Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
She studied his handsome profile, happy he was home now, that they were here, together. “I am glad that you found peace.”
He turned her hand and clasped their palms together. “I think I found acceptance more than peace. At least when it came to my mother. As for us, that may take a little longer.”
She curled her fingers around his. The walls around her heart had already begun to crumble and with each admission he made, she let him in more. “We’re okay, Aiden. No more wishing for what might have been or feeling guilty. We’ve each accepted our part in what happened, and just maybe we weren’t ready to be us back then.”
His gorgeous brown eyes stared into hers. “When did you become so wise, Brooklyn Snyder?”
She laughed. “I had to grow up too. Holding on to a grudge only served to stop me from seeing the truth from all sides.”
Leaning across the table, she pressed a spontaneous kiss to his lips, then lifted her head. “I think we’re both wiser now.” And that opened a whole host of possibilities for the future.
He slid a hand behind her neck, pulling her close. They kissed again and with each press of his lips and every electrifying stroke of his hand against her cheek, she fell for him all over again.
She just hoped he really had learned from the past and wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
By the time they left the fair, they were both exhausted. Aiden drove home, Brooke dozing in the passenger seat beside him. He’d had no hidden agenda for the night except to spend time with her and hope she had fun. He’d accomplished so much more. They’d reached a point of understanding he could only have wished for a few short weeks ago. His heart beat rapidly inside his chest at the thought of the progress they’d made together.
Brooke woke up as he pulled into the driveway, parked next to his father’s car and shut off the engine.
After they exited, they walked to the back of his car and he opened the hatch to grab all her goodies in his arms. The giant stuffed bear was soft and completely impractical, but once she’d said she wanted the massive thing, he’d been determined to win the ring toss game. He’d spent more on tickets to play repeatedly than it would have cost him to buy the damn thing at a store. But when he pointed that out, she playfully accused him of trying to take the fun out of the game. Of course, she’d been right.
They walked into the house, and she locked up behind them. Aiden plopped the panda onto the living room sofa. “I think we should leave this big guy right here. Then, everyone who comes to visit will know how talented I am.”
Brooke rolled her eyes. “You’re such an arrogant show-off.”
He flexed his biceps and grinned. “Don’t act like you aren’t impressed.”
Her light laughter made his heart feel like it was somersaulting in his chest.
They walked upstairs, side by side. This was the part of the evening that he’d been anticipating. He knew how she felt about staying in separate rooms, but his father and Lizzie were probably sleeping, and he refused to dwell on whether they were in the same bed. Nobody would know if Brooke stayed with him and left before morning.
He paused outside their side-by-side rooms. Brooke turned to him with a shy smile on her face that made his blood run hot. She leaned against the door, and he rested one arm on the frame beside her head.
“Did you enjoy our first date?” he asked, his face close to hers.
“You know I did,” she said, her words coming out on a breathless sigh. Her lips parted, and her eyes grew dark. “I had a great time.”
Electricity crackled between them, his body buzzing with desire. His need had bordered on desperation before, charged by years of separation and a yearning that had seeped into his bones. What he felt now was a pulsing arousal that made him want to savor her. Every. Delectable. Inch.
“And how do you want the night to end?” he asked, all but holding his breath.
She bit down on her bottom lip, then placed her hands on his chest, running them up, over his shoulders, before hooking them around the back of his neck. “I want to end it in your bed.”
She lifted onto her toes at the same time he lowered his head and their lips crashed together. He slid his tongue into her mouth, kissing her as he guided her to his room. He fumbled for the doorknob behind her until the door swung open, and they spilled into the room, breaking the kiss with laughter as they nearly fell to the floor.
They regained their footing. A soft golden light showered the room and allowed him to see everything, making him glad he’d left the lamp on his nightstand on. Brooke kicked the door shut with her foot and immediately pulled off her T-shirt and tossed it to the floor.