Page 131 of Halo

“So when I say you’re good for Leah, I mean it. She's precious to me … and I can't think of a better person for her.”

I clear my throat. “You know we're just dating, right?”

Chelsea hums knowingly. “For now.”

Yeah. For now.

“Just be patient with her, okay?”

“Did she say something?”

Chelsea shakes her head. “I just know she has a lot of hurt—some of which, I don't even know she realizes she's carrying.” She sighs. “All I'm saying is let her set the pace. She's worth it.”

She is.

I slowly nod, my attention dropping to the book still in my hands. My fingers trace across the bright bold letters of the title.

My mouth slowly curves.

I’ve got an idea.

Chapter 32

Leah

“Happy birthday, darlin’.”

Warmth blooms across my cheeks as a bite back the urge to gawk.

How the heck is this my life?

If someone had told me even a year ago that I'd be dating a hot tower of a blond heathen, I would've laughed myself silly. But he's here right now, looking at me like that, with that devilish grin and a kiss like heaven, and all I want to do is savor the moment. I want to savor him.

As he reaches for me, my hand curls around the back of his neck, pulling him into a kiss. “Thank you, cowboy,” I murmur against his mouth before teasing his lips apart.

A groan slips out with his next breath as his hands wander to the curve of my rear. He squeezes intently, making me giggle.

We're interrupted by the soft clacking of nails against the faux-wood laminate. Letting out a disgruntled sigh, Angus sits back on his haunches, his backside pressed against my leg.

“Don’t look so excited,” Nick jokes, adjusting his beanie. “Y’all ready to go?”

“What do you say, buddy?” I gently pat the top of his head.

Angus steps outside and lopes toward Nick’s truck.

“He's thrilled.” Nick snickers.

“Clearly.”

It’s been a hectic week since my niece came home from the NICU. Between school and helping Matt and Rachel settle into life with a newborn, I’ve spent more time at their house than my own. When Nick suggested I spend my birthday weekend with him while Grady was at Tiffany’s, I jumped at the chance. A whole weekend together sounded like exactly what I needed.

Nick takes my bag and starts the truck to warm it up. He gets Angus situated before helping me into the truck, where a glittery pink gift bag is waiting on the passenger seat.

“Aww …” I look back at him. “What is this?”

He smiles.“Go ahead and open it.”

By the time he climbs behind the wheel and turns out of my complex, I’ve peeled back the tissue paper and found a familiar children’s book inside. Yes Day—except he's slapped a sticky note over the word Day and scrawled Night across it in black marker.