He took a step back and placed his hands in his pockets. "So you love her?"

I knew that I cared for her deeply, way more than I thought I ever could care again. Love was a strong word, though-one that I wouldn't throw out there until I had no doubts. "I care about her a lot. Love...well, I know the chances of that becoming a future confession are pretty d.a.m.n high," I stated.

Colt just stared at me for a moment, as if he were looking for some fault within me.

"Just do me a favor and don't hurt her. She has had enough of that in the past. She has built some pretty high walls around her heart. Maria doesn't think she deserves happiness." Pulling his hands from his pockets and twisting his keys around mindlessly in his hands, he looked back up to meet my gaze. "There isn't anything I would like to see more than for her to get that happy ending."

I grinned just slightly. "I'll see what I can do," I said in return.

With a nod of his head, he turned and walked away.

There is no doubt Maria deserves a happy ending. I just hope we can find it together.

Slipping my phone from my back pocket, I scrolled until I found her name.

Can you be ready by six?

I waited, staring at the phone for a response. When my phone chirped, a smile spread out over my face.

I can, but where are you taking me?

I had no intention of telling her I planned on making her feel adored tonight. She needs a little happiness, and she deserves to be spoiled.

That all started tonight.

Just be ready. Wear your red boots.

I could imagine her smiling as she read my response. My phone chirped once again but, before I could read the response, I heard a chuckle to my right.

"d.a.m.n man, do you and your phone need a little time alone?" Reed stood in the doorway holding Rhett.

I shook my head. "No, we're finished."

"Well, from the looks of it, you were having a good time together." I could tell he was fighting back his laughter.

Reed and I had never really had any form of relationship. I mean we talked, but only if we were brought together by the girls. I guess it was about time I started letting people back in.

After all, Maria and Kori are best friends. I did work for his in-laws. It was inevitable we would be in one another's presence often.

"I was talking to Maria," I stated.

"Oh, yeah? How's she doing?" he asked. Reed was also a very important person to Maria, regardless of Kori. They had known each other for years. I know a lot of people would be more than happy to put me in my place if I hurt her any more than I already had.

"She's doing better. We both are," I replied.

Reed nodded his head, and then his eyes bored into mine. "Listen, I'm real sorry about the baby," he confessed.

At the mention of the baby, my chest tightened. No one had really asked me how I felt about the loss. It killed me knowing that my child was no longer tucked safely in Maria's tummy. Yeah, the whole d.a.m.n thing was unplanned, but I would have accepted it regardless.

"Thanks," I sighed, turning back to continue with my work.

Bud came in shortly afterward and took Rhett in his arms. The little man would be hanging out with us today. He was with us often, and I had to admit he was kinda growing on me.

At that moment, though, he made my heart ache. The thought of a little boy running around who Maria and I had created together kept filling my mind.

Remembering Maria, I grabbed for my phone once more to look at her last text, which I had yet to read.

Red boots? Shouldn't I wear something more than just my boots?

I chuckled, shaking my head as I typed out my next response.

Your choice. I'm sure walking around nude may be distracting to others and myself. On second thought, cover yourself up. I'm not sharing.

Chapter Fifteen.

I got a call from my lawyer back in Savannah. The final paperwork is ready. I would have to make a trip back to sign within the next few days.

The mess with Nicole will soon be left behind.

But for tonight, I won't think about it all; tonight is about Maria. I want her to feel like she is the center of my world. By the end of the night, I want her to know that she means more to me than I have ever allowed her to know.

She stepped from her porch before I could get out of my truck. The smile on her face lit me up. I stood at the side of my truck taking all of her in, from head to toe. She wore a tan dress and a lacy overlay with a red belt. Trailing my eyes down to her feet, I found those red boots she loves so much.

I chuckled and walked in her direction. Just before I reached her, she spun in a circle and I gripped her waist, pulling her up against my body. "I see you decided to take my advice and wear more than just your boots."

She shrugged. "I figured spending the night in the county jail wasn't something on my wish list."

Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck and feeding my fingers up through her hair, I steadied her before me. "You look beautiful," I whispered.

Lowering my lips to hers, I kissed her softly and she whimpered. I loved that sound. It made it obvious she felt the same things I did. That connection is the one I have fought from the beginning.

Pulling back, I rested my forehead against hers and brushed the tip of her nose with mine. "You ready to get going?"

"You gonna tell me yet where it is you're taking me?" she asked.

I took her hand in mine and led her to my truck, helping her up. She giggled when I boosted her up by placing my hand on her bottom.

"Well, if you wanted to touch my a.s.s, all you had to do was ask, handsome." She winked over at me and a grin spread out over my lips. I shook my head and closed the door, chuckling to myself as I walked around and climbed up to join her.

Once we were on the highway, I placed my hand on her knee and lightly brushed my fingertips along her leg. The touch set a relaxed tone for both of us.

Arriving at a place just outside of town, I placed my truck in park and looked over to meet Maria's smiling face.

I know how much she loves to dance, so a honky tonk restaurant seemed the best place to take her. We could grab something to eat, and then I could spin her around the dance floor.

When we walked inside her face lit up, seeing all the couples holding each other close. I could see the excitement in her eyes. "Let's get something to eat first. Then we'll dance." I whispered from behind before placing a kiss onto her temple.

While we ate, I watched a little boy, about the age of eight or so, who sat to the left of us. He kept sneaking little glances in Maria's direction, when he thought no one was looking. I couldn't help but smile, as I knew what he was feeling. Maria is beautiful.

"What are you smiling at?" Maria asked, as she looked around the room.

I leaned forward, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "You have an admirer." I nodded my head just slightly toward the boy, and she casually looked in his direction.

The moment he saw that she had spotted him watching her, his cheeks reddened with embarra.s.sment.

