Page 19 of The Locksmith’s Promise (The Promise Duet #1)

Promise

M aggie

Moving forward felt a whole helluva lot like stepping back in time. Especially since I hadn’t been to Mistlevale since the last time Baxter spirited me away.

This place held one of my favourite memories, one that remained unsullied despite what happened later. To be back here with him, after all this time, brought me back to that place where we were madly, irrevocably in love.

The madness had passed, but the irrevocability remained.

Looking up at him as he loped along beside me, my stomach dipped at what would come later.

What would he be like now?

Would my body recognize his?

Remember his touch?

A small, slightly hysterical laugh burst from my lips. Perhaps the madness hadn’t quite passed.

Baxter laced his fingers through mine, his mouth tilted up on one side as he stared down at me. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Mags?”

I flushed. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

He chuckled and squeezed my hand. “Based on your pink cheeks, I definitely do. What colour are your toes today?”

My eyebrows rose. “My toes?”

“Yeah. You change the colour every day.”

“Hm,” I teased. “Let’s see if you can figure it out.”

The calloused pads of his fingertips stroked the back of my hand. “Oh, I’ll figure it out,” he promised. “I’m very observant, especially where you’re concerned.”

I laughed. The sweet familiarity of that touch in this place fused the past and present together into one continuous timeline where our son bridged the gap of our separation.

He’d been part of my life even when he wasn’t with me.

I squeezed back. “Finding out about Corwin must have been crazy. We were linked this whole time, and you didn’t know. It must have been a shock.”

He rubbed a rough hand over his chin and tilted his head to the side as we walked. “You’ve never not been in my thoughts and plans, I just didn’t know about Cor. If I had known, I would have gone to you, Maggie. I couldn’t go back to Moose Lake, but I would have met you wherever you were.”

“Do you think we would have made it back then?”

After a moment, he shook his head. “No.” Wincing apologetically, he explained, “I was a mess. I was terrified I’d turned into my father. Chances are, even if I did know about Corwin during that first year or two, I would have run in the other direction.”

His shoulders slumped. “I’m not proud of it, but it seemed the best and safest for you at the time.”

“When did things change for you?”

“After that first year, I started working out and cleaning up my health. Played guitar every night and eventually joined a cover band. Worked with a general contractor and started my locksmith apprenticeship.”

“I bet you were good at that,” I teased.

He laughed. “Well, I certainly had the experience.”

“Funny how Sergeant Elliott never arrested you for all the locks you picked.”

“I never took anything and always locked things up again, but it was a challenge. And it was something I was good at. Elliott always had my back, even when it seemed like he didn’t,” he mused. “He’s the one who made sure my father dropped the charges.”

“I can’t believe he pressed charges against you after everything he did to you,” I fumed.

He pulled me under his arm and held me against his side. “I don’t think about him or talk about him, Maggie. He hasn’t been part of my life for a long time. If you have questions, I’ll answer them. But I’d just as soon leave the past in the past.”

“I understand,” I murmured. “Bax? Why didn’t you come for me later?”

“I didn’t feel I’d done enough to be worthy of you.” He sighed. “And I figured you never going back to Moose Lake meant you wanted nothing more to do with me.”

Was that part of it? If I was brutally honest with myself, was I also running from him all this time?

I couldn’t think about it anymore.

Maybe Baxter was right, and looking back was a waste of the gift of our second chance. “Just so you know, you’ve always been worthy.”

Before he could argue, I grabbed his hand and tugged him in front of a storefront window and stared in wonder.

“Baxter, look at this one!” I laughed. “I forgot how intense these displays are!”

In Mistlevale, the little town that celebrated Christmas all year round, they took their window displays seriously and changed them with every season.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a spooky Santa,” he murmured, moving closer to the window. “It reminds me of that Hallowe’en slash Christmas movie about the skinny pumpkin guy in the striped pyjamas.”

My smile stretched wider across my face. “Not sure I’ve ever heard it described like that, but I know what you mean.”

