Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
He doesn’t look at me; instead, he looks down at his clenched hands. “Because I knew that you deserved a better man than me.”
My nose scrunches up. “A better man?” I shake my head in confusion. “There isn’t a better man than you, Davis.”
He opens his mouth, but I stop him. “No, listen to me. Please listen. You’re a man that climbed a damn tree to save my daughter. You didn’t think about yourself or how it could affect you, you just did it. You’re the man that has made me feel alive for the first time in my life. You’re the man…” I let out a shuddered breath. “You’re the man that loves me and loves my daughter, but you’d walk away because you think you’re not enough for me… for us. Well, I’ve got news for you, Davis Jones. You’re more than enough, and you can leave here, but just know even when you leave, Alexis and I are still going to love you. You’ll be taking our hearts with you.” I reach for him, putting my hand on his. “Or you can stay here. We can fight our demons together. You can teach my daughter about love and that men, real men, stick around. You can love me the way you think I deserve to be loved.”
When he lifts his head and looks at me, his eyes are wet. He says my name with such emotion I swear I can feel it. “Abby…”
He turns his hand over and threads our fingers together. “I’ve been so stupid.”
I lean toward him. “You have been pretty stupid.”
He puts his big hands on each side of my face and searches my eyes. “I love you, Abby. I’m sorry that I hurt you and Alexis, but I promise from this point forward, in everything I do, I will always think about you and your daughter first. I won’t walk away again. If you ever want me gone, you’ll have to tell me.”
My hands go to the front of his shirt, and I grip the material. “That’s not going to happen.”
He leans in, and just when his lips touch mine, the front door opens, and Alexis is hollering Davis’ name. “Davis! You’re here! You’re really here!”
Zach is trailing behind her. “Sorry, I told her you were here, and she wasn’t having it. We had to come straight over.”
I pull away from Davis, but not far. My brother is looking at me, and I know he’s worried. I broke down earlier and told him everything. Well, not everything, but I did tell him how I feel about Davis. “It’s fine. We’re fine,” I assure him.
He looks between his best friend and me. “Good. That’s good. I’m going to go out to the porch for a few.”
We don’t try to stop him. Davis holds his hand out to Alexis. “Hey, Lex, I missed you.”
She comes to stand in front of us. “I missed you too. Are you okay? Mom said you were hurting, but if we were patient, you would come back. I was really patient, wasn’t I, Mom?”
I nod my head and tug on her braid. “You were super patient.”
Davis points at the bag on the table. “I brought you some dresses.”
She smiles but doesn’t even turn toward the bag. “Thanks, Davis. Are you feeling better? I’m sorry for climbing the tree, and I’m sorry that I caused you to get hurt.”
Davis reaches for her. “Lex, baby, it’s not your fault that I got hurt. I’m sorry that I left the way I did. I know you were worried about me, and I shouldn’t have left. I promise I’ll never do that again.”
She jumps into his lap and puts her arms around his neck. “I love you, Davis.”
The big, burly man’s eyes widen and then clench. “I love you too, Lex.”
She pulls back, sitting on his lap. “Did you ever come up with a nickname for Mom?”
He looks at me, and I don’t try to hide the love shining in my eyes. Seeing the two of them together, knowing how much they love each other, gives me a warm feeling. My heart literally feels twice its size. “It’s okay, I don’t need a nickname.”
Davis reaches for me. “Mine.”
Alexis laughs. “That’s not a nickname.”
But Davis shakes his head. “Heaven. My Abby. Abby Love. Love of my life.”
Alexis giggles. “Davis, do you love Mommy?”
He nods his head and then drags his eyes from me to look at my daughter. “I do. I love her—and you—more than anything in this world. Is that okay with you?”
She leans in, resting her head against his chest. “Yes, I’m glad. Because we love you too.”
He holds his arm out, and I join them. He’s got both arms wrapped around us, holding on like he never wants to let us go. I burrow into him, ready for whatever the future holds because together we can do anything.