Bloom (Serenity Ranch, #1)

by E.J. Blaise

Cautious might be a better word for it—like I half expect to be chased off the property at any moment. That’s not likely, not anymore, but being unwanted is a hard thing to un-feel, to forget.

I want you to.” Lux doesn’t know that those four words are my weak spot, that they speak to a little girl—and an adult woman too, if I’m being honest—who only ever wanted to be wanted.

That that same mouth murmurs, “I got you, honey,” and that’s what breaks me. And God, do I break.

As he talks, I find myself feeling… not jealous, exactly. Wistful, I guess. Pining for a love like that, for someone to love me so much, they look like that when my name comes up.

She doesn’t yell, but if not for the sleeping baby on her chest, he’s pretty sure she would be screaming. “She has no idea what she deserves,” she says, calm but fierce, small but terrifying. “But it’s not this half-assed bullshit. Man up or fuck off.”

And how timely is it, how freaking perfect, that as I’m lamenting being stuck here, he reminds me that he isn’t.

“Be mad at me, Caroline,” he says—he begs. “I can handle it. I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizin’ for it. Just don’t be done. Please, don’t be done.”