Midnight Sky (Book 1/3 The Anderson Brothers Series)

I Love You

Andrew

After I gave Lauren a tour of the cabin, we had dessert and were now sitting in a comfortable silence.

"What made you get a cabin?" she quietly asked.

"Nature has always brought me peace. When I was frustrated as a kid, especially a teenager, I'd spend hours outside. It would drive my mom crazy because she couldn't find me. My brothers knocked some sense into me to not send her into a panic. She transformed our backyard into my safe haven. Had a hammock, gazebo, and fire pit. It was beautiful. Moving away for college, Chicago didn't have the same serenity that I had back home. So, when the opportunity came to move back, I knew I wanted a getaway place of my own."

"So you got a cabin?"

I shrugged.

"I always wanted one. You're the first I've brought here."

"Your brothers haven't been here? Not even your mom?"

"Nope. They've seen pictures, but they know this is my safe haven. They respect my boundaries."

"You've never brought any females here?"

I let out a deep sigh. This woman.

"Didn't I just tell you that you're the first person to come here, Lauren? No matter how you rephrase it, the answer remains, no one has been here but me. You're the first person I've brought here."

"Yeah, but..."

I turned her body to face me. She quickly tried to avoid my eyes.

"Look at me, Lauren."

Her eyes met mine. I could see the turmoil behind him. She was so conflicted. Whatever was weighing on her, she hadn't sorted it out yet.

"You are the only woman I have ever let get really close to me like this. I've never bought anyone here because this is my peace. You, Lauren, have become my peace. When I see you, everything that's worrying me melts away. When I kiss you, nothing else matters. I have fallen in love with you and from the moment I met you, I knew you were special."

I saw the tears in her eyes.

"Baby..."

She lunged into my body, tightly wrapping her arms around my neck. I held her tight and she let out a sob, her body shaking.

"Shh, it's okay. It's okay."

When she calmed down, she leaned back and looked at me.

"I'm such an idiot."

"No you're not. Don't talk about yourself that way."

"You know, sometimes I wonder if you're too good to be true. You're perfect, Andrew Anderson."

I chuckled.

"Far from perfect, darling."

She shook her head.

"Perfect for me."

I gently kissed her lips.

"What happened last night when you went out with your friends?"

"We went out to eat and they were badgering me about when I was getting back in the ring and the convo shifted to what's been happening in my life. They knew about my breakup, but said I moved on so fast when I mentioned you."

I nodded. Figured they were talking shit.

"They were going on and on about your age and you being older than me. They said long distance wouldn't work and for all that I could've just figured things out with Carson. Plus when I got back on the road, you'd be doing whatever you wanted. I know that alluded to cheating on me just like Carson did. Ultimately, I'm in like a fantasy land. You're just too good to be true and it won't last. I slipped up and suggested we take shots to change the subject."