Page 22 of Sweet Possession

“Open this one first, it’s from Nash and Sav,”Fox said, handing me abulky parcel.

I took it from him, the weight of it surprising me, and I almost droppedit. With all eyes watching me, I slowly unwrapped it, being careful not to rip the paper.

I didn’t know why I didn’t want the paper to tear, maybe because alittle voice in the back of my head kept telling methatthis was the only time I’d ever get presents, and I wanted to cherish every part of this moment.

When the paper came away, I turned the gift over in my hands. It wasa set of five different cookbooks, each one stuffed full with recipes from all over the world.

I couldn’t imagine the books were cheap. Gratitude coursed throughme at Savannah and Nash’s generosity, but I couldn’t find it in me to tell themthatI’d probably never be able to cook anything from the books.

Not because I didn’t want to, but because I wouldn’t be able to readthe recipes.

How could I tell these three people, who were not only being kind andthoughtful, but were clearly intelligent people,thatI could barely read a sentence?

Between kids picking on me at school, teachers not having the timeto sit down and help me, and my dad not always letting me go to classes, I’d never had the opportunity to learn to read. Or write, forthatmatter.

Mrs. Tucker had tried to help me, enoughthatI could understandbasic words, but complex recipes in cookbooks? No chance.Thatwas why I’d always opted to watch cooking programs, playing them over and over again until the ingredients and step-by-step instructions were seared into my brain.

“Thank you, these are incredible,”I said to Nash and Savannah as Iflicked through the pages, admiring the pictures of mouthwatering dishes.

I gave them the brightest smile I could muster which they bothreturned, thankfully oblivious to my inner turmoil.

“Open this one next,”Fox said eagerly. He was practically bouncingas he pushed a large box in front of my knees, evidently too heavy to lift.“I hope you like it.”

Nervous anticipation zapped through me as I again started tocarefully peel the paper away, awarethatall three of them were watching me with bated breath.

“Oh my god,”I gasped as I pulled the last of the paper away beforefalling to my knees at the side of the box and gawking at the picture on the side of it.

A kitchen aid.

Averyexpensive kitchen aid, one I could only ever dream aboutowning. It was the perfect tool to make all the treats I wanted.

“Fox, I can’t accept this, it’s too much,”I whispered, tears welling inmy eyes as part of me wanted to take the words back as soon as they left my mouth.

I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the picture of the mixer and all theattachments it came with. For years, I’d go into department stores and gape at all the equipment I’d one day love to own, and now I was looking at a piecethatcould be mine.

“Baby girl,”Fox said, his voice low and demanding, dragging myattention away from the box. Whenever he called methat, I was helpless to ignore him.“Iwantyou to have it, I bought it for you.”He reached out to cup my cheek, and I couldn’t help but nuzzle against his warm palm.“One day, you’ll learnnothingwill ever be too much when it comes to you.”

My heart pounded against my ribcage as his words cascaded throughme like warm sunshine. Without conscious thought, my gaze drifteddown to his lips as a question turned over in my head.

What would it be like to feel his lips pressed against mine?

So much for keeping my wits about me.

Fox was turning me into putty in his hands.

Had.

Hehadturned me into putty in his hands.

Chapter 7

Fox

When Nash told me how he felt the first time he laid eyes onSavannah, I didn’t understand it. How could he fall so hard and fast for someonejustby looking at them?

Nash couldn’t explain it either, simply statingthathe knew she wasthe one for him, and one day, I’d know what he was talking about.

I didn’t believe him.