Page 60 of Let Me Show You

“I wanted to do this for you. And I wanna keep helping you, if you’ll let me.”

She flashes a sexy smirk and nods before walking away. I’m thankful for the separation because I need a moment to catch my breath and readjust myself. I head to the table, and as soon as she returns, I smell the fried chicken.

After Owen passes out the napkins, we fill our plates, then dig in. So many stolen glances are shared between Katie and me that the sexual tension is almost unbearable. Though we’re keeping up with small talk, all I can imagine is kissing her again, having her melt into me once more, and it makes me wonder if we’ll ever have a real chance of being together.

Once we’re done eating, I help clean up. Katie goes back to the kitchen, and I follow her while Owen plays with his tablet. As she looks over everything again, I lean against the counter and watch her run her hand across the freshly painted wood.

“You were right. The paint color looks nice,” I admit.

“I still can’t believe you did this. It’s too much.”

The way her face lights up as she looks around makes it all worth it.

“It’s not enough.” I lower my voice. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about, Katie. I’m going back home tonight. It’s time.”

She nods and gives me a small smile. “I figured it was coming.”

“I can’t stay hidden forever, or whoever is doing this wins. I served my time already and can’t continue being a prisoner. The police still have an open investigation, and my dad said nothing else has happened.”

“You’re right,” she tells me. “You deserve to get back to normal.”

I step forward and take her soft hand. “I still wanna help you on the weekends, if you’ll let me. Getting this house finished before the end of the year is doable with a little elbow grease.”

She grins. “I’d like that.”

I kiss her knuckles, and she tucks her bottom lip into her mouth.

“You’re amazing. I don’t deserve you,” I say, meeting her eyes.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because you let me be a part of your life again after everything I did and how badly I hurt you.”

She sucks in a shallow breath, and we stare at each other as the tension between us rises. A thump sounds in the next room, and we rush toward it, only to see Owen picking up his tablet from the floor.

“Whoops.”

“Did it break?” Katie asks.

“Nope!” he says with a grin, flipping the screen around.

“Oh, before I forget, I have a girls’ day planned with Gemma and Everleigh tomorrow. Owen’s going to my parents.”

“Do I have to?” he groans.

I smile, getting an idea. “You can hang out with me tomorrow. I mean, if your mom says it’s okay.”

Katie tilts her head as if she’s unsure.

“Yeah, we’re related, so it should be fine!” Owen tries harder to convince Katie. “Pretty, pretty please, Mom!”

“Are you sure?” She glances at me.

“Absolutely. Just drop him off in the morning and enjoy your girls’ day.”

A wide smile sweeps across her perfect lips. “Okay, deal. I’ll call my mom and let her know.”

Owen’s over the moon.