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.Alex still held my attention.She smiled at something the lady said and turned to walk back toward the kitchen.The moment she disappeared out of sight, my entire body ached from the loss.“She takes a break in about twenty minutes.She usually sits out back in the staff area to the left, just off the kitchen.If she misses you as much as I think she does, I’m thinking it won’t take much convincing on your part.” I turned toward Jett and nodded my head.“Just don’t hurt her, please.She doesn’t deserve any more heartache than she has already had.”“Thank you,” I said as I stood from the chair.I held my hand out to him as he stood from the desk.“You have my word that I will do everything I can to make her feel adored every day.Both she and Maddison deserve to feel safe, and they will always be safe with me.”Chapter FourteenAlexisI had been in Florida for well over a week.Every day was the same—get up, go to work, and just exist.The passion in me was gone; the desire to thrive was depleted.Maddison was my only happiness.She was my joy and my reason for getting up every day and attempting to put on the best happy face I could manage.I had applied at the hospital and a few private practices in hopes of putting my degree to use.When Jett offered me a job at his restaurant, I was grateful.I couldn’t live with my parents forever.I had to think about getting my own place.After that, I would have to get the rest of my things from California.My father had set up an account for Maddison.All of the money that she gets from the state, from Troy’s service to his country, will go straight into it.When she is eighteen, she will be given that money; I only hope she will use it wisely.I attempted to stay busy and accept the fact that Colt had forgotten me.He never tried to contact me after I left.I wrote the letter hoping he would understand that I had made a mistake.I was attracted to him, very much.I had just let the fear in me control the outcome.I sat staring out at the water, listening to the waves.The tourists and locals covering the beach all looked so at peace.I picked at the food on my plate; my appetite was nonexistent.The sound of footsteps approaching caught my attention, and I turned in my chair to see who was approaching.I came out here to get away from others.It was my time to think.I didn’t like the idea of another worker joining me.I froze in shock the moment I turned completely around.There before me stood Colt.He wore a pair of khaki shorts and sandals.I don’t think I had ever seen him in anything other than his jeans and boots.A red shirt hugged his chest and arms, showing every muscle and defined ripple.My heart raced as he closed the distance between us.He wasted no time kneeling before me and smiling that gorgeous smile of his.“Hey, beautiful,” he said.Reaching out, he took my hand in his.“Did you honestly think I would just let you leave without coming after you?”My throat felt dry.I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.I still wasn’t sure this was real.“I would’ve been here sooner, but with Maria and the baby, I had to make sure they were gonna be okay.” Colt lifted his hand and pushed my hair from my face.I placed mine over his; holding his hand securely to my cheek, I closed my eyes briefly.“You’re here,” I whispered.“Yes I am, sweetheart.I’m here,” he assured me.“I’ve missed you.”“I thought maybe you chose to forget about us,” I whispered, still shocked that he was actually here, kneeling before me.“Never.There’s no way I could forget two of my favorite girls.” He inched in a little closer, and I took in the contours of his face.His strong jaw, lightly covered with two-day-old stubble.Long lashes highlighting his gorgeous eyes, eyes that had a way of making me feel safe.Instinctively I placed my hand on his chest, just to feel him beneath me.“I read your letter,” he said.A smile graced his perfect mouth.“Did you mean it?”“Every word,” I said without hesitation.Colt’s vision dropped to my lips, and he licked his lower lip.I wanted him to kiss me.I needed him to.I had pushed away the chance I had before, but this time there was no way I would stop it.“I know I was stubborn and I avoided you.It never meant that I didn’t want to see you; it was just too hard to be near you.I wanted more than you were ready for, and I couldn’t keep pushing, so I had to distance myself.” I could feel his breath fan out over my skin, and my heart rate picked up from the closeness.“I thought I messed everything up,” I admitted.“You didn’t mess up anything, sweetheart.You have reasons for protecting your heart.I understand.” He spoke in a soothing voice.“I just want you to understand that you’re safe with me.I would never hurt you.I care about you and Maddison so much.”My vision was becoming blurred as I stared back at the beautiful man before me.Colt had an amazing heart.He was so kind and giving.“I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye.” My voice vibrated with emotion.“I should have come to you.”“Yes, you should have,” he stated, and my heart plummeted.“If you had, I would have saved us a lot of time.I would have told you then that I couldn’t let you go.I would have told you that I needed you and Maddison and that I refuse to let you disappear out of my life [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]