Sunlight (Haven River Ranch, #2)

by Devney Perry

“You suck, winter.” Like Mother Nature heard me, a gust of wind whipped ice crystals into my face. Bitch.

“I don’t gallivant. Do I gallivant?” “No.” She batted her eyelashes as she giggled. When Jax chuckled, I eyed the door’s handle. For the first time in my life, I considered a tuck-and-roll exit.

any time I’d shown my red flags, it’d lured women closer rather than sending them running. Apparently, they saw me as a challenge. A guy they could fix.

But no matter what I was doing, where I looked, I could always find Jax. There was an invisible tether between us.

“You do look like hell. And you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

I always thought you’d think I was weak if I asked for help. If I admitted I couldn’t do it all on my own. Was that why Sasha was so withdrawn? Was she scared I’d see her as weak if she leaned on me? Or was she scared people would let her down? That I’d disappear?

“Why are you nervous?” You. Because he was standing so close. Because he was still touching my ear. Because his gaze dropped to my mouth, and my entire body seemed to liquify.

“Tell me a lie,” he whispered. “I don’t want you to kiss me.” It came out so fast I couldn’t stop it. What was I doing? What was I saying? His tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip. “Tell me a secret.” Only one secret came to mind. A secret I really, really shouldn’t say. But I did anyway. “I always want you to kiss me.”

Babe. Baby. Honey. Beautiful. Sweetheart. Jax didn’t use a single endearment. He used them all. He seemed to tailor them to his mood. Babe, for the normal moments when we were just talking. Honey, when he wanted to be sweet. Baby, when we were in his bed.

She sniffled, wiping at her face as more tears fell. “Distract me. Tell me a secret.” “I love you.” The words came out in a rush. It was effortless. As automatic as breathing. It was the easiest thing I’d ever said in my life.

“I love you. I think I loved you the moment you tried to steal that shopping cart.”

collapsed onto the bed. “I don’t want her to hear me scream.” “Robin?” I hooked my thumb to where she was talking with a nurse. “Who fucking cares?” “No.” Sasha gave me a sad smile, her gaze dropping to her belly. Josephine. She didn’t want to have the baby hear her scream. Because she remembered sounds. And she didn’t want that sound in this room.

“Tell me a lie.” “I hate Montana.” A grin tugged at my mouth. “Mission accomplished.” “Now a secret,” she murmured, still breathing hard. “Tell me to tell you a secret.” “Tell me a secret.” “I love you.”