“You look gorgeous, by the way,” he added.

“Thank you.” I stood taller, pleasure rushing through me.

Other than a few unwanted advances and a handful of catcalls, I hadn’t enjoyed a man’s honest appreciation in far too long.

When Baxter told me to wear something nice, I took him at his word and went all out. It had been a long time since I’d worn high heels, and my legs looked fantastic. Combined with my trench coat, tightly belted at the waist, I looked sexy as hell.

“Took you long enough to say something.”

He barked out a laugh. “You had me all tongue-tied.”

“Oh, sure,” I snorted.

“You did!” He laughed, throwing his arm around my shoulders and hugging me close as we resumed our walk. “Hands waving, hair flying, giving everybody orders, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.”

He wasn’t wrong.

A ripple of unrest passed through the butterflies in my stomach.

“It’s not that easy, Bax. Other than a couple of professional development weekends, this is the first time I’ve left him.”

He dipped his head and nuzzled me, his lips ghosting over my temple as he palmed the nape of my neck. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

The butterflies took flight, their gossamer wings fluttering against my heart. “I seem to remember you making a similar promise a long time ago.”

His voice lowered to that sexy hum that did detrimental things to my panties. “Did I make good on it back then?”

I smiled at the memory of our first time. “You did. You made it so special for me.”

He sighed, his grip on my neck tightening as he pulled me closer. “It was special for me too, Maggie.”

I closed my eyes as the fear of losing him all over again hit me. I wasn’t that na?ve, untouched girl anymore. I knew all too well how easily happily ever after could slip away.

And I knew exactly what I had to lose if things went south.

“Maggie,” he murmured. “I won’t let you down. And if you’re not ready for this, we can just hang out, or even head home if you prefer.”

“No.” I shook my head for good measure. “I want to move forward. I’m ready for you. For us.”

Tipping my chin back, I met his serious gaze.

The raw, unfiltered heat in his eyes stole my breath and set me on fire.

“Bax,” I whispered.

“Tell me what you need.” He stroked his thumb over the pulse in my throat, his eyes searching mine. “Whatever it is, I’ll make it happen.”

The truth settled into my bones. Voice steady, I replied, “I need what I’ve always needed.”

His hand trembled against my neck.

I brushed away the remnants of my fear and slammed the lid down on all my what ifs.

“What’s that?” he asked gruffly.

“You.”

He dipped closer as his dark eyes latched onto mine. “You have me, Maggie. I swear to God, you have me.”

“I think I’m ready to go to our hotel,” I murmured.

“Now?” His eyebrows rose as he lurched back. “I haven’t even fed you yet.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Do we have reservations?”

He gave his head a quick shake and stepped back. “What am I doing?”

Grasping my hand, he turned us around. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Wait!” I cried, struggling to keep up as he took off, my hand clasped tightly in his. “Where were we going to eat?”

“Ayana’s,” he answered, his gaze swinging to look both ways before trotting across the street with me in tow.

Ayana’s was the fanciest restaurant in the entire area and a prime spot for proposals. Inside, Ayana’s boasted soft, twinkling lights, draping fabrics, and one hundred shades of white. It was like stepping inside a life size snow globe.

“You made reservations at Ayana’s?” I asked, astounded.

He stopped on the other side of the street and cupped my face in his hands. “I wanted to do it right this time. No cheap motel or all-night diner like last time. I wanted everything to be perfect, just like you.”

I laid my hand over his and admitted huskily. “I have rather fond memories of that motel.”

Blowing out a breath, he dipped his chin and pressed his forehead to mine. “There’s been a change of plans. Are you okay with that?”

Tipping my chin up, my lips barely touching his, I murmured. “We’ll go to Ayana’s another time.”

“Thank God,” he breathed. His touch firmed as he pressed his lips to my forehead.

“But you’re going to have to slow down. My legs aren’t as long as yours, and I’m wearing heels.”

Eyes sliding down the length of my legs, he growled, “And you’ll be keeping those on.”