Ask Me Why(82)

Her gaze flings to mine on the last word. “W-what?”

I brush a thumb down the side of her face. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“No, not to me.”

“I’m fucking crazy about you, Brae. The last week has been hell. Worse than any shit I’ve ever experienced, which is really telling.”

Braelyn gulps, the action making her slender throat bob. “I d-don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting all this. I figured you’d stay outside and never wanna see me again.”

I squeeze her fingers that are still in my grip. “But I walked through that door to be with you. Ask me why, Brae.”

She sniffs, peering up through wet lashes. “Why’re you in here?”

My blue depths blend with her mossy green pools. “Because I love you. And not for Ollie, although you fit with him crazy well. But for me. Be in this for me, for both of us.”

“I love you, Brance. So much. And Ollie. I can’t believe this is real.” Braelyn’s eyes slide shut, a single tear trickling out. I brush it away, and she nuzzles into my palm. I dip closer, giving her a gentle kiss. She whimpers into the soft caress.

“How’ve you been?” I trace her nose with mine.

Braelyn sighs. “Better now. It wasn’t so great without you. After Devon and the accident, I’m always waiting for the worst.”

“Betrayal feels that way,” I murmur.

“He didn’t—”

I press my lips against hers. “I’m not saying he did, but it’s all the same in the end. The pain leaves its mark. Just depends what we do with that. Not sure that shit ever goes away. The sting is less intense, but the impact remains.”

She cuddles into me. “You make it hurt a little less.”

“That’s how I feel about you.” I bury my face in the crook of her neck. Damn, I missed her sweet scent. Jordan better be on call for watching Ollie. Plans are stacking up in my brain.

“So, we’re doing this? For real?” Skepticism bleeds through her voice.

I pull away enough to see the indent creasing her forehead. “You don’t believe me?”

Braelyn averts her gaze. I grip her chin and lift until she looks at me.

“I know we have more shit to solve. That’ll all come out soon enough. You’re my sunlight and rainbows after a lifetime of storms. Don’t leave me in the dark.”

She nods. “There’s no doubting you. I’ve been caught in a daze, and you’re waking me up. I’m still a bit sleepy. Hell, I was one step away from getting a cat or a dog.”

That gets a bark of laughter from me. “Really?”

“It was too quiet at my house. I don’t like the silence. Living alone has never been my favorite. But these last few days were terrible.” She trembles in my hold.

Rusty gears spring into action. The seed of thought sprouts and grows. I study her beautiful features. This is absolutely the right call.

“Might be nice to have a pet,” I start. “Ollie asks for one every other minute.”

“Oh, he’d love that. You’d make his year.”

“I think he’d like to pick one out with you. It could be ours, at our house.”

The lines between her brows deepen. “Okay, that’d be nice. But that doesn’t solve the dilemma at my place. I guess we could—”

“Move in with us, babe.”

Braelyn’s jaw goes slack. Shaking fingers lift to cover her gaping mouth. “You’re serious.”

“Never been more serious. I guarantee Ollie will agree with me.”

A smile splits her lips. “You love me.” It’s not a question.

“I do.”

“And you want me to move in?”

A curt nod. “Yes.”

She raises a sassy brow.

I grunt. “Please, babe.”

“That has a nice ring to it.”

I hold up a palm. “Now, now. I never said anything about a ring.”

Braelyn giggles. “I don’t need any of that. I’m happy just having you by my side. Paradise is life with you and Ollie in it.”

This woman and her words. She gets to me.

“No worries there. You, Braelyn Miller, are the lucky owner of this bitter, cynical heart. I hope you enjoy it.” I pat the area on my pec.

Her hand settles over mine. “I will cherish it with every breath.”

“That’s all I ask. I didn’t plan on falling in love. You know, the romantic kind.”

Braelyn’s grin stretches wider. “Then why did you?”

“Couldn’t help it if I tried.”

She purrs against my jaw. “We’re gonna owe Ollie and our friends big time.”

I shake my head. “I never had a horse in this race.”

“The stakes were too high?”

I sweep that off. “Nah, I just didn’t wanna bet against us.”

Her gaze sparkles brighter than the fragment in my pocket. “Yeah?”

“Of course, babe. We’re stronger together than we’d ever be apart.” I kiss her again. We haven’t done that nearly enough. “I’m going to take you on a proper date.”

Braelyn wiggles against me, eliminating the sliver of space between us. “Will there be dessert?”