Chapter 28

Manny

“Yes.”

One simple word. Yet, it has my heart rate accelerating as if I just ran the last quarter mile in a race.

Reaching out, I tuck a stray tendril of hair that’s managed to escape from her French braid before cupping her face in my hand. Stroking my thumb across the apple of her cheek, I move closer and lean in, running my nose along hers and making her giggle. I can see her pulse racing in her throat and realize she’s as affected as I am right now. Only, hers is probably increased because of the situation she came out of with that piece of shit.

I realize that slow will be the name of the game when it comes to Ricci and am glad that I’m no longer that teenage boy who had no patience. While neither of us are innocents, I know she’s likely far less experienced than me simply because when I got released from prison, I had my share of fun. Now, I want to settle down in the farmhouse where my grandparents raised their family and do the same with her.

Leaning in, I brush my lips against her and can still taste the powdered sugar from our shared funnel cake. When she makes a little noise in the back of her throat, I deepen the kiss and soon, our tongues are tangling as I stake my claim. When I feel as though there’s no oxygen left in my body, I pull back slightly and lean my forehead on hers.

“Wow.”

I grin then tell her, “We’re doing that again. As often as possible, just so you know.”

“You won’t hear me complaining, Manny,” she whispers, reaching up to run her hand along my jaw.

Who knew such a simple touch would feel so charged with emotion? Because right now, I feel poleaxed. Starting over again after I left prison, I pushed so many of the dreams and desires I had to the back of my mind. Sure, I got my dick wet from time to time, but those encounters were always out of town and casual at best. One-offs, my brother calls them. But with Ricci, I see forever.

“Good.”

I take her lips again in a kiss that promises everything without saying a word. Which isn’t a bad thing, since we both seem to be at a loss for them.

* * *

Eventually, I get her into the truck, and we head back to her apartment. She’s nervous now, likely thinking I’ll push this issue since there’s no way she didn’t feel my erection pressing against her stomach when we kissed. Reaching over, I take her hand in mine, lacing our fingers.

“Ricci?” I ask, pulling her away from staring out the side window.

“Yeah?” Even her voice sounds unsure now, and it’s killing me inside.

“You know this, all of this, is at your pace, right? You dictate when things go further because I’ll never pressure you for more.”

“Really?” Her gaze is now fully on my profile, and I squeeze her hand in affirmation.

“Really and truly,” I reply, turning to grin at her. “I’m a grown ass man who can take care of things until the woman I want is ready for more. Trust me on this.”

“I got tested,” she whispers. “When I was in the hospital the first time, after I woke up, I told a nurse I thought I should, so she sent a bunch of blood off. Thankfully, everything came back okay. I mean, it wasn’t because of you or anything, I just had to know.”

Squeezing her hand again, I run my thumb over hers before I say, “That was probably a good idea based on what you’ve shared, sweetheart.”

She laughs, sounding carefree, then states, “Yeah, I thought so too seeing as I was one of many. Which is definitely cringeworthy to me. I’ll get tested again in a few months just to be sure nothing shows up that wasn’t there for my own peace of mind.”

Having reached the back of the shop, I park the truck then turn to her. “That’s more important to me than anything, Ricci. So again, we’re going to take things at your pace.”

“Okay, Manny.” Then, in a quieter voice, she says, “Thank you for that. I was overthinking, which is something I tend to do when I get nervous.”

“You never have to worry around me, honey. Now, let’s get your million bags upstairs so I can kiss you good night, then you can call Ivy back.”

She starts sputtering which has me laughing as I get out of the truck then head to her side, help her out, then start pulling the bags from the back. “How, what, how did you know that’s what I was going to do?”

“Sisters, babe. I know a little about how women think when it comes to going out on a date,” I reply. Once we’re inside and headed upstairs, with me watching the sway of her hips as she walks in front of me, I silently groan.

Yes, I’ll be patient.

Yes, I’ll probably jack off every single day in the shower.

But it’ll be worth it in the end when she’s completely mine.

* * *

After several long minutes of kissing her good night, I head back out toward home. My phone rings and I push the button so the call comes into the cab. Hands-free might be a pain in the ass sometimes, but if there’s anything worse than people who decide to drink and drive, it’s those who are distracted by their phones.

“Hello?”

“Hey, boy, got some news I thought you’d wanna hear,” my uncle says.

“What’s going on, Tio?” I ask.

“Well, it seems that asshole who hurt your girl is dead.”

“Wait, what? He was still locked up waiting for trial, wasn’t he?”

As if I didn’t know. I’ve kept a close eye on him because if he was bonded out, I planned to have a discussion with him about staying away from my woman.

“He was, but there are other charges that came to light, and he apparently found out he was a suspect in the rape of a teenage girl,” Uncle Jorge states. “So, sometime between one check and the next, he hung himself. They got him down, but it was too late.”

“I can’t say I’m sorry,” I murmur. “At least now Ricci doesn’t have to face that prick in a trial or anything.”

“You got that right. Also, your mama told me about your daughter. You need to see if she wants to meet the rest of us because the girls are already friends with her.”

Chuckling, I reply, “I’ll get right on that the next time we see one another.”

“You do that, mijo,” he instructs before hanging up.

Once at home, I lock up before taking a shower and heading to bed. As I drift into sleep, I think about the future. My future with Ricci.