If I Only Knew(54)

My throat goes dry and I place my hand on his. “I don’t know what to say . . .”

“Look, I may not know anything about dating, but I know something about honesty. Have I made you feel as though I’m bothered by it?”

“No,” I say quickly. “Not at all. I just know how you talking about Kandi made me feel, I don’t want Peter to be that way for you.”

He gives me a slow smile. “Kandi was here and a possibility. Peter is gone. He has your past. I can’t ever get that time. But if another bastard wants to try to come in now and take you away from me, I’ll kick the fucking shit out of him.”

“Good to know,” I giggle.

“But seriously, it hasn’t been that long since he was killed. You’re in the middle of his murderer’s trial, and it would be rather unfair of me to expect it to be as though he was never in your mind, don’t you think?”

The feelings I have for Milo grow deeper each day. It’s crazy how much he’s managed to locate the cracks in my heart and find his way through.

“You like me,” I sigh and rest my head on his arm.

“I do. Quite a bit.”

“I like you too.”

Milo leans forward and kisses me. “I know.”

“Do you now?”

“It’s rather clear.”

I lift my head. “How so?”

His smirk makes me want to both slap him and kiss him. “First, you can’t stop looking at me, not that I blame you.”

“Ass.”

“Second,” he continues on without replying to my insult. “You kiss me any chance you get. Again, not that I can fault you there either.”

“Oh, Lord. Is there more to this?”

Milo chuckles and brushes his fingers across my cheek. “Lastly, you had me come over when both kids are at sleepovers tonight, and you’re not wearing your wedding ring anymore,” his voice drops low and husky.

“I took it off the other day,” I admit.

“I noticed.”

Of course he did, he notices everything. “I thought it was time. I . . . I want this with you, and I want my past to feel resolved, you know?”

He nods. “I didn’t want to push you, Danielle.”

And he didn’t. That’s the thing. It wasn’t him, it was me. I was ready. “Maybe you were right about me liking you, huh?”

Milo grins, his finger slides against my jaw. “I have a feeling you want to show me just how much you like me tonight, don’t you?”

My stomach clenches and my heart begins to race. He’s right. As soon as I knew both kids would be gone for the night, I called Milo to come over. Since the desk sex, we haven’t been together. He’s been sweet and hasn’t said a word, but I’ve been dying.

“Maybe. If you behave,” I say.

“I’m not sure I know how to do that.”

I smile. “I’m not sure you do either.”

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

“For what?”

Milo’s grin turns mischievous and he grabs my legs, pulling me flat to the couch. He hovers over me. “Why don’t you tell me what you want and I’ll do my best to accommodate your request.”

I lift my fingers, grazing his face, loving that he shaved yesterday but the dark stubble is already there. “You make me feel these things,” I confess.

“What things?”

He’s been open regarding his feelings, and now, I’m going to do the same. Milo gives me hope again. It’s something I cherish, crave, and I want him to know what it means to me.

“My heart races when you’re near. My mouth goes dry when I see you for the first time in the morning at work. Everything feels easier when you’re around. Since you came into my life, I’ve smiled again. You make me happy, Milo.” Tears form, but I hold them back, not wanting to feel even more exposed.

His lips touch mine in the sweetest kiss. “I’m trying so hard not to fall in love with you.”

I look up, our eyes mirroring the same thing. “I’m trying too.”

“How are you doing so far?”

“Not very good.”

Milo smiles. “I’m not either.”

I move my thumb across his bottom lip. “What do you think we should do about it?”

He gets to his feet, hooks his one arm under my legs and the other cradles my back. “Which way to your room?”

My arms wrap around his neck and I smile. “Upstairs.”





Chapter Twenty-Five





Danielle





Milo sets me on the bed and I tremble a little.

In my office, it was one thing. That’s not my home and it sure as fuck wasn’t a bed. This is a place where I shared my life with someone. My kids live here, and I’m welcoming him into that in some ways.

“You understand this means something?” I ask, giving him an out.

“I do.”

“We don’t go back from this point. We’re a couple or whatever you want to call it.”

Milo leans onto the bed with his arms on each side of me. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I really hope not.