I run my hand down her wet hair.In my heart, I know that nothing willeverlessen this woman’s beauty—inside and out—in my eyes.
“What I’m talking about is how we’ve already gone through hell together.I’ve seen who you are in the absolute worst of circumstances, and you’ve seen me—grumpy, blunt, stubborn, persnickety, temperamental, control-freak me.”
“You occasionally enjoy a cigar.You forgot that.”
“True.”I can see she’s been crying.She’s been through so much, and I don’t know if it’s all right for me to think this, but who cares?I’m so fucking proud of her.
“What were you saying, Evander?”
“Right.I was saying that usually, you try to get to know someone when you’re dressed in a suit and your hair’s trimmed and you’ve had a manicure and you choose a nice place for dinner and then maybe the next weekend you go to a ballgame or a concert or enjoy a stay at the beach and then you have to remind yourself to slow your roll because you don’t really know the first thing about them….”
“Sounds like you’ve done this a few times.”
“…because you’ve only seen them under the best of circumstances.But do you know what I saw in you these last few days, Phoebe?”
She shakes her head.
“I saw courage and determination, sweetheart.I saw loyalty, patience, and humor.You made me laugh my ass off in the middle of a deadly blizzard!Think about that for a minute.I’ve never laughed like that in mylife.”
She gives me a quick nod.Her lips tremble.
“And here’s the part that gets me—I’d already decided I’d never find a woman like that, anywhere on earth, let alone one who’s wrapped up in a perfect, beautiful, freckle-faced, ball-busting package of carnal delights who also happens to be my neighbor.”
She laughs.“So you’re saying that you like my freckles, Evander?”
I have to pause a moment because something suddenly squeezes my throat and stings the back of my eyes.
After a big breath, I answer her.“I love your freckles.I love everything about you.I loveyou,Phoebe Travis.And that will never change.”
She raises her soft hand to my face.My eyes close at the tenderness of her touch.“I love you, Evander.I always have and always will.And it’s a very good thing we’re clear on that.Do you know why?”
I nod as I open my eyes.
I do know.
Because I’ve been thinking the same thing.
CHAPTER 52
Evander
“How would you like to handle this?”I ask.“I’m fine with whatever you think is best.”
She reaches for the body wash sitting on the shelf and holds it upside down over my upturned palm.She squirts a large dollop in my hand and then one in her own.And without saying anything, we begin soaping each other up.
It’s like we’ve done this a hundred times, but it’s the first.It’s the way it is with Phoebe and me…natural.Right.Easy.
Phoebe’s my easy button.I hope she won’t bust my balls over that.
She takes long strokes of her hands along the wet skin of my chest, upper arms, and shoulders, then down my stomach.
I start with the corresponding areas on her body but spend way too much time on her breasts.
I see a few love bites along the underside and around the nipple.I should feel bad about that, I guess.
I don’t.I like it.
Because she’s mine.
