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Mom stood up straighter. “Good. That means we’re raising our boys well.”

The memory hit me hard. It came on so quickly that it took the breath right out of me. It left this ache where the hole had been ever since they were both taken from us. Fucking hell, I missed them.

I could almost hear my dad as if he were there, telling me to go to Ainsley and make it up to her for what I had said.

She was in the kitchen, opening and closing drawers looking for something, but when she couldn’t find whatever it was, she would slam the drawer closed.

“Looking for something?” I asked, slowly making my way toward her.

Her head whipped around, her gaze searing into me. If looks could kill, I would have been dead on the spot. She may have had no voice but fuck, could she speak with her eyes. Her feelings swam behind her dark gaze. They toyed with me, tempting me to go closer and fall within them.

As if my body had a mind of its own, it took a step toward her.

Ainsley turned toward me, placing her hands on her hips.

“Listen, I’m an asshole, alright?” I ran a hand through my hair, shame resting on my shoulders over the shit I had said. “I’m not used to this.”

She frowned, tilting her head. Confusion was etched in her beautiful features. If I was an artist, I could spend the rest of my life drawing or painting her. She was breathtaking.

The closer I got, the more I could see the freckles on her nose and cheeks. I could also see the hint of caramel in her blonde hair that was around her head in messy waves. The lighting in the kitchen was fluorescent and I could have thanked whoever set it up that way because I could see Ainsley. I could see more than she probably realized as well. Her nipples were hard beneath her tank top, making my mouth water for her.

“I’ve never liked a woman like this,” I confessed, inching closer to her. “Like you.”

She took a step away from me, backing up until she hit the edge of the counter.

I took that as my chance and closed the distance between us. She couldn’t use her words, well she sure as hell was going to listen to what I had to say. Boxing her in, I placed a hand on either side of her, gripping the edge of the counter.

“I like you, Ainsley. I want to date you. I want to spend time with you. I wanted to sleep with you last night, but I also didn’t want to scare you. I wouldn’t have hinted for more. I just wanted to be with you.” I reached out, cupping her jaw and forcing her head back. “Eyes, pet.”

When they landed on me, her lips parted.

“I wanted to lay beside you. You’ve opened up feelings in me that I can’t explain but I know that I’ve definitely never felt them before.” Lowering my mouth to hers, I breathed her in. My dick jumped, pushing against the fly of my jeans.

My phone rang somewhere in the distance, ruining our little moment.

Breaking the kiss, I crouched until we were at eye level. “Iamsorry. Can you forgive me?”

She chewed her lip, her eyes searching my face. She reached out, brushing her thumb along my mouth and closing the distance between us. When she pressed her lips to mine, that was the only indication of ayesthat I needed.

“Friday,” I murmured against her mouth. “I’m taking you out for dinner. I’ll pick you up and drop you off. All the lame shit they do in the movies.”

A breathless laugh left her.

I grinned, grabbed her hands, and brought them up to my mouth. “Okay?”

She nodded.

“Good.” Pulling away from her, I went to get another coffee when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Looking down at her as she stepped up beside me, she lifted her hands.

I accept your apology,she signed slowly for me.I’m not used to this either, so I’m sorry too.

Don’t be,I responded.

She smiled, nudging me in the shoulder with hers.

We made another coffee and spent the rest of the morning playing one of her video games before she had to get ready to go to the center. I found myself wondering what her actual voice sounded like. Was it high-pitched or husky? Was it soft? Either way, I prayed that one day I would be blessed enough to hear it but until then, I would never take my time with her for granted.

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