Bad Boy Rebound(40)

And all along he’d been right under my nose. Under my roof for a decade of my life. I smiled, thinking back at how odd life was sometimes.

People that knew him called him a heartbreaker, and maybe they always would. We had set tongues wagging, I know that much. But I didn’t care. I welcomed the stares and whispers because I had never been so happy in all my life.

Behind a beautiful exterior was a man with a heart of gold. Someone who would take the shirt off his back for anyone that needed it. Of course, he had his personal demons. We all did. I struggled with trust and I probably always would because of what I’d been through and because of the whispers that always seemed to be associated with Brax. I just hoped that one day I could trust wholeheartedly and not have my stomach drop to my toes every time Brax’s phone rang, or not feel insecure when he received a lingering glance from a waitress or some random chick walking past us.

Always, in those moments, he held me close and reassured me that I was the one he wanted to be with. That no one else interested him. That I was his, always and forever.

And I believed him. I didn’t doubt the emotion I saw in his eyes or the way he looked at me with so much love. You couldn’t fake that.

He wanted me. I wanted him. That’s all the mattered.

Kara had told me to screw the haters, and she was right. I didn’t care what anyone thought. They might make fun of the cradle robber, or so I had been called on so many social media sites, which made me laugh. I was less than five years older than Brax, but if that made me a cradle robber, then so be it. I owned the title. Plus, like she said—they were just jealous.

Although my mom had originally been nervous about me dating Brax, she had quickly come around once she realized the rumors were just that. When we’d gone to our first Sunday dinner together as a couple at my parents’ house, Mom had taken Brax aside and apologized to him for believing such vicious gossip. He told her he understood her concerns as a mother. After that discussion, Brax seemed really relieved, and to be honest, so was I. I wanted the people we loved most to be happy for us.

Thank goodness for my family and friends like Kara, who had proven to be a great friend and confidante. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders. Along with my brother and my parents, and, of course, Brax, I had come to embrace Maple Creek and everything it had to offer. This was home, and Brax Mitchell was my man…and I would hold onto him with both hands.

Touching the infinity necklace he had given me for our sixth month anniversary, I smiled and glanced down at the photo I had taken of him sleeping.

“What are you doing, babe?”

I glanced up from the camera to find sleepy green eyes staring back at me. “Taking pictures.”

“You’d think you’d get tired of taking pictures of me,” he said, holding an arm out. “Come here.”

Needing no further urging, I put down my camera and climbed into bed with him. I molded to his long body, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’ll never get tired of taking your picture. You’re perfect.”

He snorted. “I’m not perfect.”

“You are to me.”

“You’re perfect.” Brushing his thumb along my jawline, he kissed me softly. “I love you, Mandy.”

I would never tire of hearing those words. “I love you, too.”

He grinned, a big dimpled smile that made my heart skip a beat. “I was thinking that since we spend so much time with each other…maybe we should move in together.”

Of course I had hoped the topic would come up. “So you would move in here?” I asked, already excited at the prospect of living under one roof.



“For now, but maybe we could find our own house.”

Our own house. That sounded serious. I was ready for serious when it came to this man. “You mean sell both our houses…”

“And buy one that’s ours.” I could hear the excitement in his voice.

“A house on acreage with a shop?” I said, remembering him mentioning that’s what he wanted.

He grinned. “And one that has a room for your studio.”

“My studio?”

“Yeah, a photography studio. You’ve been taking pictures for your mom and her friend’s property listings. Why not go for it? Make photography your career.”

Oh my God, I loved this man. Taking pictures had been a passion for me a long time ago, and he had helped rekindle that passion. “Would I still work with you from time to time?”

He lifted a brow. “Of course. I like having you as my assistant, but when we have children, I’d love for you to have the option to stay home with them.”

My stomach tightened. Any talk of kids took me back to less than happy times and discussions. I couldn’t deny the appeal of having our children though. I wanted to be a mom, and having been around Kara, Marcus, and their kids, I yearned for a family even more.