Chapter 231DevanteMy heart pounds as I head back to my bedroom. After the past few days, seeing her so vulnerable and with her guard down, I'm more attracted to her than I've been since I saw her for the first time at the coffee shop. Protective.It's something I almost didn't recognize any longer. An emotion I haven't let lodge itself in my chest since Trina. I'd given her every part of me, and we'd sparked fast. We'd burned, hot and heavy, until we'd erupted into a flame that smothered itself, and took everything in its wake right along with it. This isn't what I want with Eden, but I'm terrified.Afraid to put myself out there again, but at the same time, afraid that if I don't I'll lose what could be that once-in-a-lifetime thing all the men and women around me talk about. I've taken responsibility for her in this moment, and I know I'll have a responsibility to her in the future. She's buried herself deep beneath my skin, and I'm not going to be able to give her up easily; ev

Chapter 233Eden"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Devante asks as I sit on his bed, putting my hair up in a high ponytail.Excitement flows through me like the current of a river. "I haven't seen anything other than the hospital or your apartment in a little over a week, D. I'm ready."He laughs. "That's painful, the way you said it like you're sick of being with me."My eyes roll and a smirk curls the side of my lip. "I'm not sick of being with you," I make sure to clarify. "I'm sick of being stuck in one place where I can't go do all the things I've always done for myself.""So in other words, it's not you, it's me."Giggling, I shake my head at his ridiculousness. "Exactly.""Do you need help getting your pants on?""These aren't pants, they're leggings," I correct him. "These are things you should know.""Typically I'm cutting clothes off of people, I don't have time to know what to call what they're wearing."It hits me hard in the chest - what he's saying. I don'

Chapter 235Devante"Promise me you won't do anything you shouldn't do." Eden glares. "I think I know how to take care of myself, D.""All I'm saying is we had to force you to go to the hospital." I shrug."Low blow.""Hey, I do what I have to, to make sure the people I care about are taken care of."Her eyes, almost the color of sand this morning, soften. "I get it. I shouldn't have put money before my health. I learned a lesson."My chest swells with pride. Other women I've been with would take this as me being an asshole, but the fact is, I care about her. "I'm glad." I let my hand drift to her chin, tilting it up so we can focus on one another. "You mean too much to me to let anything happen to you."Her gaze travels down to my lips, her arms wrap around my waist, her fingers dig into the muscles of my lower back. She wants it, and so do I. I'm contemplating leaning in and stealing the taste I want so much when the doorbell rings. Both of us groan and I allow my forehead

Chapter 237Devante"Are you nervous?""Kinda. I'm afraid they'll tell me I can't go back to work, and I really need to. The books haven't been done in two weeks, and I have no idea where I am with profit and margin." She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, obviously worried about what's happened in her absence. "You know if there's anything I can do to help you, I will.""I know." She reaches over, grabbing my hand with hers. "You don't know how much it means to me that you'll offer.""It's not just an offer, and there's a bunch of people in Laurel Springs who'll help too. We've talked about this. All you have to do is ask.""I've never asked before, but I'm beginning to learn it's okay to do that.""Most definitely. In this town more than ever. Hell, people came out to buy the most basic coffee I've ever seen in my life to support you."She laughs. "If I'd known it was going to be that easy, maybe I wouldn't have worked so hard to set myself apart. When I do profit and

Chapter 239DevanteA Month Later"You're still coming over tonight, right?" I ask Eden as I stand at the counter, watching her make a coffee and heating me up a cupcake. "Yes," she laughs, smiling brightly. "I've never stood you up before, don't know why I would start now.""I was just making sure you aren't too tired.""It's been a month, D. I'm fine.""Okay, okay." I hold my hands up in surrender. "As of today, I'll stop asking you.""Thank God.""So I'm not cooking," I continue. "The Café okay with you?""Oh yes, it's catfish day. Are you going to bring it home or do I need to meet you there instead?""Bringing it home." I move my head from side to side so I can stretch my neck. "It's been a day. Cutter delivered a baby." I point behind me to where Cutter sits at a table, staring straight ahead. "He's slightly traumatized.""Delivered a baby?" She stops what she's doing, putting her chin on her hand atop the food case. "Tell me everything.""We got called to a woman