Chapter Twenty-Two
TATE
The sound of Josie’s voice and those three words felt like a clap of joy. Her words rang like a bell again and again in my heart.
“I love you, and we’re all fine. Nothing more than a slide off the side of the road. It’s pretty slick out,” I explained.
“Are you hurt? At all?” she demanded.
I could hear a sniffle in her voice, and it twisted my heart. “I’m completely fine. I might have a headache later because the stop was abrupt. Leo’s tire caught on the edge of a tree so the rim is bent, but that’s it.”
“When will you be home?”
I glanced out the window. Although it was dark and the visibility was shit, the map of this road was stamped in my brain from driving it for so many years. “About fifteen minutes. I’ll be there soon. I love you.”
“Okay. I love you too. I have the propane stove on, so it’s nice and toasty in here. Are you hungry?”
“Of course,” I teased. “We just landed in Anchorage a little while ago. Don’t go crazy worrying about dinner, and for fuck’s sake, don’t drive anywhere to get takeout.”
“I won’t, but I’ll whip something up. I’ll see you when you get here.”
After I ended the call, Beck glanced over his shoulder. “Glad you’re being smart about Josie.”
“What do you mean?” I returned.
“Making sure she knows you love her. That situation with Kara’s mom at the airport could’ve gotten messy.”
Running a hand through my hair, I scoffed. “No shit. I haven’t seen or heard from her in years. I’m guessing she was just there and saw me, but what the hell?”
“As soon as you took off, she walked back to some guy who she seemed to be with.” Beck shook his head. “After everything that happened and leaving because she didn’t want to deal with the court stuff, I can’t believe her nerve.”
I sighed. “I always knew someday I’d have to face this. Fortunately, Kara’s doing great. If Marnie actually reaches out again, I’ll figure it out.”
Maisie turned in her seat and looked back at me. “You’re an amazing father. No matter what happens, you can handle it.”
“Thanks. I try.”
“Moving on,” Maisie added. “I’m glad you know how much Josie matters.”
“I already knew I loved her,” I said honestly. “I think maybe we were both tiptoeing because it’s happened fast, and our exes are, well…”
Maisie rolled her eyes. “Kayla and Lyle can deal with their own baggage. It’s been years, and they’re the ones who screwed you two over.”
I shrugged. “For sure.” I nodded. “Anyway, I’m ready to get home to Josie. I’d tell you to drive fast and take chances, but we already did that.”
Beck chuckled. “I don’t think Leo was going too fast.”
“He wasn’t,” I agreed. “The roads are just shit.”
With Beck going slow and steady, he pulled into my driveway almost exactly fifteen minutes later.
“I know you’ve been down here before, but take it easy on that slope. There’s not much of a shoulder,” I offered as he navigated the driveway.
“There’s no shoulder,” Maisie pointed out.
When he came to a stop in front of my place, the lights were blazing. Through the blur of sleet and snow, I could see Josie moving around in the kitchen area.
“Thanks for the ride.” I leaned forward and gave Beck’s shoulder a firm squeeze. “Also, thanks for finding Leo and me and making sure we were okay.”
Beck caught my eye. “I know you’d do the same for me. Now, be good to my cousin. I don’t wanna have to kick your ass.”
“I promise.”
With that, I hustled inside. Josie swung the door open as soon as I crested the top of the stairs.
I stepped over the threshold and kicked the door shut behind me before sweeping her into my arms. When I lifted her close, she tucked her head into the curve of my shoulder as she murmured, “I love you. I’m so glad you’re home. ”
I held on tight, soaking in the feel of her. It felt as if we were communicating silently. Home was more than a place; it was Josie.
Moments later, I eased her down and stepped back. She ran her hands over my arms and my chest, as if checking to make sure all of me was in working order.
“Don’t you ever do that again.” She wagged her finger at me, her eyes shining with tears.
“Do what?”
She took a shaky breath. “I don’t know. Go away for work, get caught in some drama at the airport, and drive off the road with Leo. All of the above.” She flung a hand in the air.
“Can we clarify that I had nothing to do with Marnie showing up? That was her whole scene.”
Josie blinked up at me. “I know. Get out of your wet clothes.” She gestured to my jacket, which was pretty soaked, and my boots.
My legs had gotten wet from walking through the embankment of deep snow drenched with icy rain.
“I made chicken and dumpling soup. It’s not completely ready.
It’s on simmer, and I’ll add the dumplings in a minute.
Hop in the shower and get comfortable. Do you need to call Kara at your parents’? ”
I called my daughter, then did exactly as ordered after that. A while later, I leaned back into the couch cushions, rolling my head to the side and feeling my lips curl into a smile. “That was amazing.” I patted my stomach.
Josie smiled. “Chicken and dumplings are perfect when it’s cold and wet out.”
I lifted a hand, curling it lightly and trailing my knuckles along her cheekbone. “I missed you.” My throat felt thick with emotion. I had missed Josie so fucking much.
“I missed you too.” Her eyes were bright. “I’m sorry I took off at the airport. I didn’t realize who Marnie was at first.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she studied me.
