Chapter 17 #3
“It’s yours. I was funding you to have power over it, even though I wasn’t abusing that privilege, but I don’t want to hold anything over you that gives me more control over you.
This,” I tapped the papers, “is yours. You’re the trustee of the funding now.
I have no control over it. There’s no leverage there.
And if you ever decide to fire me and have me removed from the premises, you have the ability to do it, no strings attached.
” I tried to give her my most reassuring smile, but I think it was falling short.
“So, this isn’t a game. You are giving me full authority over the rescue?” She was searching the papers, double checking to see that it wasn’t some ruse or loophole I had left in there.
“Yes.”
“I could use these funds for anything, and you have no say. You can’t tell me where to put this money or how to grow this place. It’s mine. All mine.”
“Yes. I mean, it’s a non-profit and there are rules, but I can’t come in and threaten the funding because I want you to do something with it.”
She blinked, then looked up at the barn around us.
It was an old, outdated facility. There was nothing wrong with it.
It served a good purpose. But she was already outgrowing this location.
What would happen when she was able to expand her program even more?
What if the place of my first change of heart wasn’t big enough to keep up with the woman I loved as she continued to grow beyond what anyone expected of her.
She wouldn’t be here forever, and now, she had the resources to make a big move when she was ready.
“I don’t know what to say.” She clutched the papers to her chest.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes. And I don’t know if I can ever really fix it all, but I hope this proves that I want to fix the problem instead of trying to control the outcome in my favor. It’s my way of making sure I can never hold anything over you again.”
“Ephraim.” She shook her head, still in disbelief.
“This is...” She trailed off. “You’re the only man I’ve ever met who would willingly give a woman the tools to walk away from him without hesitation.
The only man who would look at the balance of power between us and decide that I should have more.
And I don’t think I want to walk away right now. ”
Her free hand reached up and touched the side of my face.
This close, I could see the emotions swimming in her eyes.
I felt a shiver go up my spine as her touch seemed to wake me up inside as my hands moved to hold her hips.
She made the first move, leaning forward slowly, a question in her eyes as she came close enough to brush our noses together.
But she stopped just a hair from my lips.
My hands gripped her hips, urging her to close the gap between us as she took in my response, feeling my fingers twitch with the desire to pull her body against mine.
Finally, when she seemed certain, Larkin leaned forward and pressed a soft, warm kiss to my lips.
It was gentle and questioning at first, but quickly turned passionate and deep as I responded in kind, moving my mouth against hers until she opened just slightly, allowing us to take the next step into a more intimate connection.
When she finally pulled away, her face was flushed, a light sparkle to her eyes as she looked up at me. “Thank you.”
“For the kiss or for the control you have over your life now?”
“For both. You don’t owe me anything more.”
I swallowed and nodded. I would take that one kiss as a sign for more, but I wasn’t going to rush us or do anything to spoil it.
This was Larkin’s game, and I was going to let her call every single play.
I stepped back, giving us some space and releasing my grip on her.
“Then you’re welcome.” I let a small smile break through, knowing there was more behind my words that I was happy to say out loud if she was willing.
“It’s a small token to prove you can rely on me and I’m here for you and your success. ”
Her smile was slow in forming, but when it did, it made me want to pull her into my arms again.
But I waited. Patient. “That might be the most sincere thank you I have ever received.” She laughed lightly, then took a step toward the office, the envelope still in her hand.
“I’m going to look these papers over again. Just in case this is a dream.”
“It’s not a dream,” I assured her as I took a step toward the exit.
I didn’t miss that as she got to the door of the office, she took a moment to glance back, her smile even brighter as she caught me watching her.
I loved her, and even if nothing changed after this, I was glad I had proved to her that I wasn’t a lost cause.
The possibility of a future together, no matter how fragile, gave me hope that I would get to kiss my wife like that every day if I was patient.
So I headed off to finish my duties for the day, working until the sun began to set on another day where I didn’t feel so lost, but instead, found again.
The work was worth every blister and ache.
Because it led to Larkin trusting me and seeing what I could be for her.
I felt that kiss every moment for the rest of the day and every time my mind drifted to her face.
It was my reward for showing up. And I couldn’t wait for the next one.