Turning back to face me, she winked before sliding from the booth and approaching the little boy's table. I sat wondering what in h.e.l.l she could be doing.

She spoke quietly with his mother, who appeared to be a single mom with two children-the little guy who was admiring my date and another little boy who is maybe about four.

After a short conversation with Maria, the woman smiled and nodded her head, as she looked over at her son. Maria changed sides and held her hand out to the little boy. His face lit up and he looked past her, as if asking me if it was okay. I thought the entire situation was real sweet.

I nodded my head and watched as Maria led him to the dance floor and began showing him how to do the two-step.

At that moment, she looked so happy and free, like she didn't have a care in the world. It truly was an amazing moment-one that warmed my heart to witness. She has an amazing soul, and regardless of the pain she has suffered in her life, she has the ability to bring out the happiness in others.

After the first dance, the little boy seemed to catch on, and they went on to dance a couple more. His mother stood from the booth and snapped a few pictures before turning back to me and smiling.

"Your wife's really sweet. Mikey needed that. After the year he's had, it's really great to see him smile." She looked back out to watch them once more.

The girl was so young that it was hard to believe she could be old enough to mother these two children.

"I'm sorry to hear you and your boys have had a run of bad luck," I said, causing her to turn back to me.

"Oh no, um, you see..." she paused, as if trying to figure out how to explain what she meant. "Mikey's not mine. He lost his parents in a car accident about eleven months ago. This is the first time I've really seen him laugh since then. I used to be his babysitter. I actually try to take him out once a week, just to get him away from the children's home."

The moment she said 'children's home' my heart hit the floor. "Doesn't he have any other family that can take him in?"

She shook her head and looked back to the little boy in the booth. "That's my son, Jeffrey. If I wasn't raising him alone, I'd take Mikey in a heartbeat. Most days I find it hard to survive with just the two of us. I'd only be fooling myself if I tried to take him on. It breaks my heart to take him back to that place. The look in his eyes crushes me each time I walk away. It makes me feel like I should do more, ya know?"

Turning once more to look over at Maria and Mikey dancing, the woman spoke as her voice cracked with emotion. "But what your wife is doing right now is one of the most heartfelt moments I've ever witnessed. A complete stranger taking her time to make a little boy feel special is amazing. She didn't have to do that, but she did. It says a lot about the kind of person she is. If you don't mind me saying so, you are pretty lucky to have her in your life."

The lady was right. I was lucky. After all the pushing, she was here with me.

Hearing her call Maria my wife didn't make me want to correct her. I watched them as the song ended and they began walking in our direction. They were laughing, and it sent my heart into overdrive.

"What home is he in?" I asked the lady before Maria and Mikey reached us.

"Joseph's in Statesboro," she replied, just before they reached our tables.

I stood back and took in the excitement on the boy's face as he tried to show us what Maria had taught him.

Maria and I never really got the chance to dance at the honky tonk, so when we got back to my house, I made sure we got our dance.

Turning on a slow song, I slowly walked toward her and pulled her into my arms. Our bodies began to slowly sway together.

Making love to Maria was something that was continuously running through my mind. I wanted to take my time with her, something I had yet to do. With us, it had always been rushed.

Our next time together, I would show her what it felt like to be treasured.

Because of her recent procedure after the miscarriage, we needed to refrain for just a little longer. So holding one another close would have to satisfy our hunger for each other just a little longer.

Chapter Sixteen.

Watching Maria walk out of my room wearing one of my t-shirts was one of the s.e.xiest sights. Here she was-this cute little thing, long dark hair going in all different directions, sleepy-eyed and beautiful.

"Good morning," she yawned. Taking a seat on the bar stool, she blinked up at me and my knees felt instantly weak.

Something changed last night. Watching her perform such a selfless act for a young boy she didn't even know made my feelings for her stronger.

She had no idea that Mikey had suffered such a loss. h.e.l.l, she still didn't know about me. I hadn't told her about my life before Brooklet-well, besides the small bit regarding Nicole.

I scooped the scrambled eggs from the pan and placed them on the plate next to the bacon I had already finished. Taking a seat next to her, I leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the side of her mouth.

"Eat up, baby, we've got some things to discuss." I urged her on, as I lifted my fork to my mouth.

She sat next to me, staring back with a panicked look on her face. "Is something wrong?" She looked freaked out and pretty d.a.m.n adorable at the same time.

I couldn't hold back the chuckle that rolled through me. She lightly slapped my arm and pushed me gently. "Stop laughing, you're making me nervous. What happened, and why do we need to talk about it?" She was beginning to have a little breakdown and all I could do was chuckle. "d.a.m.n it, Gavin. Stop laughing. You're freaking me out."

I reached out and grabbed her cheeks in my hands. "Stop with the little breakdown. I just want to tell you about my childhood, things I know you don't expect and then a couple of other things I wanna run by ya." I leaned in to give her a quick kiss before pulling back. "Now eat your breakfast."

Turning back around to finish my breakfast, I watched her from the corner of my eye. It took her a few minutes, but she eventually began to eat.

"Okay, so is this the part where you tell me you used to be a girl?" She looked at me from the couch as I took a seat beside her. "Because I won't believe you. No one would ever believe that."

I chuckled and gripped her waist, pulling her over onto my lap. "Have I told you lately how crazy I think you are? Where the h.e.l.l do you come up with this s.h.i.t?" I continued to laugh while she reached out and attempted to twist my nipple. I grabbed her wrist and quickly raised her hand to my lips, kissing her palm. She calmed almost instantly.

"I love when you do that. I don't know why, but I do," she whispered.

I winked at her and brushed my thumb over her wrist lightly, as I continued.

"Now if you're done acting all crazy, I need to tell you some things." Raising an eyebrow in question, I waited for her to agree.