by C. A. Harms
I was afraid to speak; I still felt like the ball was about to drop. I was waiting for the “but,” the “I think we are over,” the end of something I didn’t want to let go of.
“Do you have feelings for her? Even the slightest—” I moved, my body shifting to the side and crossing to the center of the bench seat. One arm wrapped around her over the back of the seat and the other against her cheek, nudging her to look at me. When our stares collided, her lower lip trembled.
“The only woman I have feelings for is you. Even if you and I had never happened, I still wouldn’t be with Holly. I wasn’t looking for anything permanent; that’s one of the reasons why I was so hesitant with you from the start. You are the kind of woman that is forever, and I wasn’t ready for forever.”
Chloe tried to look away, only I held her a little tighter, not giving her that chance. “You knocked me on my ass after just one kiss, and nothing has been the same since. I adore you, Chloe Rigdon. I am so in love with you, and never, not even for one second, have I ever strayed from that. You’re all I see, all I want, and that’s not gonna change.”
Her fallen tears pooled against her cheek and where my hand lay.
“I know you want space, but I’m gonna be honest with you.” God, my heart felt so achy from the tightness in my chest. “I don’t think I can give you that, because I’m going crazy after less than a day. I’m a mess, Chloe. I need you, baby.”
“I need you, too.” Relief, such an extreme rush of it hit me, making me feel lightheaded. Leaning in, I rested my forehead to her temple and simply breathed her in. “I just don’t know where to go from here.”
“We’ll figure it out, but whatever it is, we do it together.”
***
“You will get your job back.” I looked up from the papers I held in my hand just as Landon sat on the couch next to me. He’d gone and gotten a restraining order against Holly shortly after I’d last left him. The order protected both him and me from Holly’s further harassment. Having friends at the station helped, and Holly was served immediately. “We’ll go to a lawyer, and in the end, all of those assholes will be apologizing for their actions.”
“I can’t go back there.” Landon’s brows creased as he wrinkled his forehead. “It’s not from embarrassment, because I have nothing to be embarrassed about. I did nothing wrong. Well, besides take too much shit from the wrong people.”
I immediately saw the uncomfortable look take over Landon’s features. “I can’t work for a doctor that operates like that or people that automatically assume the worst about me.” I knew he’d been focused on the part about me taking too much shit, but when I explained further, his worried brow softened. “That office is not the only dentistry in town. I could even go to Statesboro if I wanted to. It’s not that far of a drive.”
“I should have stepped in sooner.”
“How could you have known if I didn’t tell you what was going on?” I hid my discomfort and worry from everyone, not just him. From the outside, I was still the same happy Chloe, but on the inside, I was falling apart piece by piece, unraveling at the seams.
“About the pictures.” I pressed my finger to his lips before he had the chance to say anything more.
“I trust you.” And I did. The day I went to the fire station, everything had fallen into place. First, I lost my job, then I found Holly there when I didn’t expect to see her. That, mixed with the self-doubt, was the perfect recipe for me thinking the worst when I knew without a doubt Landon wouldn’t hurt me like that.
Not only would he lose a man that was like his brother, but he would suffer the wrath of one hell of a group of men in the end. It would have been so much easier just to end things rather than run around behind my back. Besides, his heart was too kind.
“I need that trust.” I could literally see his chest rise high and fall as he took in a deep breath. “I need you to not doubt for a second the way I feel about you.”
Pushing up off the couch, I started to crawl over his lap and position myself over him with one leg on each side. Instantly, his hands rested upon my hips, and I placed one hand over each of his cheeks. The stubble beneath tickled my palms.
“I love—” My lips pressed to his before he could finish the sentence. For now I wanted to forget all about the bitch who had cost me my job and almost cost me the man I dreamt of. For months, I imagined what my life would be like if I had Landon as mine, and for now all I wanted was to live that in overdrive.
“Love me,” I whispered against his lips.
“I do,” he confessed, and though I thought it was sweet, it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for.
“No.” Pulling back, I looked him directly in the eyes. “Love me.”
Landon said nothing, only wrapped his arms around me tighter, stood tall, and carried me to my room. Carefully laying me back on the bed, he lowered his body over mine and paused with his lips hovering over mine.
“I’m gonna love you like each day is our last.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s a promise, Kitten, a damn guarantee.” And I knew without a doubt in my mind that he meant what he’d said. Landon was a good man, one of honor.
“Let’s worry about everything else tomorrow. Tonight it’s just us.”
“That sounds good to me.” Pushing his hips forward, he pinned me to the bed. Carefully and with great detail, he loved me, over and over, for hours. Until we were both sated and lost in the aftermath of our love.
Epilogue
Landon
I pressed a kiss to Chloe’s cheek before exiting the living room and leaving her with my mother. Before, that may have made me nervous, but now, the two of them were almost inseparable. My mother adored Chloe almost as much as I did. I knew she would, though. Chloe was pretty easy to fall in love with.
