When we arrive at home, I don’t give Claire a chance to go to her place. We stay in, order takeout, and make up for lost time. Sunday morning, I go with her to yoga then the big question comes up after she says, “I have to pick up Reggie at my parents’.”

“Can I come with you?”

She stares at me and doesn’t say a word for several seconds until she responds with a question of her own. “Do you want to come with me?”

“I want to accompany you. Plus, you don’t have a car.”

“That implies meeting my parents,” she warns me. “They’re going to get the wrong idea.”

“What would that be?”

“I don’t bring anyone to the house,” she says.

“You know what I think, sweetheart?” I walk to her and take her hand. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t like having relationships.”

“That’s not true,” she protests. “You’re the one who doesn’t do families or relationships, remember?”

I smile and nod. “Why don’t you give me a chance to show you who I am? Let me win you back. If you’re not ready to introduce me to your family, I’m fine with it. I’ll be here, whenever you’re ready.”

“Thomas might want to punch you again.”

“Sorry, but he already got a shot.”

Her lip twitches, I’m sure she’s trying to hide the smile.

“I’ll wait as long as you want, and I’ll do almost anything to win your heart, but letting your brother get another shot is a no-go.”

“That’s fair.”

I shove my hands inside my pockets. “Today, I’ll just hang out around the house. Maybe call Devon and do some work.”

“Are we going to be okay?” she asks.

“I hope so,” I answer because I sense she’s not sold on the idea of us.

What can I do to convince her we can work things out?

Forty-Five

Miller

I can tell Claire isn’t thrilled that I’m still hanging around while she’s getting ready to leave for her parents’ house.

“Take my truck,” I insist. “Maybe we can go car shopping next weekend. Not that you need it. I have a couple of cars in the garage you can use.”

“Thank you, but no thank you. I’ll get a car when I find the right one.”

I pull my truck keys and give them to her. “Just for today.”

“Why would I do that?” she asks, ignoring me and searching for something inside her closet.

“Where did I leave my boots?”

“It’s too hot for boots,” I point out, entering the walk-in closet and searching with her.

“It’s a farm, I have a pair of hiking boots just to go there,” she says.

“Another reason to take my truck, it has everything for long trips.”

She huffs and starts opening shoe boxes.