And I’m never letting my man go.
CHAPTER 23
RHODES
I put the last of my woman’s boxes down in my house—our house—and it feels like I can finally really breathe. She’s here. With me. We’re building something real, something solid, something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life and never take for granted.
“You know,” Helen admonishes me with her sweet voice, “you should have let me carry more things.”
It’s been a few weeks since I asked my woman to move in with me, and I finally said the words I was afraid would send her running. She didn’t run; she embraced what I was offering. I don’t think I’ve ever felt gratefulness like I did when she told me she was ready to start building our future.
And now she’s here.
It took a little time for her to tie up some loose ends. As of right now, she’s planning to commute to her job in Dogwood Ridge. She enjoys it and while I believe she does, I also think she wants to still be easily accessible to Jessi. Maybe even her dad.
Her relationship is strained with her dad, and I hate being the reason for it. Or maybe his expectations for his daughter are the real cause. Either way, I know it’s been weighing her down.
I have no doubt that she won’t let it continue much longer. She’ll set it to rights because that’s the kind of woman she is.
As long as it doesn’t cause her pain, then I’ll be there to support her. Now, if Mayor Cowell does anything to make my woman cry, he’ll be dealingwith me. Until then, I’ll just be my woman’s strength and silent support.
It’s what she needs from me and I’ll make sure she gets it.
I shoot my woman a look of warning and shake my head slowly. “You carried plenty.”
Helen crosses her arms in front of her chest and pouts. It’s fucking adorable and it makes my cock twitch behind the fly of my jeans. As much as I want to carry her off to our bed and deal with the boxes later, I have a surprise for my woman, and I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees it.
“I most certainly did not,” she tries to argue. “I realize I’m just a little woman, but I’m capable of carrying things.”
All I can do is arch an eyebrow at her because she knows me carrying most of her boxes and furniture has nothing to do with her being a woman. It has everything to do with me taking care of her.
Why should she carry things when I’m more than capable of doing it?
I’m certainly not going to let it happen and if she has a problem with it then she’s going to have to simply deal with it. It’s done anyway and the next time I’m put in the same position, I’ll do the same damn thing.
Helen’s narrowed eyes take me in, and I can see the fire burning there. It’s a huge fucking turn on. The glare ramps up on the intensity, but it doesn’t deter me and I put my arms up and flex.
My woman can’t help herself and her eyes flick over my chest and then heat. Yeah, I know what she likes and I’m more than willing to use it to my advantage because I already know there will be times when I screw up.
“You have a big, strong Sheriff at your disposal, Helen,” I point out and watch her eyes sparkle. “Why not use me?”
She steps closer to me, her hips swaying like a damn metronome and I’m fucking watching every step, every sway. And I’m hooked. As if I wasn’t already gone for this woman.
“Use you?” She purrs the question and my dick throbs. “Use you to move my boxes? Are there other ways I should use you?”
Helen stops right in front of me, our toes touching and her brown eyes glittering. I capture the moment; the look on her face, the trust she’s given me along with her heart, and tuck it away to fortify the love and the connection between us. This woman undoes me.
“You can use me however you want. Always. Consider it an open invitation.”
She reaches for me and I can’t help but do the same. My arms band around her waist and pull her until she’s flush against my chest.
“I’ll have to keep that in mind,” there’s sass in her voice that I fucking love, because there is always the sweetness there too.
“I have a surprise for you.” My words land like a grenade and I almost wince but manage an apologetic smile.
She looks around before looking back at me. “Why would you get me a surprise when I’m moving in with you? I mean, don’t you think this is enough? Us doing this together and everything it means?”
I huff out a chuckle at how cute she is. “You’re adorable,” I coo as I kiss the tip of her nose.
