She smiles and bounds off with the energy of a bride-to-be the evening before her wedding. That’s when the feeling of Sutton grabbing my waist from behind steals my breath. He takes those big, burly hands and turns me around to face him.
When I look up into his eyes, I know what I want. I want to tell him that I love him. And not just that I love him, but that I trust him.
CHAPTER 42
SUTTON
Kelsey lookingup at me like I’m her world is an image I plan on permanently etching into my mind. I already loved how that sundress brings out her eyes, but seeing her in my parents’ backyard, in the New Mexico desert, is something else entirely. She fits into my life—all of my life—like she was always supposed to be in it.
From hitting it off with my family to enjoying the day in my hometown, everything has been so easy with her after our lost two years. I find myself caring less and less about that because I have her now.
She tilts her head to the side and studies me. Her gray eyes search my face and her brow furrows. I don’t mind the scrutiny because I could look into her eyes for an eternity and that wouldn’t be enough time. She rubs my forearm with the pad of her thumb. “Are you alright? You’ve been staring at me for like, a while now. I’m not a doctor, but that doesn’t seem healthy or normal.”
A laugh rumbles up my chest and I tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I’m fine now.” I crane my neck and give her a short kiss before bringing her into a hug andwhispering. “But if you want to pretend to be a doctor later, I think I could be into that.”
She giggles and pinches my side. I let go of her just enough to see the mischievous look in her eyes. “Possibly, but the first thing I’m going to do is insist that you cut back on your sugar intake.”
I let out a shocked exhale and grab my chest in mock protest. “Worst doctor ever.”
She rolls her eyes, but I see her playfulness. Yes—beneath that cool, unfiltered exterior is the fun-loving, strong and compassionate woman I love.
“So, what really brought you over here? You look amazing tonight and I love that dress on you. While I’d happily keep you to myself the rest of the night, you should be enjoying the party.”
She leans against the prep table, looking at the event tent before turning back to me. “I meant it. I came over to help.”
My head shakes side to side. “You don’t have to help me. You’re my date. I’m the one working tonight, not you.”
She steps back to me and runs her hand up my arm before settling it on my bicep. That little bit of contact sends a chill of anticipation coursing through my entire body. “I know that, but maybe someone should be able to rescue you for once. You can’t be the only one with a hero complex.”
I smirk. “Yeah. I’m definitely not letting you hang out with Sly unsupervised anymore.”
She scoffs and gives me a light slap on my chest. I note the way her hand flattens over my heart and lingers there. “You said that you wanted me to play doctor so you’re getting my unsolicited and entirely pretend diagnosis—Raging Hero Complex.”
I hum and wrinkle my lips, pulling them to the side. “What’s the prognosis then, Doc? Am I going to make it?”
She tilts her head and looks up to the sky in thought,tapping a finger to her lips. With one confident nod, she looks back at me. “Yes, you’re going to make it. I’m predicting a full recovery.”
I wrap my arm around her, pulling her against me. “You seem awfully sure about that for being a pretend doctor.”
“Well, there are two fur children back in Jackson that are depending on you, so yes, I’m pretty sure.”
My fingers trace up the back of her dress until they settle on the bare skin below her neck. I catch the soft whimper she lets out when I splay my fingers over the space between her shoulders. “Oh, it’s for the children, I see. I guess they are pretty helpless without us, but that hardly seems like the basis of such an important medical prediction.”
She laughs and to my surprise, rests her head on my chest. She nuzzles into me and my heart swells with a mix of pride, lust, and every other good emotion. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight to me. Her contented hum nearly snaps my heart in two, because this closeness from her feels so unexpected but so welcome—like any last walls between us have crumbled.
“Please don’t ever change, you big dumb dork,” she mumbles into my chest.
I press a kiss to the top of her head. "I wasn’t planning on it.”
She looks up at me and my whole body feels electric with her this close. “Good, because for some inexplicable reason, I love you, Sutton—exactly the way you are.”
The entire world around me freezes. The only reason I know I’m still alive is because of the woman I’m holding in my arms and the warmth radiating from her into my heart and soul. Hearing her say those words makes every moment of self-doubt and frustration from the last two years trivial and inconsequential. The days spent longing for her—wondering where things went wrong—feel like such a distant memory.
She’s here, in my arms, looking up at me like I’m her world, which is perfect because she’s my entire fucking universe.
I want this moment to last forever, but the sound of my boisterous family and our friends from the tent suck me back to reality. I tuck a strand of her silky black hair away from her face and her lashes flutter at the contact of my fingers against her cheeks. I kiss her one more time, only breaking the kiss to say one thing. “I love you too.”
A pleased hum escapes her lips before her eyes flit to the tent. “Come on, let’s get these desserts ready so we can both join the party.”