Page 112

Instantly she starts patting her hair, worried I’m scrutinizing her appearance. In reality, I’m basking in it.

“Stop. You’re beautiful.”

“I must be a mess.”

“Do you want me to be honest?”

Her big golden orbs blink up at me. “Uh, sure,” she says, but she’s anything but sure.

“The nights you were headed out on the town, perfectly put together, makeup on point, hair styled, and the clothes that cost more than a week’s pay …” I pause, taking a deep breath, hoping she has ears to hear what I’m about to say. “That was when you were a mess. Here, relaxed, in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt, with no makeup on other than a smudge of paint on your cheek, you’re the most put together I’ve ever seen.”

Her fingers dance lightly over her cheek, but she doesn’t say anything. I begin to worry I’ve offended her. I march her across the hall to my sister’s room.

“Look at us. We’re both dirty, tired, and happy. Or at least I am.”

Her head falls back against my chest, and she sighs. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, Ash.”

“I know it’s not going to happen overnight, but you’re doing so good, baby. I hope someday you’ll look at yourself in the mirror and realize just how beautiful you are, inside and out.”

A small smile begins to tug up the corner of her mouth, and she giggles. “You know, you do look good dirty.”

I growl in her ear, pulling her close against me.

“Willow said you had a surprise for me,” she continues to tease, wiggling her fine little ass against me.

“I do, but it’s not quite finished. I’ll make you a deal. You show me your surprise, and I’ll show you mine.”

She giggles again. “That sounded naughty.”

I laugh with her.

This … this is what I’ve been dreaming of.

Lexie is finally loosening up around me and letting her guard down.

“Do we have a deal or no?”

She turns around and holds her hand out. “Deal.”

I grab her hand and gently jerk her toward me, sealing it with a kiss.

Chapter Fifty

Lexie

My heart is hammering in my chest as Ash and I walk through his tiny home. It’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. I crawl over the bed in the loft to look out the windows. “Oh, you can see the stream from up here,” I squeal.

He laughs and plops down beside me. “Isn’t it perfect? We can watch the sun rise every morning from right here in our bed.”

My head turns slowly, and I stare at the side of his face. This incredibly handsome, honorable man just saidourbed.

This is real. Ash is mine … this house …

All those questions he asked me as we sat waiting for help on that mountain weren’t just ramblings to keep my mind occupied. He was listening to every answer and taking note, all the while I was worrying that he was thinking the worst of me for getting us into a bad situation.

Maybe my thoughts have been lying to me.

He notices I’m not looking at the view, and his eyes lock on mine.