Page 85 of Fall Over You

He’s just a few feet from me now, sighing heavily. “You can’t do this.”

I bend and cut another pumpkin from the vine, holding it up by its stem. “Can’t I?”

He shields his eyes from my headlamp, blinking into the light. “You need to rest. It was a crazy day. Tomorrow’s going to be worse.”

I bark a sarcastic laugh and shiver against the night’s damp chill. “Ha! Crazy. Crazy to get married for loan fraud and make everyone in your life celebrate it.”

With a sad chuckle, he pulls his beanie off his head and steps in front of me. He tugs the beanie over my mostly still intact wedding hair and speaks with a sweet, gravelly voice. Like he’s telling a secret. “Got another knife?”

I straighten and let my hands go slack at my side. “Why? Is this the real end game? You kill me for my collateral?”

Tyler reaches into his pocket and pulls out a decent-sized hunting knife. Maybe his dick isn’t really that big and it’s just his knife.

Big Knife Energy.

“How many inches up?” he asks.

“Haaaaa,” I tease him.

“There’s Dependable Becca again.”

“Reliable. We’ll call it reliable. But I don’t need your help. I’ll be done soon.”

“Reba,” he warns. “This is a team effort now. Stop acting like you’re putting me out. I’ll tell you if you are.”

“What, you’re not put out by helping your new wife cut pumpkins after midnight?”

“My new wife’s going to do it whether I like it or not, so I may as well make sure she’s not out too late.”

I huff.

“Or you could let me get up early and do it for you.”

It’s tempting. I am so very tired, and if I’m honest, I’m at a high risk of cutting myself on accident because I’m so wiped.

Big arms surround me and I nestle against Tyler, enveloped in his warm, spicy scent. His hand strokes down my hair. It’s the ultimate comfort, feeling cared for and seen.

“You need to go to bed, baby.”

“I need to get this done,” I mumble.

“Not tonight,” he whispers into my hair. “The pumpkins will still be here in the morning.”

I don’t argue for once. I just nod and he kisses the top of my head.

“Good choice.” He folds up his knife and puts it back in his pocket, then sticks out his hand to take mine and lay it somewhere where it won’t get stepped on.

He pulls me into his side, resting his arm around my waist, and together, we walk back to the house.

But as we start to climb the steps, Tyler stops me.

“I forgot.”

He dips and scoops my legs right out from under me, holding me in a bridal carry.

“Geez, you pick me up a lot,” I tease him.

A flash of heat comes from his face. “Yeah, well, it’s our wedding day. I’m supposed to bring you in like this.”