Take the Fall (Take the Fall, #1)(49)

Maybe you’ll let me make it up to you, or maybe you won’t. It’s your decision and I won’t push you any further.

There are two things you should know. One, I applied to UNC Charlotte for the fall semester. I’ll be using my GI Bill to pay for it. Two, I would like you to consider staying on at Gardner’s. My dream is to own it with you, which is why I’m majoring in business.

Think about it. Give yourself some time to consider if being with me makes sense. I know it does for me.

You’re my compass and all directions lead me straight to where I’m supposed to be. With you.

Love you forever,

Seth





By the time I’m done, I’m a blubbering mess. I’ve held on to my pride for so long that I don’t know how to let go. But it’s time I let go. Because I can’t lose Seth. He’s my everything.

I grab my coat, keys, and purse, then head to my car. Immediately, I drive like a bat out of hell the short distance to my brother’s house, hoping against hope he’s still there.

The lights are out when I pull in the drive. Parking the car, I unbuckle my seatbelt and shove open the car door, then run to the porch. I beat on the front door, calling Seth’s name, over and over. He doesn’t answer.

Jase yanks open the door. “What the hell is wrong?”

I shove past him, calling out Seth’s name.

“He’s not here.” Jase takes me by my shoulders and looks me in the eyes. “He went back to Jacksonville.”

“Oh, God,” I sob.

“Did he hurt you? Because if he did, I don’t give a damn about prison time, I will cut his ass up and display his head in the front yard,” Jase snarls.

“No.” I shake my head. “No. In fact, he didn’t hurt me at all. He wrote the most beautiful, most romantic letters I’ve ever read.”

“That sounds painful,” Jase says with a grimace. “For him anyway.”

With a half sob and a laugh, I punch him. “I have to go get him.”

“Then go.”

Running back to my car, I slide back inside and throw it in reverse. I back out of the drive. Come hell or high water, I’m getting on that Marine base.

But as I drive past Gardner’s, I see a light on in one of the office windows and Seth’s truck parked out front. I cut off three cars as I cross two lanes of traffic to turn into the parking lot.

“Please don’t let me ruin this with my big mouth,” I mutter as I park the car and run inside. “I love him. God, I love him, and I don’t want to lose him again.”





Seth


I head back to Jacksonville, my heart heavy and my duffel bag lighter now that those letters are in her possession. I guess I expected a phone call or something by now, but it’s been hours and she still hasn’t texted me. I hung out all day at Jase’s until time ran out. I have to be on base at six tomorrow morning.

Though I don’t want to give up on us, I’ll concede defeat for now. Well, maybe not defeat—more like a setback. Yeah, I can overcome a setback.

“She just needs time,” I remind myself for the hundredth time. But I need her now. I’ve wasted seven years by staying away and don’t want to waste a second more.

As I drive by Gardner’s, I slow my truck down, torturing myself with one last look before I head out of town with the hopes of seeing Rowan’s car. A light shines from one of the office windows and I frown. There are no other cars in the parking lot.

“You’re not supposed to be on,” I mutter. Rowan’s pretty damn particular about stuff like that. Either someone forgot to switch it off, or someone is up to no good. No one is allowed to work on Sundays at Gardner’s. That’s been my grandparents’ rule for sixty years, and Rowan carried it on.

Parking my truck, I let my headlights shine inside, but I don’t see any movement. I get out, taking my key with me, but remain on high alert. One of Rowan’s charity cases could be double-crossing her right now and robbing Gardner’s blind.

The door opens behind me, and I whirl around, ready to fight off whoever’s been messing around in here.

With a sharp cry, Rowan launches herself at me, almost bowling me over as she wraps her arms around my neck. I forget all about the light in the back office. “I thought you’d left. Oh, God. Seth. I thought you left me again.”

“Are you okay?” I hold her in my arms tightly, never wanting to let her go. I don’t understand what’s going on. I thought for sure she’d be glad to have me out of her life.

“Yes. No. I don’t know. I read your letters, Seth. All of them.”

My heart slams against my chest, repeatedly. “And what did you think?”

“I don’t think.” She sniffs, and looks up at me. The pain in her beautiful blue eyes cuts through me. “Right now I don’t want to think at all.”

She slams her mouth against mine, ripping at my clothes. I help her, and for good measure, I pop the buttons off her jeans. She shimmies out of them, and then shoves my jeans down. A tug here, a rip there, and soon we’re both naked and breathing hard. She drops to her knees and takes my cock into her sexy mouth. I give a hoarse shout and slam my hands into the wall behind her. Every stroke, every lick of her tongue, has me on edge. She tugs at my balls, lightly scraping at them with her nails.