Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(117)

Her features begin to soften, and it’s the confirmation to know I’m right.

“I would’ve told me to fuck off too,” I continue, and I watch as a spark of a smile lifts on her lips. “But this isn’t me swooping in like some kind of knight in shining armor, trying to save you. To be frank, I fucked up that opportunity years ago and I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Rio,” she interrupts, shaking her head. “I need you to stop apologizing.”

I allow that request to sink in. I know she doesn’t want to hear it because she’s long forgiven me, but it’s different from my perspective.

“You should know I’m partly doing this for me,” I continue. “I’m trying to forgive myself for past mistakes I made, and watching you work as hard as you’re having to work isn’t helping that. I feel guilty when I sit at the bar and watch you serve drinks all night. I feel guilty when you get home after two in the morning, knowing that in a few hours you’re going to have to wake up to do it all over again. So, while yes, I paid them off so you won’t have to worry about them anymore, I also paid them off for me.”

Her stance shifts, softening from the defensive mode she was in.

“Because I should’ve been there, Hallie. I should’ve been there to take care of it then, so I’m taking care of it now. And I need you to let me.”

Once again, I stretch my arms up over the ledge, taking up the entire corner of the hot tub. Absent-mindedly, I swipe some of the condensation off my whiskey glass as I wait for her answer, but we both know I’m not backing down when it comes to this. There’s no compromise in this situation.

She hesitates for a long while before she finally says, “Okay.”

I give her a single nod in agreement. “Now get in here.”

She exhales a disbelieving laugh. “You’re out of your mind. It’s too cold out.”

“I’ll keep you warm.” I bring the whiskey to my lips. “Take your goddamn clothes off.”

Hesitating for only a moment, she complies.

She slips the buttons of her jacket through their looped counterparts before peeling it off her arms and tossing it onto a nearby snow-covered table. She does the same with her beanie and the rest of her clothes, kicking her shoes and socks off last.

She’s left wearing only this little dark-red matching set and a million goose bumps painted on her skin.

She’s a fucking stunner in red. Stunner in every color under the sun, if we’re being honest.

“Holy fuck, love.”

Her bottom lip quivers but it tilts with a shy smile.

“It’s no wonder I’ve been obsessing over you for fifteen years.”

Her laugh is small as she quickly bounds up the stairs to join me in the warm water, and her shivering stops almost immediately when she sinks her shoulders below the water’s surface.

She wades over to me, straddling my lap when she gets to my far corner, slipping her hands behind my neck.

“Hi,” she says softly.

“Hi, baby.” I run a hand over her back, pushing her ass down onto my lap because she’s so fucking buoyant right now I can hardly feel her.

She rolls her hips against mine as soon as they make contact. “I missed you.”

“I missed you.”

“Thank you.” She holds eye contact. “I never would’ve let you pay those off if you asked.”

“I know. And that’s why I didn’t.”

“I’m not sure you understand how much that means to me.” She inhales deeply through her nose, as if she were taking her first breath without a heavy weight sitting on her chest. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to be able to say thank you enough.”

Which is exactly what I don’t want. I didn’t do it to hold it over her head.

“Let’s make a deal.”

Her brows cinch. “What do you have in mind?”

“You’re not allowed to thank me for it anymore, and I’ll stop with all the apologies.”

A slow smile lifts on her lips. “I like that deal.”

“Good.” Slipping my fingers through her hair, I pull her in for a kiss. “Can you quit your job now?”

She chuckles against my mouth. “I haven’t thought that far. I make good money there.”

“You’re working too much, and I want you at more of my games. To hang out with my friends. To come to family dinners.”

“Let me think about it.”

“Fine.” I kiss her again. “So would now be a good time to also tell you that I bought you a car?”

She freezes, her lips still on mine, before she pulls back to look at me. “Rio!”

“Hallie!”

Her eyes narrow. “Stop trying to be cute right now.”

“I’m not trying. It just comes naturally to me.”

“Well, then . . .” That smile she was trying to fight breaks free. “Stop being naturally cute.”

“Will it make you accept it quicker if I tell you I didn’t do it for you?”

“You did it so I’d stop stealing your truck?”

“Fuck no. I literally get hard just thinking of you driving my truck, but if I do end up back in Boston, you need something to drive here, and I need the peace of mind that you’re safe.”