Tumble (Dogwood Lane #1)(84)

“I wasn’t leaving,” I say, climbing back in bed. “I just needed to get my shoes and stuff off.”

“Could’ve left this off too.” He flicks the cotton material away from my skin. “Although there’s something inherently sexy about a woman wearing your clothes.”

“Is that right?”

“Yup.”

He takes my hands and pulls me down. Rolling me onto my back, he situates himself over me. Those green eyes I fell in love with years ago shine back at me.

“I hope you aren’t tired,” he says, bringing the shirt I just put on up and over my head. “Because it’s going to be a long night, Miss Kimber.”

I move around so his cock is between my legs. Lifting my hips, he slides through my part.

“Look at you,” I say, holding his head in my hands. “You’re so erect.”

“I’ll show you erect.”

I laugh for a split second before he makes me forget about anything other than him, me, and this night.

Being home.





EPILOGUE

NEELY

The glitter is so hard to get off, though.” I stick the key in the door and swing it open. “After you.”

Mia walks in with her bags from today’s shopping excursion after Manicure Day. “I liked the pink glitter, but Madison got that and I didn’t want to look like I was copying her.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t have cared,” I note. “But I still think the navy blue is super pretty on you.” We pile the bags near the foot of the stairs. “They make your eyes pop.”

“Thanks.” She wraps her arms around my waist for the sixth time today. “Thanks for taking me today, Neely.”

“Are you kidding? I needed a manicure, anyway. And besides, if I hadn’t taken you, I’d have been stuck here all day with your dad.”

“Did I hear my name?” Dane comes around the corner. He has a paintbrush in his hand. “Did you guys have fun today doing all the girlie things?”

“Look at this.” Mia wiggles her fingers in front of her dad. “Pretty, huh? Neely helped me pick the color.”

“I love it.” He looks at me and shrugs. “We love it. Right?”

“Yes, we love it.” I laugh. “I got it too.”

“And our toes are red. Mine is more pinkish,” Mia explains, “but Neely got cherry red.”

Dane turns so Mia can’t see him and grins devilishly. I look away before I can’t.

“Why don’t you take your things up to your room?” I ask Mia. “And put them away. I don’t want to find them thrown over a chair.”

“Really?” she moans.

“I can take them back.”

She looks like she’s going to stomp off and then stops and laughs. “Fine. I’ll put them away. Thanks again, Neely.”

“You’re very welcome.”

She gathers the bags that are hers and heads upstairs. Once she’s gone, I look at Dane. “Did you ever even look at her? Or have you stared at me this entire time?”

“She didn’t notice.”

“You’re impossible.” I sigh. “What did you do today? And why do you have a paintbrush?”

His lips part in a smile. He crooks a finger for me to follow him.

We walk through the living room and into the kitchen. The table is covered with a drop cloth. A can of white paint sits open in the middle, and a long board stretches the length of the table. The words MALONE FARM are printed in old-fashioned letters across it.

“What’s this?” I ask. I run my finger down the freshly sandpapered wood. “You doing some work out there?”

“You could say that.”

“Maybe I could go out there with you one day. I added a class on Tuesday afternoons starting next week at Aerial’s, so that will just leave Monday afternoons clear. But I’d love to spend an afternoon out there, if it works out.”

“I think it’ll work out.” I wait for him to say something else, but he doesn’t. He just looks at the sign.

“Man of few words today,” I mutter. I head to the refrigerator and pull out the lemonade. “Mom and Gary want us to come over for dinner this week. I told them we’d find an evening. This week is going to be crazy with the show so close. I’m kind of starting to lose my mind.”

Dane comes up behind me and pulls me into his chest. “Will you relax, babe?”

“I’m trying.”

“I have something to tell you, and I need you to be calm when I say it.”

“Oh no.” I spin in his arms and search his features for some indication as to what’s happening. “What did you do?”

“It’s nothing big.” He grins. “Okay. It’s big. It’s really big.”

I cock my head to the side. “You always say it’s really big.”

“And do I lie?”

“Well, no.” I laugh. “Just tell me what’s going on.”

He takes my hand and pulls me back to the table. “How would you feel if I told you we’re moving? Or that I want to move?”

I blanch. “Moving? Where? Why?” I shake my head. “I love it here, Dane. You don’t mean out of Dogwood Lane, do you?”