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“I don’t like my babysitter either, Uncle Rhett.”
We don’t look at each other as we walk, but he touches my shoulder gently and gestures me across his body. He moves me to the opposite side of him before taking up position by the road.
There’s something about a man who is damn good at what he does that holds an appeal for me. Every step is sure. Practiced. Full of confidence.
He sees my attention shift, and he dangles a carrot into my line of vision, thinking he’ll make me lose focus. The problem is, I’m not all that into carrots these days. I’m favoring whiskey and leather.
I fall asleep like that, lulled by the gentle steady sounds of him, by the solid comfort of him. My hand held tight in his, my feet cradled against his skin, and my heart warm wrapped up in his words.
“You know, Princess,” he rasps, and I should hate that goddamn nickname, borne of mocking me for being who I am, but suddenly it feels like a shot straight to my core. Like praise. Like worship. “I’m finding I don’t really care what people think where you’re concerned.”
He lights me up. He burns me down. And I bask in his heat.
His pinky finger wraps around mine tenderly before he moves his hand to the small of my back, guiding me safely across the road and making my chest flutter.
Summer: Please don’t do anything stupid while I’m at the staff meeting. I trust you to hold it together for one afternoon. Rhett: Shit, Princess. I don’t know. I might go crazy without you. Summer: For ducks’ sake. Summer: Duck Summer: *Duck Summer: FUCK. Ugh. Why can’t my phone learn that word? I’ll be back around dinnertime. Rhett: Quack.
“It’s never enough for you, is it, Rhett? You’re always looking for more.”
“You making me ride bitch, Princess?”
It’s almost like she doesn’t see what a force she is. But I do.
Like he can see my patchwork heart right through my ribs.
Kip: What’s wrong? Rhett: Your daughter is what’s wrong. Kip: I don’t even believe you. That girl is one of the best people I know. And I’m not just saying that because I’m her dad. Rhett: Yeah, she is. That’s the problem.
“Having you think I’m out fucking everything that moves when I’ve looked at nothing and no one since the first day I laid eyes on you. I stepped into that godforsaken boardroom, and you practically demanded I become obsessed with you.”
One more championship and maybe I’ll take my gold buckle and hang up my hat. Preferably on Summer Hamilton’s head.
“It never mattered whose eyes were on your mom. Because her eyes were always on me.”
I know I have her permission to keep going. To keep ruining my reputation, right here and now, with her.
I’m hit with a realization that sends me reeling. Summer wasn’t just made for me. She’s it for me.
“I’m against hitting women myself, but I fully support you decking your sister.”
“But I want to make one thing clear. I am not possessive. I am protective. And I’ll never stop protecting you. I’d hit that fucker again in a heartbeat if it meant keeping him from talking to you that way.”
“One of the guys was knocked out. My guy. Gabriel’s son.
You need to figure out what you love and make that your life too.” The only word in my head when that screen door slams behind him is Summer.
It was everything. And it scared me. Rhett: I can’t lose you.
“Her? Oh, nah. She’s a mess. Get the lady a drink.”
Summer: Good luck tonight. Rhett: I love you.
Choosing each other. Finding each other. Showing up for each other. And everything about the moment is flawless.