Pausing near the refrigerator to grab a drink, I heard the shuffle of my father’s boots as he entered behind me.
“I’m glad the two of you are finally rid of that crazy woman.”
Turning around, I walked toward the island in the center of the kitchen and leaned over, resting my elbow on top. “Me too, Pop.” Though after the restraining order was served to her, we never really heard from Holly again. The locals were too busy hassling her and the doctors for their dirty scandal. Two dentists sharing one young woman that was more than willing to do whatever it was they may have needed her to. Needless to say, both Dr. Andrews’ and Dr. Reynolds’ wives didn’t take too kindly to being the base of the town’s gossip. It came back to them both tenfold, and there was little time left for her to focus on my girl or me. Thankful, really, because this time I wouldn’t promise I could hold my cool. Woman or not, I wasn’t about to be blind again. Chloe and her security in both her life and our relationship was my top priority.
“How does Chloe like the new doctor?”
“Dr. Jacobs is a godsend.” I chuckled, picturing the awe in Chloe’s eyes after her first meeting with Clair Jacobs. “She will start working again on the fifteen of January, and most of the original staff hasn’t been taken back on. It’s a whole new start for her. For us.”
“I’m proud of you, son.” Pulling my eyes from Chloe, I found my father watching me. Holding his hand out to shake mine, I took it in my own and pulled him in for a hug. “You’ve become a real good man.”
“I’ve always had the best role model.” There was no blowing smoke; my father was a damn good man.
“You’ve taught me to be who I am now, and I should be thanking you.”
“Just being a father.” Releasing him, I stepped back. “One day you’ll do the same for your own son.”
The idea of being a father one day, I never really thought about it. Now seeing Chloe, watching the way she was with Blake and any other child she ran across, even at the Halloween event at the station, how involved she was and awed over every little one, I’d admit it made me think.
“She’s a good girl.” My father’s voice broke through my fantasy-fogged b
rain, only I never took my eyes off the blonde-haired beauty laughing at my mother’s side. Her head thrown back, her smile so bright.
“She is.” Good didn’t even begin to describe her; she was perfection. She was my future, and I couldn’t wait to see where it led us.
***Sneak Peek***
Forbidden
Brooklet Dreams Series
Book Four
Chapter One
I’d spent my life under the protection of two of the most unbearable, unreasonable, and uncontrollable men. My father and my brother treated me like I was made of glass. I was not a diva, I’d never been a girl to wait for any man to open the door for me, and I could do that shit myself. I didn’t like to be fawned over. I could handle myself.
But in their eyes, they thought I was still a ten-year-old girl who needed protection. I lost those pigtails and ballet flats a long time ago.
I was tough. I was strong, and damn it, it’s about time everyone stopped seeing me as the baby. I could assure them all I was not a baby. I was a woman, a woman with needs, and if they didn’t like it, well, they could just look the other way.
Grace Jackson was about to stop hiding out. She was about to step out of the shadows and show everyone who she really was, like it or not.
And if Terrance didn’t open his eyes and man up soon, then I’d find a man who could.
I was over this game of cat and mouse. If he couldn’t admit that he felt something for me, then it’s his loss.
He’d be sorry he let me go, that I can promise.
Acknowledgements
TO ALL MY READERS, Brooklet Dreams is a spin-off series of Southern Boys. It came about simply from the love that was shown for Reed, Gavin, and Colt, as well as the families they created along the way. And those were made due to the support and continued praise of my readers. I adore all of you; there is honestly no way to thank you. Absolutely no way I could ever truly express my gratitude and humbleness for all you give me back. Thank you, all of you, from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul.
THE CHARMED GIRLS, YOU ARE all amazing. The continued support you show me is something I will never be able to express just how much it means to me. Thank you all for sharing my work and for just being you. You are all the greatest bunch of ladies.
THANK YOU, LYDIA, my Fred, because you are a true friend and motivator, always making me laugh and smile. We are an amazing team, and your friendship means the world. Thank you for being one of my biggest cheerleaders.
TO MY HUSBAND AND children, thank you for being the best part of my days. For tolerating me when I get lost in the world of fiction and understanding that sometimes dinner may be a little late. Jayden and Tayler, no matter how many books I write, you two will always be my best creations.
TONI, MY EDITOR, I want to thank you for making this such a smooth and easy ride. You took me without complaint, all my crazy tense mixups and all, and just went with it. This entire thing was such an easy transition, and I can say without a doubt that I see many edits in our future. Thank you so very much for your patience.
About the Author
C.A. Harms is an avid romance and mystery reader. She's always had a love for books, getting lost in writing and storytelling even as a young girl. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories.
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She holds an addiction for Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha’s and KitKat when she should really be focusing on water and maybe a fruit or two to make herself feel less guilty, but that feeling quickly passes…thankfully.
She is easy going, fun, and although she may seem like one of the quiet ones at first, you just wait until she gets to know you better…that quietness changes, fast.
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