God, he was right. Out of fear, she was ready to live a half-life of grey rather than a full, sometimes terrifying one of vivid, shocking, overwhelming and gorgeous color.
A life with Griff.
One that was hers if she had the balls to grab it.
Yes, she would be starting over, but it wouldn’t be as a naïve, young girl who didn’t know who she was or what she needed. It would be as a woman who’d gone through hell to get what she wanted. And that was him.
It wasthem.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
A smile ghosted over his lips, and with a nod, Josh left.
She grinned. Laughed. And with an energy—a hope—she hadn’t possessed in years, she continued packing.
She had a man to get.
13
“Ouch. Son-of-a-bitch,” Hayden grumbled, rubbing the throbbing in the toe she’d just stubbed against a box.
“Language, Hayden.” Lorena Reynolds tsked.
“Sorry, Mama.” Hayden winced, grinning. “Hey, have I told you how much I appreciate you coming over to help me pack on such short notice?” Her mother’s hmmph came across the cell line loud and clear, and Hayden grinned. “Seriously, though, Mama. Thank you.”
Lorena cleared her throat. “You’re welcome, sweetie,” she murmured.
The night Hayden had returned home from the office, she’d called her mother, and they’d finally spoken about her confession to Griffin. Lorena had apologized, explaining she’d been trying to protect Hayden, but had been wrong for interfering. Though hurt, Hayden had understood, and had told her mother so, as well as her plans to follow him to Florida. Lorena hadn’t been surprised, and, years later, fully supported her. Had even come over the following morning to help Hayden pack. Her mother’s concern hadn’t eased, but she also realized Hayden had to live her own life. A life that included Griffin.
“Well, I’m just about done. I have a few more odds and ends, but for the most part I’m ready to pull out in the morning.” She propped a fist on her hip and scanned the living room. Most of the knick-knacks were in boxes, waiting for the moving company to store them and the furniture in storage. In the foyer, several boxes and bags waited for her to place in her car for the long drive to Florida.
A tangle of nerves twisted and tumbled in her belly. Yep, she was driving all the way to the state she’d vowed never to return to just two weeks earlier. And she would be a liar if she claimed she wasn’t nervous as hell. She’d just packed her apartment—her life—up in four days and decided to move across the country. So yes, there had been a few moments in the last few nights when she’d stared at the ceiling and asked herself,what the fuck?But then she pictured Griffin’s face as he asked her to trust him, to trust them.
Yes. She wasn’t leaving Texas as much as running to her future.
“Remember what I said about stopping in lighted areas and making sure you make it to the hotels well before dark,” Lorena lectured.
Hayden snorted. “I’m even going to pray for Jesus to take the wheel somewhere around Alabama.”
“That’s not funny, Hayden,” her mother snapped.
“Yes, ma’am.” She swallowed back a bark of laughter. “I promise—” A knock reverberated on her front door. “Oh, let me call you back. Someone’s at the door. Love you.”
Still chuckling, she ended the call, set the phone on the back of the couch and headed for the door. Rising on her tip toes, she glanced through the peep hole. “Who is…Oh my God!”
She yanked the door open and flung herself into Griffin’s arms.
Hard, strong arms encircled her, pressing her into a solid wall of a chest. She wrapped her legs around his waist, planting kisses on his bearded jaw, chin and finally, his mouth. His warm laughter brushed her lips, his big hands cupping her ass.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded, leaning back in his arms, grinning up at him. This…this humongous, ever-increasing air in her chest that seemed as if it could elevate her to the ceiling…this was happiness. Joy. It’d been so long, she’d almost forgotten.
“You’re here,” he rumbled the simple explanation, shifting forward into the apartment and kicking the door shut behind him.
In three steps he had her back pressed to the wall—the same wall he’d made love to her against a couple of weeks ago. With his hips wedged between her thighs, his chest pressed to hers, his cock notched against the heart of her, she was safe, sheltered, protected. Right where she yearned to be.
His mouth covered hers, their tongues mingling as his tongue parted her lips and sank deep. God, his taste. She’d missed it. Angling her head, she opened wider for him, tangled her fingers in his hair, underneath the bun of cool, thick hair.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he growled against her lips, echoing her thoughts before returning for another hard kiss.