My hand dropped, catching hers where it rested on her knee and curling over it.
Her fingers laced with mine. “It’s okay.
Honestly, I figured something like that would happen someday.
I told her that if she really wanted to connect with Kara, she should contact my attorney. We’ll do it the official way.”
“You don’t have to do anything legally, though, right?”
“Nope. Like I told you before, she relinquished her rights. I didn’t ask her to, but she didn’t want to deal with court monitoring.
That was her choice. But I always told myself I’d let her have a relationship with Kara if she showed it mattered and had her life together. We’ll see what she does next.”
Josie looked at me, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “Before I say this, I want to be clear I’m aware this is my baggage. I know Marnie had nothing to do with it.”
“Okay?”
“Kayla came into Firehouse Café the other morning. She made it seem like she knew what you wanted and that it wasn’t me.
It’s not like I don’t know she was always the prettier one.
I’m the tomboy skier. When I saw you with Marnie and saw how gorgeous she was, I got all up in my insecurities.
” She paused and let out a sharp sigh. “That’s it. I’m fine now, but that’s why I bolted.”
I turned to face her fully. “Look at me,” I said when her eyes dipped down.
She cleared her throat and brought her eyes to mine. “What is it?”
“Josie, you’re beautiful. You always have been.
I love that you’re an athlete. Kayla is not who I want.
She’s just a high school girlfriend who screwed around on me.
Don’t let her get into your head. And Marnie?
Just seeing her made me angry. Kara is everything to me, and she couldn’t even be bothered. ”
“But—”
I reached for her hand. “I don’t want you to ever worry like that.
It’s not that I don’t get it. Kayla’s dealing with her own mess now, and she’s stirring up shit because she’s unhappy.
If we ever hear from Marnie again, we’ll deal with it together.
You’ve been more a part of Kara’s life than she ever was. ”
Josie blinked, her shoulders rising as she took a breath. “Okay. I’m sorry I took off. I just felt so stupid and didn’t know what else to do.”
“Hey, I sure as hell didn’t know what to do when Marnie came walking up to me. You don’t need to apologize. If you’re worried about what she said, ask Beck. He was there for the whole thing.”
Her lips curled in a sheepish smile. “I trust you, Tate.”
I reached for her hand. “If you doubt how much I want you, this should be all that you need to consider.” I placed her palm over my rock-hard arousal.
Josie’s eyes widened.
“I’m just making my point. Really, I know this isn’t that kind of moment, but my hormones have an opinion, and it’s all about you. You are the only one who does this to me. No one before you ever came close. There’s that, and I trust you with everything I have.”
“Oh,” she whispered as a pink flush crested high on her cheeks.
“Since we’re having this awkward conversation now, do you still care about Lyle? I’m definitely not anything like him,” I pointed out.
She shook her head quickly, her brown curls bouncing. “No, never. I can’t even imagine being with him.” Her mouth twisted to the side.
“You know just how I feel. I can’t even imagine being with Kayla. Ever. So let’s forget about it for the purposes of us. When you first moved back to town, it’s like I said, it’s old news. Maybe it felt a little fresh to you because it was in your face again. We live and learn. I love you, Josie.”
I leaned closer, sliding my hand into her hair to give her a lingering kiss. When I lifted my head again, she shifted closer. “Don’t you dare stop,” she rasped.
I chuckled against her mouth as I leaned back, pulling her onto my lap.
Our kisses got messy fast, and we gasped for breath between our tongues tangling and our teeth clanking.
I breathed her in, absorbing the feel and the taste of her.
We yanked at each other’s clothes, and Josie stood to shimmy out of her jeans.
I lifted my hips and dragged mine down, kicking them free of my feet before she moved to straddle me again.
I held her gaze as she rocked her hips, her arousal slippery against me. “I love you, and I missed you, sweetheart,” I murmured against her lips.
“I love you,” she whispered in return.
My heart felt pulled forward, and I could feel the beat of hers thudding along with mine. She rose, and I held my breath just as I felt her begin to sheathe me. I thrust upward when she sank down until I was seated fully inside her, and we were connected as close as we could be physically.
Her gaze stayed locked with mine, her lips slightly parted. We held still for an echoing moment, the resounding beat of my heart a rhythm binding us together. While our connection was deeply physical at this moment, it transcended that. The intimacy between us sent shimmering sparks in the air.
I knew her body now. I felt her begin to tighten, to chase her release.
I slid my palm up her spine, levering her closer as I reached between us to tease her.
I gave her just the right amount of pressure that I knew she needed to bring her over the edge with me.
She began to tremble all over, my name coming in broken pleas.
I filled her once more, my release cresting like a crashing wave.
We held tight to each other. She curled against me, soft and warm, long moments later I shifted my fingers through her hair, savoring the feel of her and the echoes of my release.
Later, we curled up in bed. She hooked her knee over my leg, her palm resting in the center of my chest. I lay awake in the darkness and listened to her breathing.
I felt so lucky that we’d found our way to each other.