Chapter 20 #2
Uncle Otis didn’t look the least bit surprised. He only nodded before he dug in his pocket and pulled out the keys to the microbus.
She took them and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. I’ll be back soon . . . or maybe not soon. I’ll call you.” She headed out the door. She had just reached the Volkswagen bus when she was stopped cold by the most beautiful voice in the world.
“Maggie May!”
She turned to see Dawson coming down the sidewalk toward her. He looked like he’d had as horrible a night as she had. His hair was messed and his eyes red. He also looked like the best thing she’d ever seen. Especially with Wilbur following behind him.
The dog saw her and let out a welcoming bark as he hobbled toward her at a faster pace. She leaned down to pet him.
“Wilbur! What are you doing here?” The dog’s tail wagged like a windshield wiper as she glanced at Dawson, waiting for an answer to her question.
“We’re going to California.”
She straightened. “What?”
“We’re going to California.” His expression was somber and serious.
“Wilbur can’t fly, but we’ll meet you there .
. . or you could drive with us.” Before she could get over her shock, he held up a hand.
“Before you say no, just hear me out. I’m not going to put any pressure on you.
If you want to just be friends, we’ll just be friends.
If you want to be lovers, we’ll be lovers.
If you just want me to be your donut monitor and keep you to two donuts a day, I’ll be your donut monitor.
” He swallowed hard. “I just need to be with you, Maggie May.”
For a man who struggled with words, he couldn’t have said anything sweeter .
. . or more heartbreaking. Dawson didn’t expect anything from her but permission to love her.
After living with a Mama who had never returned his love, it had to be one of the hardest things for him to do: giving love without any expectation of receiving it.
At that moment, she felt like even more of an idiot for denying this man’s love instead of grabbing onto it with both hands.
Dawson was her soul mate. The one who made her feel complete.
The one who had slowly clipped the vines of her grief away and made her feel true happiness.
Maybe they wouldn’t grow old and gray together.
But maybe they would. She was willing to take that chance and enjoy whatever time she had with him.
Starting now.
“I love you too.”
He closed his eyes and released his breath like he’d been holding it before he opened them and held out his arms. She walked straight into them, burying her face against his hard chest that smelled like . . . home.
“I’m sorry I was so horrible to you the other day,” she whispered. “It just took me awhile to figure things out.”
He kissed the top of her head. “And what did you figure out, Maggie May?”
“That love is scary but worth it.” She drew back and smiled at him. “You’d really move to California for me?”
“I’d move to the ends of the earth for you.”
Her heart squeezed. “Since when did you become so good with words, Dawson Hennessy?”
His gaze was intent. “The second you stole my heart. Just promise me you won’t turn me into California Ken.”
She laughed. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“And why is that? I can beach.”
She laughed and smoothed out the collar of his western shirt. “I don’t want a man who can beach. I want one who can two-step, and drive a stick-shift truck, and hold his own in bar brawls. A Country Ken . . . who lives in a small town in Texas.”
He stared at her. “What are you saying? Because if you think I’m going to stay here while you go back to—”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “I want to stay here too, Dawson. I love Promise Springs as much as I love you. But can you love it? I know it holds some bad memories for you.”
He removed her finger from his lips and kissed her. Sweet Lord, the man could kiss. By the time he drew back, she felt all melty and thoroughly content. The feeling only grew when he looked at her with a smile on his lips and love in his sunburst eyes.
“I’m starting to realize that memories are just memories. They hold no power over you unless you let them. My mama was who she was. I can’t change that. But what I can change is me. Instead of holding back love like she did, I can give it freely . . . no strings or expectations attached.”
“So, you’re saying you have no expectations of this relationship?”
“None.”
She frowned. “Well, that’s not going to work. A good relationship needs expectations. You need to tell me what you need to feel loved and appreciated and I need to tell you what I need.”
“All I need is you staying exactly how you are. You made me feel loved and appreciated from the moment you cornered me in the bookstore and refused to let me find my own book without your help. So, I guess the question is what do you expect from me, sweetheart?”
She thought for a moment. “I will expect you to take me on plenty of dates and bring me lots of flowers. And not pink. I love pink, but I like roses from the man I love to be red.”
His lips twitched. “Yes, ma’am.”
She continued. “And of course, eventually you’ll have to buy me a ring. I’m not going to date a bad boy indefinitely.”
“Of course not.”
“I’ll want a big pink wedding.”
“Noted.”
“And a home to call our own. I love your family, but I don’t want to live with them.”
“I agree.”
She paused and released the thought that had been circling around in her head since talking to her uncle. “And one day, I think I’d like to own a bookstore . . . together, of course. Because, with the way you love books, you’d make a great bookstore owner.”
The smile that had been tickling his mouth finally erupted into a joyous laugh and he picked her up and kissed her as Wilbur hopped around and barked with excitement.
Once she was breathless, he set her on her feet and drew back with happiness sparkling in his eyes. “I can’t think of anything better than owning a bookstore with the love of my . . . heart.”
“You were going to say life, weren’t you?”
“Nope.”
She could tell by the twinkle in his eyes he was lying. And that was okay. She figured she could be the love of his life for now.
Or maybe forever.