He chuckles. “No, they don’t. They get it. They told me to give you time, but I couldn’t stand the thought of you hurting and me not being there to hold you through it.”
I slip my hands under his shirt and feel the defined planes of his back as he holds me. I told him I loved them, both of them, but it’s more than that. It’s as if I’m no longer me without them. Nothing makes sense in my life without seeing the two of them as a part of it. Part of me is fearful Ridge would think I am trying to take Melissa’s place. Don’t get me wrong, it would be an honor to have that little man call me Mom, but that choice will be up to Ridge. Maybe one day in the future.
I would never want to take her place. I like to think that she’s looking down on us, and she’s happy that Ridge found someone who loves them the way I do. I think about my parents’ and my childhood. If it were me looking down on those I loved, I know it would bring me peace.
“You love me?” I ask him, needing to hear it again.
He chuckles. “I more than love you, Kendall. I just don’t have the words to explain it. It’s all-consuming, fierce, and I promise you it’s forever.”
Pulling back, I look up at him, a slow smile spreading across my face. “Let’s go say good-bye to little man and head to the cabin.”
His lips touch mine. “Love you, sweet girl.” He steps back and lifts me from the counter.
I follow him downstairs, dreading seeing Tyler and Reagan after the way I acted, but I should’ve known better. Reagan has Knox, and as soon as she sees us she walks right past Ridge and stops in front of me.
“You okay?” she asks, her voice low. I nod and offer her a teary smile. She surprises me when she pulls me into a one-armed hug. “He loves you. They both do. Embrace it, Kendall.”
I want to tell her that he told me. That I just shared one of the best moments of my life in that little half bath, but I don’t have time before she’s pulling away and handing Knox to me.
“Hey, buddy,” I say, my voice cracking. He grins up at me, and I can literally feel that grin tugging on my heartstrings.
“We’re going to take a minute.” Ridge places his hand on the small of my back. I don’t question him, allowing him to guide us upstairs.
It only took us another twenty minutes before we were loading up and on the road. Kendall and I took Knox up to my room and just cuddled with him. The way she loves my son makes my heart feel as though it’s going to beat right out of my chest. I want to tell her that she has nothing to worry about, that she’s it for me and she’ll never be apart from us, but I don’t want to scare her away.
She’s in my soul, and nothing is going to change that. I want her now and always, and she fucking loves me. I didn’t want to tell her like I did, but in reality it was perfect. She knows it was unplanned, that my love for her bubbled over and I had no choice but to tell her. The fact that she said it back is the cause of the permanent grin on my face.
The two-hour drive to the cabin is quiet. I reached out for her hand as soon as we were in the truck and she latched on, her grip tight the entire trip. I know my girl, and she’s processing tonight and earlier. The fact that we said “I love you” just hours ago.
“Is this it?” she asks.
“Yep, this is it. Have you ever been here?”
“No, although I’ve heard good things. Dad actually brought Mom here for their anniversary one year.”
“Smart man,” I say with a wink. That brings out her blinding smile.
“I think so. My parents’ are amazing.”
“Of course they are. They raised you, didn’t they?”
“Charmer.” She grins.
“Only for you, sweet girl. Only for you.” I grab our bags with complaint from Kendall that she can carry hers. Yeah, not gonna happen. Instead, I hand her the key to the cabin, and she unlocks the door for us.
“Ridge . . .” She stands in the center of the room and turns in a circle. “This place is great. It’s not at all what I expected.”
I laugh at that. “What exactly did you expect?”
“Something more . . . rustic.”
“I didn’t really want to rough it this trip. I have plans that all the amenities will be needed for.”
“Oh, yeah? And what might that be? Painting each other’s toenails?” she sasses.
I drop our bags and stalk toward her, throwing her over my shoulder. “Not even close,” I say, smacking her ass and carrying her off to the bedroom. I toss her on the bed and she’s laughing so hard she can hardly catch her breath.
“Caveman.” She giggles. “My cabin. My woman,” she says, attempting a manly voice.
“Not my cabin,” I lean down to kiss her neck. She tilts her head, giving me full access. “My woman.” I trace the length of her neck with my tongue, until my lips reach her ear. “My everything,” I whisper, and she shudders. I’m not sure it’s from my words, my touch—hell maybe both. Not that it matters, of course. I have her right where I want her. Two months. Two fucking long-ass months without knowing what it feels like to be inside her. That changes tonight.
I pull back from the kiss and search out those baby blues. What I see surely matches the reflection in my own—passion, want, lust, and love. Tonight has been a long time coming.
Standing to my full height, I lace my fingers through hers and guide her off the bed. She doesn’t hesitate. Once I have her standing before me, I kiss her again.
Slow and steady wins the race. As much as I want to rush through this, to push inside her now, I won’t. I’m going to savor her, cherish the gift of this amazing, beautiful woman.