He Said Forever (The Lost Corisis Book 4) by Ruth Cardello

Author:Ruth Cardello [Cardello, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781951888398
Publisher: Ruth Cardello
Published: 2023-02-20T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jared

I stood when Michawn reentered the main cabin. Piper did as well, but I’m sure not for the same reason. Yes, she was thinner than the woman I’d met at Hamilton’s house, but a glow was returning to her and it took my breath away.

There was a spark of confidence in her eyes as she approached. Tempted as I was to cross the room to her, I was beginning to see that part of her journey was to choose to come to me.

She stopped within touching distance. The smile she flashed me was a little shaky, but her voice wasn’t when she said, “Thank you for the gifts. You’re incredibly considerate.”

I held her gaze. “Not many would describe me that way.”

She looked away then back. “The ones who know you best would.”

I inhaled sharply. I don’t know if words had ever been uttered that’d affected me more. In her eyes I saw the man I wanted to be. I wasn’t too broken . . . I could be the man she deserved.

A weight I hadn’t realized I’d chosen to carry was lifted.

Dominic’s words came back to me. “Being with her felt a whole lot better than being without her. Jared, when it’s right, you won’t need to punish yourself to quiet the chaos in your head. She’ll bring you that kind of peace.”

I’d wanted to believe that was possible, but years of punishing myself made me doubt I was capable of another way. Abby had freed Dominic from a prison he’d created for himself. Could Michawn do that for me?

No one else had brought me close to believing I could have something normal . . . and good. I didn’t yet have the words to articulate that but I knew one day I would, so I cupped her face with my hands and gave her a gentle kiss and did my best to show her. When I raised my head, she was all eyes.

Taking her hands in mine, I said, “I may have gone overboard shopping, but I wanted you to have everything you need.”

“I can’t think of anything you missed.”

“What did you think of the toys? Did I choose well?”

Her face flushed. “They . . . they . . . I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“Good, because I never had a dog and I don’t know Piper well enough to know what he likes besides a ball.”

“Piper?” she choked out her dog’s name. “You bought toys for him?”

Her embarrassment suddenly made sense to me. “You didn’t look in his luggage, did you?”

If it were possible her face flushed redder. “No.”

A grin spread across my face. “Well, then, we’re not talking about the same toys.” She was so damn adorable I gathered her against me. “But while we’re on the topic, did you have any thoughts you’d like to share about the ones I bought for you?”

She gave my chest a light swat. “No.”

“But I chose well?”

With her eyes averted, she said, “I’m sure they’re wonderful.”

“Are you not into them?”

She cleared her throat.

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