout regimen without forgoing the cooking, cleaning, and fixing stuff that I can’t afford to fall behind on.
I’m sure I’ll figure it out eventually, but today is not that day.
Tomorrow doesn’t look good, either.
“Almost there,” Austin says, grinning down at where I’m trying to hide my heavy breathing.
“Just a little bit longer, and you’ll see why I brought you out here.
” When he looks forward, I can’t seem to pull my gaze away, studying his features like I’ve never seen them before.
I’ve done it more often than I should probably admit at work or while the kids practiced, noticing something new every time.
I’ve already become an expert on the slope of his nose, the curve of his lips, and the laugh lines that highlight his bright blue eyes.
But right now, it’s the way the sunlight filters through the trees and accents the blonde of his beard that’s captured my attention.
It’s a bit longer than his normal five o’clock shadow today, and I have to admit, I really like it.
The man is gorgeous no matter what, but there’s something about the thick scruff that adds a whole new level of sexy.
Tiny sticks and curled-up, dried-out leaves from autumns past crunch under our feet, more light bleeding into the enclosed space as we near its end. But it’s not until we pass through the final line of trees and emerge from the woods that I’m able to take in the beautiful sight before me.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, my eyes going wide when I see the large pond, rays of sun bouncing off its surface and making the whole scene even brighter.
A long row of colorful wildflowers grows in the distance, the most vibrant purples, yellows, and blues swaying in the soft, steady breeze.
Birds fly overhead, their songs mixing with the clicks of the chorus frogs that line the water’s muddy edge. “Austin, this is magical.”
“This is my favorite place in the whole world,” he says, his hand still encasing mine as he leads me toward a couple of Adirondack chairs that sit on the bank.
I expect him to break the connection as we approach, but instead, he sits down, pulling me into his lap.
I go willingly, because there’s not a chance in hell I’d choose to be in a chair by myself when I could stay this close to him.
Even with the rapid, uneven drumming of my heart and the nerves that tickle the inside of my stomach, I still wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire life,” I reply, mindlessly cuddling into him as his hand settles on my thigh.
I’ve never been held or touched by a man this way, his strong, thick fingers gently dusting over my bare flesh like I’m something to be cherished.
It makes me feel safer than ever, despite the fact that I haven’t known him for very long.
He hums thoughtfully. “I found it completely by accident. It was right after my shoulder surgery. Stella was living in the guest house as my home care nurse, and while she was very understanding, she was also a hard-ass when it came to not reinjuring myself. I wasn’t allowed to throw a football or work out, so I would just tool around the property on the ATV.
One day, I noticed the path right at the edge of the woods and something told me to check it out.
I’m glad I did—otherwise this little slice of heaven would still be unknown. ”
“I bet Stella loves it back here,” I say, resting my head on his shoulder as water laps against the shoreline.
After such a busy week at work and an even busier weekend, I can practically feel my brain and body slowing down.
I truly can’t remember the last time I was this content doing absolutely nothing.
He chuckles. “That girl is my best friend, but there’s no fucking way I’d bring her here.
It’s entirely too serene to share with someone who’d yap the whole time about how hot Emmett’s ass looks in a pair of hoochie-daddy shorts.
I come here to think…or to not think, if that’s what I’m needing at the time.
You’re the only person I’ve ever shown this to. ”
I sit up, my brows pulled tight as our gazes collide.
A gentle wind swirls around us, and suddenly everything shifts.
I’ve felt an unexplainable pull to Austin almost from the moment we met, and it’s only become stronger the more I’ve gotten to know him.
Even with the age gap and the fact that we live totally different lifestyles, it still feels like there’s something happening between us.
As scary as it is, I really hope I’m right.
“Why me?” I ask, the words barely a whisper. “You’ve been so kind, always going out of your way to make my life easier. From cups of coffee to mowing my lawn and now bringing me here when I desperately needed a break from the noise. What did I do to deserve any of this, Austin?”
His hand lifts from my thigh, and at first, I hate the way the cool air takes its place. But when that same hand settles tenderly against my cheek, causing an unfamiliar warmth to bloom inside my chest, nothing else matters.
A hint of a smile touches his lips, his ocean-blue eyes reflecting the setting sun. My heart gallops behind my rib cage, time standing still as I wait on bated breath for his reply—a reply that, when it comes, turns my entire world on its side.
“I’ve given up on trying to make sense of it, Baby Girl,” he says, huffing a soft laugh. “All I know is that I want to be the one who takes care of you when you forget to take care of yourself.”
Emotion pricks behind my nose, my eyes swimming.
From the day I found out I was pregnant with Rowan—and maybe even before then, if I’m honest—it was like a switch flipped.
I put all my energy into caring for my family and making sure the kids were happy and healthy, often letting my own needs fall by the wayside.
I’ve missed annual checkups at the doctor’s office several times in a row, given up completely on refreshing my look with new haircuts and clothes, and most days, I don’t even remember to eat until my body is depleted of energy and I’m ready to pass out.
I haven’t made myself a priority, but for some reason that I definitely don’t feel worthy of, Austin is here, ready to pick up the slack.
“Let me in, Paris,” he begs. “Please.”
I keep my watery gaze locked on his, a slow, nervous exhale leaking from my lungs. The moment I nod my head, telling him without words that I’m willing to let him take care of my needs, he leans forward, closing the space between us.
He doesn’t hesitate, his fingers sinking into my hair and curling around the soft locks as he finally presses his lips to mine.
My stomach swirls, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, but the very second he pushes his tongue into my mouth, licking and tasting like we have nothing but time, everything else begins to fade away.
There’s no more stress about tomorrow. There’s no guilt or feeling like I’m failing as a mother.
It’s just us, finally giving in to the tension that’s been building since the moment we met.
“Fuck,” he mutters, tilting his head to deepen the connection.
I moan when he sucks on my tongue, the move causing arousal like I’ve never felt before to pool between my legs.
His hand slides downward, his fingertips sparking a trail over my collarbone and the swell of my breast. My nipples peak beneath the thin cotton of my bra, the onslaught of brand-new sensations making me feel like I may float away at any second.
But he continues his descent, only stopping when he has one hip gripped beneath his palm.
I want to be self-conscious, knowing that my body likely looks and feels much different than the women he’s been with in the past, but the way he’s devouring me at the moment won’t allow me to fixate on any of it.
We go on for what feels like hours, alternating from soft and teasing to hungry and passion-filled, then back again.
We feed each other quiet whimpers and groans as the warm Ohio breeze dances across our skin, the sound of rustling leaves mixing in and creating the most perfect soundtrack.
Of all the books I’ve read, and all the first kisses I’ve experienced alongside their characters, not a single one could ever live up to this.
It isn’t until the sky dims, the sun beginning to set behind the trees, that Austin finally pulls away. An involuntary whine falls from my lips, and I chase the broken connection, earning another small peck as he chuckles.
“I could stay here and make out with you all night,” he rasps, his hand returning to my thigh.
“But it’s getting late. Why don’t we head out, so I can get you back home.
If you’re a good girl, we can probably negotiate some more kisses after I tuck you in.
Only if you promise to get a full night of rest, though. ”
I tilt my head, tapping my lip in faux consideration. “Stay until I fall asleep, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
He barks a laugh, pressing his lips to the tip of my nose. “Done.”