2

As Nathan pounded on Lily's door, he was unprepared for the sight that struck his eyes when she opened it.

The one and only lady he had ever loved was the one he found. Her grin brightened as she recognised him, and he was so overjoyed that he had to grab her and give her a good smothering.

Her curves tempted him as she leaned against him. He completely immersed himself in her, revelling in the fact that she was exclusively his.

He bent his head to hers as they parted ways. Greetings, Ms Travis, the person said.

A. "Hello. My guess is that you don't want to greet everyone you know with the same words. Once she frowned, he laughed and kissed her goodbye.

Definitely not. Only the women I plan to marry in the next five months.

He suddenly burst into a big, satisfied grin. There was no doubt that by the end of the year, they would be husband and wife. Life here was wonderful when I first arrived.

Congratulations, ladies! She shifted her weight to one side. Don't hang around too long or the neighbours will call the police and Shane will come by to arrest us.

Her return to Petal was motivated by her desire to spend time with her younger brother, Chris, who was idly lounging at the dinner table. As he saw Nathan, he immediately straightened up. Nathan saw the child develop in subtle ways like that thanks to Lily's nurturing presence in his life.

Nathan was sceptical that the adolescent would even make it to junior year last year. Their mother had succumbed to the numbing affects of alcohol and drugs and was losing control of him.

Lily gave up her job and her life in Macon to come back home, and her decision paid off when she was able to save both her mother and her brother.

It was Nathan who made the comment. Chris stood up to finish his drink and ate the rest of his meal standing up. He'd spent the previous month in a wilderness camp and emerged with a fresh perspective and a nice tan. He had recently joined the high school marching band and was associated with a more upstanding group of students than those who had previously gotten him into trouble.

Do you have any money for petrol? Lily sat down on the floor with her bag after coming back from her room and began talking. Nathan stared at her for what felt like an eternity simply because he could. Her pretty bun revealed her skin-tight light pink sundress and bare neck. Incorrect; it was far from a snug fit. That is to say, there was nothing obscene about it. She felt it gently float around her as she walked; it fit so well.

The sugar only enhanced the allure of the spiciness beneath.

Help in the form of twenty dollars would be much appreciated. Chris seemed adorably mushy for his sibling. Nathan recognised that expression as one he had witnessed in his own family.

Please feel free to use the petrol card provided. She dug about in her bag and eventually produced forty dollars, which she gave to him. Let's imagine you and your pals decide to order pizza once more for the sake of argument. Great job on the lawn, it looks fantastic.

“Thanks.” He delighted at her comment, and Lily couldn't help but give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He had warned her a few months before that he was getting too old for the sap, so they had to get moving.

As of tomorrow at noon, I'm expecting your return to this spot. Mrs. Capwell has instructed me to remind you to bring your swimwear. The action was also designed to convey the message that she was maintaining constant visual contact with him. He couldn't tell a fib about where he was going to spend the night because she had already told the mother hosting this sleepover.

She had watched him grow up from the boy he'd been when she'd first come back to Petal, and she had no intention of letting him go back. Even after all his efforts to win her confidence back, she still knew his every move, his daily routine, and who he was spending time with. None of her parents was strong enough to complete the task, and she loved Chris enough to see that he was worth the effort.

Being asked, "Who are you taking in the car with you?"

She was about to explode when she saw Nathan's reaction to her sloppy grammar. To clarify, I am asking who it is you want to transfer. Do not get into a car with a group of male teenagers. The thought of it made her shiver.

"Really, it's fine with me. I'll pick up Mike on the way, but once we get, we won't be venturing outdoors for the night. Sam said that as a present, Mrs. Capwell had gotten a large number of movies. We are having a good time with all the dining, swimming, and other things we are doing.

Then it's all right. In any case, you can always get in touch with me. That's right, I'll be sleeping with my cell phone next to me tonight.

My next communication with you will be the following day. He quickly tucked the money into his pocket, grabbed his duffel bag, and left before she could even try to kiss him.

When he left, she realised the anxiety that had been plaguing her ever since she got back had been lifted. Indeed, she would monitor him closely to prevent a relapse into his old ways. Despite this, she trusted him enough to share her secrets with him. The significance of that to me cannot be overstated.

Nathan took advantage of the situation and kissed his girlfriend again. Onward then. I've tried to express how much I've missed you, but I fear I haven't done so.

They had some alone time while Chris was away at wilderness camp and her mum was in detox and rehab. Time alone to go completely undressed and sex all over his house is a gift from God. Chris's return and her mother's decision to attend a longer-term treatment centre meant that she had less opportunity to spend time alone.

Though Nathan had been quite gracious, she could see he resented feeling restricted in this way.

Stop moping around because you saw me the day before. Now is the time that I must reapply my lipstick. She flashed him an amused glance to show that it wasn't a bother to her at all.

I'd say bubble gum. In all honesty, I don't recall the last time I kissed someone and tasted like bubble gum lip gloss was after ninth grade.

The woman arched her brows and reapplied her lip gloss.

A daily encounter with you is something I crave. He gently kissed the top of her head. I enjoy being the one to greet the day with you. Having breakfast with you is a highlight of my day. That's just how greedy I am.

