Page 18 of Hold Me Tight

With one blink, she pulls herself back together again as her tongue darts out to moisten her lips. “Are you sure about this?”

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.”

I lean in close enough that she has to tilt her chin upward to hold my gaze.

“Besides,” I say, “I’ll be there afterward to make sure you get home safe and sound. And Beau knows it.”

It would be impossible not to notice the way she stills as I slip my fingers beneath her chin. “If he touches one hair on your head, it’ll be the last thing he ever does.”

Her eyes flare as her lips part, but not a single sound comes out. For a second, all her quiet defenses falter as she stares up at me like she’s never heard words like that before.

Which kills me.

She deserves them.

This woman deserves to be worshipped like a queen.

It takes a moment for her to recover. “I don’t need a knight in shining armor.”

No, she doesn’t.

She’s more than capable of taking care of herself.

She’s had to.

“I never said you did. Looks to me like you’ve got it all under control. You’re a single mom and a business owner. No one needs to ride in and save you, Callie. But that doesn’t mean we don’t all need a helping hand every once in a while. And I want to be that for you.”

“Why?” she asks, brow furrowing.

“I think the answer is pretty obvious.”

I see the exact moment she swallows hard and decides not to push for more answers.

When she remains silent, I attempt to lighten the mood. “Do you really think I can’t handle Nora?”

“It’s not about you handling her. It’s about me not trusting just anyone with my daughter.”

“That’s fair,” I admit. “But you can trust me.”

Unable to help myself, my gaze dips to her mouth.

Just for a beat.

Long enough for her to see it.

Long enough for her to feel it too.

She turns away, grabbing a rag to wipe the counter. “If you’re sure?—”

“I am.”

“Okay then. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night. Do you need my address?”

“Nope, I already have it.” Mission accomplished, I waltz out of the bakery with a smile on my face.

It might not be a ton of progress.

But it’s more than enough.