Protect Me(86)

“Thank you,” he says with a warm smile.

“I’m just glad you know how that whole process works,” I add with my own cocky grin.

“Are you kidding me? I’m so good at it, I impregnated her with two,” he says with a laugh.

“That may be true, Jake, but just remember that I only have to worry about one penis,” Travis says with a smile. “You, have to worry about all of them!” I laugh at the priceless look on Jake’s face as it falls and fills with concern…and maybe anger.

“Erin!” he exclaims as he turns towards her. “Do you realize I have to worry about every penis now? Do you? And I have to worry twice as much,” he adds as he rubs his forehead fretting the start of a headache.

“Oh, Jake,” Erin says with a laugh as Jake turns and grabs his jacket off the chair. “Where are you going?” she asks.

“To buy more guns,” he exclaims as he takes off out the back door.

“I’ll go after him,” Maddox replies with the shake of his head.

The excitement could go on for hours with this family. My brood of nieces and nephews appears to be growing at an alarming rate which makes me want to get Lia out of the house and whisk her away to the creek bank that much more. “You ready to go? We have a stop to make,” I say to her as she finishes clearing the cake mess from the dining room table for Josselyn.

“Sure. Let me grab my coat,” she says as she heads back towards the guest room.

After we say our goodbyes and I give another promise to Grant to help him learn to drive his new toy as soon as he’s big enough, I take Lia’s hand and lead her towards my Mustang. “We have one stop to make before we head home,” I tell her as she slides into the passenger seat.

“Okay,” she says from the security of the car.

I close her door and make quick work of running around the front and dropping down into the driver’s seat. My hands shake as I turn the key and pull out of my brother’s driveway.

“Where are we going?” she asks, threading her small, chilled fingers within mine.

“It’s a surprise,” I tell her, but I know that as soon as we get close, she’ll figure it out pretty easily.

As we approach the edge of my parents’ property, I slow down and pull into the lane. I make quick work of removing the chain and opening the gate, trying to take a few calming breaths of the cool, November night air. It isn’t fucking helping. I’m still shaking like a virgin about to kiss a girl for the first time.

“This is my favorite spot,” she says nonchalantly as I drive up the familiar grass and dirt covered lane.

I don’t say anything as I park the car next to the shed. Hell, I couldn’t even if I wanted to since I can’t seem to get words out of my Sahara dry throat. I practically choke on the air I’m trying to force into my lungs.

I rush out of my car, my boots practically tripping over each other as I make my way to the passenger door. Lia has it open and is stepping out as I get there. She pulls her jacket tightly around her, the soft fleece material snug around her tits. Focus, Nate.

I take her cool hand inside mine and lead her towards the spot where we’ve sat so many nights, in the lawn chairs along the water’s edge. I’m practically crapping my pants from the anticipation and excitement. A small percentage of it is fear, but that’s a small percent.

Shit! She’s going to say NO!

I clear my throat and gaze at the beautiful woman in front of me. Lia’s brown hair blows softly in the cool night breeze. Her eyes seem to light up even more than any cut of brilliant diamonds. Her lips are pink and ripe for kissing. Later, Nate. It’s hard to believe that just three short months ago, I was floating through life without a purpose. Lia is now my purpose.

“This is my favorite spot, too,” I start, taking both hands in my own and bringing them up to my chest to keep them warm. “It has always been my place, but it feels better having you in it with me. I felt it that first night I brought you here, though I wasn’t in any sort of place to understand it yet. You make this place my solace just by being here because wherever you are, that’s my home.”

I watch as Lia’s eyes fill up with tears. I forge ahead before I lose my nerve and mess up the speech I’ve been practicing over and over again for days.

“I know we’ve only known each other for three months, but you need to know that I’ve waited my entire life for you. You are the reason I was put on this earth, Lia. To love you and protect you. To cherish you and make you smile. This place is my safe spot and it only seems fitting that we share it together,” I say as I turn her towards the water’s edge.