All of the love she felt engulfed her. He was able to bypass all of her defences, and she was unable to stop him even if she had wanted to. " Me too. You're helpful and never take over the bed.

Time between now and the wedding cannot pass quickly enough. He inhaled deeply. How about this: "Are you ready to pose on my arm?"

With that, she snatched up her luggage and slid it under the arm he'd extended. And I'm here for whatever it is you need to feel better.

For me, it's a win-win situation, sugar. I know that my life is blessed. In the car, I have my bag. Including a peach cobbler that Tate baked and sent along with me. Let me get back to you shortly.

A wave of pleasure and anticipation washed over her at the thought of going to the cobbler, perhaps even more so than when he'd stated he enjoyed waking up with her. Pie and cobbler were completely harmless for the lady.

What? "You're staying over?" She desired him, too. Thank you so much. Even though she had second thoughts about letting him stay over once Chris got back, he seemed to relax when he saw Nathan and realised that she was now dating someone stable and an authority figure in his life.

Naturally, I am. I enjoy being awakened by your presence. Chris is well aware that we engage in sexual activity. Everything is falling into place for our wedding. If I had my way, we'd do it tomorrow.

There was a delay on her part. There had been some tension between them on this issue, but she truly felt strongly about it. As a child, he was forced into the position of father to assist care for his siblings in their terrible home. She was hesitant to use him in that way. It wasn't up to him to raise Chris. She felt uncomfortable adding to Nathan's already extensive list of responsibilities because his life was already so jam-packed. It wasn't fair to him, and it wasn't fair to Chris, either.

"Tomorrow after school I have to take him to the orthodontist."

"I know. "After this, I'll treat you two to lunch on me." He reached for her and shook her hands. I'm curious as to what's giving you that puzzled expression. Hmm?”

You shouldn't have to take care of him.

He flashed her that grin that made it difficult to keep her composure and her brain in gear. In a previous conversation, you and I discussed this. No, he is not under my care in any way. Nonetheless, he is yours and I enjoy spending time with the youngster and with you. That's why I pitch in, not because I have to but because it's the kind of thing you do for relatives. Yes, Lil, I am related to you.

You already have too much on your plate.

Indeed, that's how I feel. When he realised they were alone, he chuckled and hugged her, squeezing her butt. The misfit. But neither you nor Chris are any of those people. You make my day brighter.

To put it simply, she frowned. You were already the primary carer for your younger sibling(s) (s). For the sake of our friendship, please don't treat me like that.

To sit down with him, he drew her to the sofa. "Lil, I had the worst fucked up childhood. That's not news to you. The fact that we were able to stay together was literally the only thing that saved my life, and ours. You two are very cute together. The fact that you're still involved in raising Chris even if your parents have checked out is inspiring. For this and so much more, I love you.

Lily let out a deep sigh, blowing it out and hoped some of the tension would leave with it. No, she hasn't left yet. Now she has assistance available to her. It's a process to figure out how to live again.

Chris can't just go on a six-month holiday and leave her with no help, so it's a good thing she has her one responsible daughter to step in.

As he fought to silence himself, his mouth creased into a thin line. She was aware of how he felt about the situation. She was aware that her father was upset and disappointed by her mother's decision to spend six months in a communal living environment two states away from her children. He had avoided dwelling on the subject excessively, which she appreciated.

By herself, she had good reason to be angry. Chris, however, did not go to the orthodontician because of his anger. As a result, it didn't help him avoid difficulties. That also wouldn't help her mum stay sober. There wasn't any time for bitterness, and she didn't have any to spare.

Sweetly, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Baby doll, I adore you. When you care about someone, you give weight to the values they hold. And if I ever felt like I was being harassed, I would definitely let you know. Leave me alone. This is all; I have no plans to leave. You're getting married to me and having my kids. It is not only my duty but also my pleasure to assist you. You don't need anyone's help because you're already so self-sufficient. There aren't often opportunities for me to step in and help out like this. In the end, it's all about me."

She squeezed his hands with a moan. It pains me to admit that I occasionally drive you away.

He was familiar with the experience of being made to feel useless. He understood she had taken great pains to ensure Chris had never experienced anything like that.

He said, "Your dad is full of it. My is, too. If it weren't for men like Edward Chase, who are fantastic fathers, I'd give up hope that there are any decent fathers left in the world. You've found your man. Regardless of how hard you try to push me away, I will not go. Since I care for you so much. Now. I'll be staying the night, and as a gesture of gratitude, you can prepare me pancakes in the morning. That, plus the noisy sex we plan to have when we come back tonight, should cover your entire tab.

As her face relaxed into a smile, her features became less angular. The words "I don't know what I did to deserve you, Nathan Murphy" ring in my ears.

He let out an incredulous chuckle at the ridiculousness of the situation. After everything that had happened between them, it was especially poignant that she was the one to come to his rescue.

You're going to witness moves from me tonight that you've never seen before. Also, I consider you a miracle, so please keep your mouth shut and accept my gratitude. He got to his feet and extended a hand.

She accepted it and let him pull her closer. "It's obvious that I need to buy some of that no-smudge lipstick or gloss. You threaten the safety of my mouth.