Pieces of Us (Confessions of the Heart, #3)(30)

“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” My mama shot me a wink.

I scowled at her.

She laughed a small laugh.

“Will I liiike him?” Benjamin asked, genuinely curious, and my heart was thumping more.

“I think you will, sweet boy.”

That was right when the doorbell rang, and my heart that had been thrashing against my ribs crashed right through. A tumble across the wood floor.

I knew that’s what I was doing. Laying my heart at his feet and praying he didn’t stomp all over it.

Inhaling deeply, I smoothed out the beige blouse I was wearing with the delicate lace ruffles on the collar and arms. I’d matched it with my best fitted cropped black pants and a pair of heeled sandals.

Nope.

I wasn’t dressin’ up for him.

Not at all.

It rang again.

“Well, go on,” Mama chided.

Benjamin busted out in laughter. “Whaaat’s wrong, Mom? You sccccared of cops?”

Just this one, Benjamin. Just this one.

I tossed a look at all three of them, Dillon at my mama’s legs begging for a biscuit, Benjamin leaning on the island. “Remember, I’m gonna be a bit. I need to talk to him first, and then we’ll be in, okay? I need you both to stay in here and wait. Do you understand?”

“Ah, Mom, but didn’t you hear that I’m starving? I’m gonna be a pile of bones on the floor if you gotta have a conversation. What do you gotta talk about that’s so important, anyway?”

“Yeah?” Benjamin added.

“Just . . . old friend stuff.”

God, I’d dug myself into a hole. And suddenly I was feeling paranoid that I’d done this all wrong. Yesterday’s invite had been nothing but a knee-jerk reaction. The memory of my mama saying I should invite him over paired with the thankfulness that he’d rescued me when he had.

I should have called him and asked him to meet me somewhere else.

In private.

It wasn’t like Faith wouldn’t have his number.

Because this was suddenly feeling like an ambush, and I’d never wanted to be the attacker.

But I’d already done this, and the man was at the door, and I couldn’t keep stalling for a second longer.

I inhaled and pushed through the swinging door, legs shaking as I moved through the living room. I paused only when my daddy poked his head out of his study. “You need me, just start screaming. I’ve got Gretchen locked and loaded.”

“Daddy,” I scolded.

He shrugged his bony shoulders. “What?”

“There won’t be any need for any shotguns, no matter what, you hear me?”

“Fine,” he grumbled and retreated back into his study, and I set my hand on the doorlatch and the dead bolt, counted to three—inhale-exhale-inhale—before I turned the lock and opened the door.

Was stupid to be taking in all those deep breaths, considering when I opened the door, Maxon was standing right there, and I was hit with a swell of lightheadedness.

The man so stunning, I was shooting a hand out to the jamb to keep myself standing, knees going weak.

The stubble from yesterday had been shaven, his face so pretty it could make a girl weep.

Wearing dark jeans that fit him just right, a blue-collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up those muscled forearms, all the colors on his arm sending my mind into a whirl.

A spiral of patterns that sucked me right in.

I wobbled.

He chuckled. “Whoa there, Little Bird. You okay?”

My head jerked up when he called me by the nickname he’d given me the first time he’d seen me, and my shallow breaths were turning ragged.

Everything came at me all at once.

I steadied myself, pulling it together the best that I could, a weak but real smile arching at one side of my mouth.

Because I realized right then I had no shame. I’d done nothing wrong. It was time I pulled up my big-girl panties and stopped acting like this man held the power to shatter our world.

We’d been living just fine without him all along.

“I’m glad you came.” It was the truth.

His lips twisted up, this perfect mesh of arrogance and sweetness, dimple peeking out.

“That’s good because I’m really glad you invited me.”

I chewed at my lip. “I’ve been needin’ to talk to you.”

A little frown pulled to his brow, and I thought maybe it was just then he realized that when I’d said we had some things to sort out, I really meant it. It wasn’t just a simple apology. A shake of hands, an awkward hug, and the promise of starting again.

“Okay.” His tone turned nervous.

I jutted my chin out to the covered porch, and he took a step back, gesturing for me to go ahead of him. Our arms brushed as I passed. Heat blasted across my skin, the man too much, his presence just as potent as the thick air that sagged in the summer sky.

Birds chirped all around, and the trees rustled in the hot breeze, and the smell of our home was coming at me from all sides.

Wild jasmine dancing in my nose, all mixed up with the scent of the woods and the sea.

His aura slipping and sliding and taking hold of me.

I shivered and took a few steps out onto the porch. I was back to crossing my arms over my chest as I stood facing away from him, wondering how in the world I was supposed to tell him this.