Page 49 of Beyond Repair, Part One (Damaged Duet #1)

Ridge

W ill is the dad I always wanted, but I have to say, saying bye to him and Meg after two days of them visiting is a relief. Thankfully, he didn't try to kill me or the guys, but there were plenty of threats.

The conversations he had with us weren't the normal if you hurt my daughter I'll make your life hell . No, this was much deeper than that. It felt like he was quizzing us to see how much we've learned about Nina and her triggers.

Basically, Will wanted to know if we could actually take care of her without getting frustrated with the things that make her different. Our assurances bounced off his thick skin, but eventually, our words sank in.

That doesn't mean he made our lives easier while they were here. I'm pretty sure Will didn't blink once. Whether he was staring us down or wide-eyed watching Nina play catch with me outside, he was always watching.

Meg was a little less awestruck than her husband, but she made a point to hug each of us a little longer and even whispered thank you in my ear a few minutes ago. Knowing Nina's parents approve of our relationship makes me feel freer.

With a deep breath, I enter my room at the back of the house and grab my sketch pad. It feels like time I share this side of me with my girl again. As I'm walking out of my room, the bare walls catch my attention. Nina has her guest rooms furnished, but there are no decorations or personal touches.

We've been a bit hesitant to lay down roots in her home since she's under the impression that this is temporary, but I feel like she needs us to take the lead and stake our claim.

Eyeing the box shoved in the corner of the room, I think about my decision for two seconds, then decide fuck it . I'm here to stay. I'm a permanent fixture in her life, and this is as great a way as any to show her that.

I 'm sweating. Since I started this project, I haven't been able to stop. I don't even know what time it is. My shirt disappeared about half a wall ago, yet it feels like I'm outside basking in the sun. Whether it’s excitement or anxiety, I can't really tell.

Truthfully, I'm worried when Nina sees what I've done in her guest bedroom she's going to think I'm a creep. I know a few ways to take her mind off of my stalker ways, though.

So when a choked inhale and a loud thud sounds behind me, I'm glad I'm already half naked. This is going to be much easier if I can distract her with my six-pack. "Nina girl," I drawl, turning around with a panty melting grin. No, I wasn't lying when I said I was reading her books.

Her big gray eyes widen with each sketch she comes across—and there are many . One entire wall, almost floor to ceiling, has my drawings taped to it.

"Ridge." Her hand flutters up to her mouth as she slowly steps into my bedroom. "What is this?"

"I'm moving in," I joke, but all she does is glance at me like she already knew that. I clear my throat and rub my neck while Nina studies each sketch like they're gold. "They're you. A lot of you. And the guys."

"You drew us," she murmurs, sounding reverent.

"I sketch what I love."

"Ridge..." Her eyes look pained when she looks at me. "Where's the color? You did such beautiful color."

"My life lost its color when I lost you, Nina." Honesty feels easy because everything I have to offer revolves around her. Nina is my world. "I started working with charcoal a lot to feel closer to you." Charcoal was Nina's medium of choice.

No response is needed, and I'm content with the look of understanding and heartbreak in her gaze. She understands. Tears track down her cheeks as she nods. I smile and wait to see what she'll do next.

She sniffles while looking at one I made last week while she and Kai were chatting on the couch. Both were slumped against the cushions with only their heads turned towards each other while they spoke quietly.

The room is silent as she makes her way through my artwork. The next one Nina wipes a tear at is one of her and Henry snuggled up by the fire together. I wasn't able to recreate the look of pure serenity on her face.

Pointing at it, she glances at me with a little frown and watery eyes. "I don't look like this, Ridgie."

I stay where I am, not wanting to interrupt her moment. "What do you mean?"

"You made me..." She looks at it again. "Beautiful. Happy..."

Fucking hell . Screw giving her space. Closing the distance between us, I grab her jaw and tug her around to look me in the eye. "Nina, are you not happy?"

Watching her eyes glaze over for a moment while she thinks about her answer physically hurts me, then she gives me the tiniest of nods. "I think I am."

"Say it," I demand, needing her to own the fact that she is, in fact, happy .

"I'm happy," Nina mutters. I raise a brow and she giggles a little laugh. Louder this time, she announces, "I think I really am happy, Ridge."

"And beautiful," I sneak in, but she doesn't fall for it. "Don't make me tell Trev you were talking shit about yourself. I know he keeps threatening to spank you and this might just be the time he follows through on it."

Gray eyes narrow at me. "He wouldn't."

And like absolute divine intervention, Trevor walks in. "Who wouldn't what?"

"Nothing!"

"Tell me, cousin," I drawl, slowly stepping back from my girl to point at a sketch, "do you think Nina looks pretty in this one?"

Trev comes closer and takes in the image of him plopping a piece of popcorn on Nina's tongue. "Absolutely exquisite."

"And this one?" I gesture to another where she's pushing my glasses up my face with her nose.

"Beautiful," he agrees, nodding while he continues to admire all my artwork. There are so many of Nina alone that I'm shocked she hasn't called me out for being weird. "This is my favorite, though."

Trevor plucks one off the wall of just Nina. In this image, her face is canted down, but her shining eyes are looking up at me. Her waves tumble near her cheekbones, making her look innocent and sad. Her bottom lip sticks out in a little pout too, so it's no wonder that's Trev's favorite.

"I...Thank you," Nina stutters and shifts in place. When I look over, I catch her checking me out. Then she bites her lip and I can't keep myself from stepping back toward her. Snapping her gaze up to my face, her cheeks instantly redden.

"Where are Kai and Henry?" My tone is thick. Actually no, that's my cock.

"Date night," Trevor replies easily.

Humming, I take another step toward my wiggly girl. "What do you say we have our own?" I ask my cousin in a low voice that promises wonderful things for us if he agrees.

"I'd say..." Trevor rumbles and walks around me. Nina doesn't move as he edges behind her and swipes the hair from her shoulder. "That I just figured out what I want to eat."

Fuck yes.