“I love you so much,” I smooth his hair back, “That never changes.”
Hudson lays his head on my shoulder, still holding tight to my hand. His breathing evens out, and he’s asleep before we’ve even gotten on the highway. I keep petting his hair.
My eyes meet Tate’s in the rearview mirror. He looks back to the road without saying a word. This man, who just jumped in without question to help Hudson. He just takes care of others and doesn’t ever ask or expect anything in return.
It’s dark out by the time the vehicle pulls to a stop in front of the house. Tate opens Hudson’s door, lifting him out of the car with ease. I’m surprised he doesn’t wake up. I hurry ahead of him to unlock the door. His eyes meet mine as I hold it open for him to carry Hudson upstairs.
I follow him up, trying not to check out his muscled back straining against his shirt the entire way. I fail. My eyes roam his muscled body. Damn, his ass looks great in a pair of jeans.
“Which one?” Tate glances over his shoulder once he gets to the top of the stairs. My cheeksflame as I snap my gaze to his. A smirk tugs at his lips and he quirks a brow.
“Uh, the one on the left.” I stumble. When he turns back around, I smack a hand to my forehead.God, Alli, get a grip.
He lays Hudson down on the bed and covers him up, tucking him in just so. He steps back so I can kiss him goodnight.
I rub his hair the way I always do, thanking my lucky stars he’s in bed safe. When I glance back at Tate, he’s already watching me. I notice the softness in his gaze. He scratches his jaw and then without a word, turns to leave the room. My body is moving before my mind catches up. I follow him into the hallway and catch his wrist.
His eyes meet mine, wide with surprise and something like hope. He has done nothing but made me feel safe and respected my choices. Time and again he’s proven he’s nothing like TJ. He takes a step closer.
My eyes flick between his. His knuckles brush against my jaw. His arm wraps around my waist and pulls my chest flush against him. I want to kiss him. I want him to hold me and make everything right and perfect between us. For him to, this once, not be the perfect gentleman and take what I know we both want.
And then I remember why I can’t. My eyes fall to his chest. I start to pull away but Tate's arms tighten around me, holding me in place.
“Don’t… Not yet. Just... let me hold you a little longer.” Tate whispers against my hair. We stand there for a long time, and not nearly long enough. His lips linger as he places a soft kiss on my forehead. Then he’s gone and I’m left missing his warmth.
I stand frozen in place listening to his footsteps on each stair and the soft click of the door shutting.
Chapter 33- Tate
“So, now that you’re here…” I let my sentence trail off, trying to figure out the best way to ask what I want to know. My baby sister sits on a barstool, a suitcase next to her swinging feet. She looks like she doesn’t have a care in the world. I just go for it- plain and simple. “What’s the plan?”
“I don’t know, T.” Presley takes a large bite of her muffin. I know her. She’s not saying something.
“You know you can stay here as long as you want.” I pour the hot coffee into my mug, “Or I can get you a place of your own. Whatever you need.”
“I know.” She scratches at a spot on the counter with her nail, “I’m working on something but…I don’t want to jinx it. Friday is when I’ll know if it worked out or not.”
“Alright.”
“Really? Just… alright?” Presley blinks at me. “You’re not gonna try to interrogate it out of me?”
I chuckle. I shake my head as I cut up some fruit for the boys. “Wrong brother.”
She snorts. We both know Scotty is overbearing but it comes from a place of love.
“Does that mean I have to behave too? Cause I gotta say, T, Ihaveto know what’s going on between you and the neighbour.” An evil grin spreads across her face at the heat that spreads across my cheek. I tug at the collar of my shirt and scoop the fruit into the bowls. I clear my throat. The room feels warmer all the sudden.
“Tate. It’s me. Come on. I saw how you two looked at each other at the party. And the game.” She sits back in her seat, pleased with herself. Her brow arches. “Well?”
“I’m not talking about this with you. You’re my baby sister, it’s weird.”
“Are you kidding? How many times did I cover for you coming home drunk in the middle of the nightandletting you in when Momma locked the door after curfew.”
“Okay, okay. I get it.” I lean forward on my elbows glancing toward the stairs. “Don’t let the boys hear all that.”
“Why? Don’t want them to know Dad is fun?” She says it playfully, but it sends a jolt of pain to my chest. I want to be Dad… to both. Fuck, I want that. I want Alli dancing in my kitchen.
A knock sounds at the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone. My poor pitiful heart jumps in anticipation. Presley bounces her brows at me, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Now who might that be?”
