The Path to Loving Him (Almond Bay, #3)

by Meghan Quinn

Hayes never cleared the air because he thought if I could believe he’d do that to me, then I didn’t deserve the truth.

I can handle my own.” “I don’t doubt that,” he says. “Then why are you trying to shield me?” “Because it’s in my nature,” he says, placing his hands on his hips. “It’s just in me to care.” I nod in understanding. “Well, consider me shielded . . . by myself.” I squeeze out the washcloth with one hand and try to soap it up, but find it difficult, so I just say fuck it in my head, uncover my breasts, and start soaping up. When I glance up at him, he’s staring anywhere but at me. “I want to say I’ll try . . .” Our gazes connect. “But once I consider you a part of my life, there’s no way for me to turn off that switch.” “You consider me a part of your life?” He slowly nods. “I do, which means you’re mine to shield.” “Ryland, I⁠—” But he cuts me off as he kneels next to the tub, takes the washcloth out of my hands, and starts cleansing me. “You might not want to be shielded, but you sure as hell will be shielded by me. Don’t fight me on it.”

“Your shirt smells good.” For some reason, that causes a surge of pride to pump through me. It shouldn’t. I should not care in the slightest. But hell, knowing she can smell me on her? Yeah, I fucking like that a lot.

“What?” I ask. “Nothing.” “What are you not saying?” She tugs on her still wet hair and says, “It’s just cute, hearing you talk to her. You’re really sweet with your niece.” “Would you prefer I tell her if she calls me again she’s sleeping under the stairs?”

“Dude, don’t make me talk about it, okay?” I see him nod out of the corner of my eye. “Sure, we don’t have to talk about it.” He’s silent for a moment but then says, “Coming from someone who never planned on getting married or becoming involved with anyone for that matter, I will say this—meeting your sister and allowing myself to fall in love was the best decision of my life. It was scary but fucking worth it.” He pats me on the back and takes off, leaving me in a state of unease.

“I learned to let them come to me. As much as you want to help, reach out, and be there for the kids, you need to realize that you can’t force them. They’re just going to resent you, so have the door open for them to walk through, but don’t pull them through.”

“I clock in.” “Exactly. You show them why you deserve to be there. Got it?” “Got it,” he says.

“The answer is no. I don’t want to leave you alone. I want to be there for you. I want to hold your hand. I want to capture the moment of you watching your brother play his first big league game so he can watch it over and over and see how much pride you have for him. I want to make the day special for you because you deserve it. But I also want you to be comfortable, so if that means I step aside, I act as the driver, and that’s it, then I’ll do that too. I just want you to be happy, taken care of . . . protected.”

And then his mouth captures mine again, our kisses so much deeper and more meaningful than any kiss I’ve ever experienced in my life. Is this what it feels like to be with the right person?

I wouldn’t mind a snuggle when I see you. Ryland: These arms are yours.

I grab her seat belt and buckle her up before gripping her chin and saying, “Deal with it.” I press a quick kiss to her lips and then round the front of the truck and get in on my side.

“I don’t need decorations in my room to sleep better.” “Then what do you need?” she asks. I pull out onto the main road and head north toward Jackson’s, which is outside of town. “It’s not anything you can buy at a store,” I answer. “What is it?” “Nothing you need to worry about.” “Ryland,” she says as I can feel her eyes on me. “Tell me.” Feeling ridiculous, I say, “The best sleep I’ve had in a long while was the night we spent in San Francisco. So it seems to me what I need in my bedroom . . . is you.”

What is it?” “Oh right, your perfume. I want you to spray my room with your perfume.” “Seriously?” she asks. “Yeah, seriously. If I can’t have you in my room, I at least want to smell you.”

I bring her out into the rain with one tug, and instead of rushing to her apartment, I wrap my arm around her waist and start dancing. “What are you doing?” She laughs as we both get drenched in seconds. “Dancing . . .

“And here you are, dancing with me in public, in the rain.” “Because . . . why not? Rain is often looked upon as an inconvenience. No one wants it to rain when they’re outside, but I don’t know. Sometimes I think the best things happen when it rains.” She wipes away the water from her eyes, then returns her hand to my chest. “Like what?” “Growth,” I answer. “Not just in a natural sense, but think about it, it helps us grow patience, and understanding, and makes us slow down. It’s Mother Nature’s way of telling us to sit back and enjoy for a moment. So that’s what we’re doing, we’re enjoying.” “I love that,” she says as we sway under the pelting rain.

Trust me, if I had it my way, I’d dance with her, in the rain, all night.

“Come here,” Ryland says when he notices I’m standing outside the group. He unabashedly pulls me into his side and wraps his arm around my waist before placing a kiss on the top of my head. Seriously shocked that he’s showing affection, I look up at him, and he just winks.

Wounds will heal, but when they’re reopened, they take longer and more effort to mend. Even at that, they’re never the same.

“It’s a burden.” “The fuck it is,” he says. “You are not a burden. This, what we have, is not a burden. Don’t ever think that. This is a partnership. This is what real love is about.” He lifts my chin again. “You matter so much to me, and whatever might happen to you, I want to be a part of it—the good and the bad. That’s love. What that fucker texted you? That’s nothing but a sour man trying to take someone down. He’s jealous because his life isn’t where he wants it to be. Those words are not about you. They’re a reflection of him. You, my love, are perfect.”

This is why I’m here. I’m here to love you, protect you, and make sure no one even comes close to hurting you or anyone close to you.” He brings our foreheads together. “You’re mine, Gabby. And I plan on keeping it that way. I plan on keeping that mind clear. I plan on making sure every goddamn day that you know you’re worth and how special you are.”

You don’t need to explain. The answer is yes.” “You don’t mind?” “Are you kidding me? I attempt to find a reason to get you to stay here every night. Now, I won’t need a reason.” “As if you need a reason.” I smile up at him. “I think I fell asleep on the couch the other night on purpose, just to have you carry me up to your bed.” He smirks. “I fucking knew it.”

“And being Uncle Dad will go down as my greatest accomplishment. Thank you for letting me be that man for you.”