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Chapter twenty-two
Holding Breaths
Elle
Lying in our motel room bed, fresh from the shower, it was dark, and I was cozy. These men, and all their actions, little and big, were speaking right to the heart that was beginning to mend.
On his side facing me, Lynx was smiling. “I did an Elle thing and researched a name.”
So calm and content, I sighed, “Whose?”
“My sister’s.”
I gasped. “You have a sister?”
“Yeah, a younger one. Everleigh.”
I grabbed his hands between our chests. “What a beautiful name. What does it mean?”
“Boar meadow.”
I cringed. “Like the big pig?”
He laughed. “Yup, but it’s the second part that really struck me.” His hands tightened on mine. “You see, it was my mom who named her, even though Ev wasn’t my mom’s.”
My mouth made a big O shape.
He nodded. “Yeah, Pops had a wild side.”
My noise scrunched, causing him to laugh again. “I’m not following in those footsteps.”
“Perfect answer.” I kissed him. “Tell me more.”
“I think Mom meant the boar as the intrusion on her life, an unexpected child, but the meadow,” he swallowed a couple times, “was because Ev was so beautiful and serene that my mother fell in love with her.”
Never having met his mother, I couldn’t explain why my eyes welled, but it was such a beautiful conclusion. Now I understood Lynx’s kindness with me. I was a boar in his life, yet he treated me like the meadow.
Fighting the emotions erupting inside him, he tapped my nose. “I never would have known that if it wasn’t for you.”
What words. What a way to make someone feel worthy.
“Do you believe me now?” he asked.
Blissfully, I inhaled a deep breath. “About what?”
“That you’re worth it?”
I stared at him and all he was to me. “I’m closer to it, if that helps.”
“It does.”
I kissed his hands, which I treasured. “What I can say is, I’m loving this journey with you.”
There was a pause as he lifted his head from the pillow.
Then…strong lips took over mine, causing me to moan in delight. “Be with me, Duke.”
“Elle, I got so caught up the other night, we took no precautions. A pregnancy would—”
