The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(49)

“It smells good. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I dig into mine, not pushing her to eat. Surprisingly, she takes a bite and a few more until half is gone. That’s all she manages to get down, but it’s way more than I expected so I count it as a win.

Cleaning up the dishes, I let her sit quietly. After washing my hands, I nod upstairs. “Why don’t you go up and shower? I’ll go get your clothes and stuff.”

“That’d be great, thanks.”

She slides off the barstool, slowly leaving the kitchen. I wait to leave until I hear the shower start up.

The front door is unlocked to her mom’s house. In some places, that would be a scary thing. But Hawthorne Mills is a town with so low of a crime rate it almost doesn’t seem real. Small towns might be filled with nosy people, but they’re good for some things too.

Upstairs, I find her room easily since I know it has to be at the front of the house. I scoop up a bag, tossing random clothes inside, and then head to the bathroom. Her toothbrush and toothpaste are on the rim of the porcelain sink. I stuff those in the bag along with some hairbands. I shove the shower curtain aside, swiping her shampoo and conditioner.

If there’s anything else I missed, I’ll have to come back later.

When I get back to my house and upstairs, she’s still in the shower. I pull out her shampoo and conditioner figuring she’d prefer that over my man smelling ones.

“Salem?”

She eases open the glass door. “Yeah?”

“I brought these for you.”

“Oh, thanks.” She takes them from me.

I grab her chin before she can shut the door.

“Your eyes. You’ve been crying again.” She nods, lower lip trembling. “Baby,” I murmur, cupping her cheeks in my hands.

“Will you get in here with me? No funny business.” She laughs brokenly, lifting her hands innocently. “I mean it. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“All right.” I let her go and step back, slipping out of my sleep pants. My dick is already hard, but I mean with a naked wet Salem right in front of me what do you expect? “Ignore him.” I point at my cock. “He has a mind of his own.”

She giggles, the sound surprisingly genuine. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Taking her face in my hands, I press my forehead to hers beneath the spray of the rain shower. “As long as my heart beats, you are never alone in this world.”

She swallows thickly. “I love you too, Thayer.”

She heard me last night.

“No funny business,” I promise, “but I really need to kiss you.”

She nods eagerly, like that’s exactly what she needs. I kiss her. “I love you.” I kiss her again. “I love you.” I kiss each of her cheeks, murmuring those three words. “I love you.” I kiss her forehead and then I just hold her for a few minutes.

When I let her go, I motion for her to turn around. She doesn’t protest. Grabbing her shampoo bottle I lather the soap in my hands and then gently massage it into her scalp.

Sex is intimate, there’s no denying it, but these are the raw, real, intimate moments that build your foundation. When you love someone, you take care of them in whatever way they need. Once her hair is washed, I grab my body wash since I didn’t see hers back at her house and pour it onto a loofah. I wash and clean her body, making it completely non-sexual because that’s not what she needs right now. She just needs to be cared for.

Stepping out of the shower I wrap her in a clean towel. I wrap another around my waist.

She exhales a shaky breath. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to do that—thank me for everything.”

“But I want you to know what it means to me.”

“Believe me,” I say slowly, carefully. “I know. I see it in the way you look at me. In how you say my name. The way you smile when I say something. I know, baby. I’ve always known.”

She waddles forward in her towel. I know what she wants without asking. Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her. She soaks in my touch like it’s a lifeline. I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t doing the same with hers.

Six years ago, this smiley blonde woman wormed her way into my cold, angry heart and made it hers. I’ve never wanted it back. I still don’t. But I do want to give her even more. When she’s ready.





CHAPTER 32





SALEM





I step inside the funeral home—the same one Forrest’s service was held at. A shiver runs down my spine. I hate it here. I didn’t think I would ever set foot in this place again. I didn’t want to. I guess the universe had other plans.

Thayer’s hand tightens against my waist. This is hard for him, but he refuses to be anywhere but at my side. I told him repeatedly that he didn’t need to come for this, but he was adamant that he was going.

I’m thankful he’s here, for his support, but I would understand if he couldn’t face this.

The casket sits at the end of the aisle, the seats full of people. I expected no one to show up and instead the whole town is here.

I was supposed to be here earlier, but I just couldn’t do it.

So, now I’m late. My sister sits at the front with her family but stands when she sees me.