Theirs Read Online Free Page B

down her cheek. She quickly wiped it
away and turned from the pictures. She walked over to where Tallin was sitting. His focus was still trained on her, his jaw set tight.
    She
took a seat next to him, both of them staying quiet, their attention on the
people around them. She felt the lightest of touches and dropped her gaze when Tallin’s hand covered hers. She could see his tattoos peek
out from under the rolled up sleeves of his shirt, that dark ink snaking up and
around his wrists and forearms. His touch was light as his thumb ran over her
flesh. She swallowed, fighting back her emotions. She looked up and into his
face. He was already looking at her.
    “You
always were the strong and silent type.” She moved closer to him, held his hand
tighter, and rested her head on his shoulder. He chuckled softly, the sound
deep yet emotionless.
    “When
do you have to go back to Denver?”
    “I
don’t know if I’m going to go back.”
    She
felt him tense, and she lifted her head to stare at him. “What?”
    He
looked down at her. A flicker of emotions reflected in his eyes but was gone as
soon as it had appeared. He smiled, and she saw a happiness cover his face she
hadn’t seen since she had come back to Burkett.
    “I’ve missed you so much, and with
everything that has happened, you being here would be incredible.”
    He
pulled her into a hug. She rested her head against his chest, and the steady
rhythm of his heart went through her. “I love you, Tallin .
You know that right?” She felt his hand cup the back of her head and heard him
exhale.
    “Not
as much as I love you, Lilly.”
    She
felt tears well up and closed her eyes, letting herself be surrounded by the
ones she loved.
     

Chapter
Four
     
    The Happiness Isn’t
Gone
     
    Lilly
brought in another trash bag filled with plates, napkins, and cups. Stepping
into the kitchen, she couldn’t help but smile at the scene before her. Tallin had his dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck, and his
sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He had a dishrag in hand and was busy
wiping down the counters, his movements efficient yet quick. Riley was
unloading the dishwasher, the first few buttons of his shirt undone as well,
and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up his thick forearms. His tie hung loosely
around his neck as if he had gotten frustrated and yanked on it. Her boys were
quite domestic when they wanted to be.
    “Look
at you two. Who domesticated you guys?” She laughed as she set the trash bag by
the backdoor, amid the numerous ones already piled up.
    Tallin looked up at her, his lips tilting
at the corners, and shook his head. Riley glanced at her, winked, and went back
to unloading the dishes. She just stood there for a moment, watching them as
they did such mundane things. She would never take anything for granted again,
even if it was hanging out with the two men she loved the most as they cleaned
the kitchen.
    She
walked into the living room to make sure she hadn’t missed any trash. She
straightened a few things, then went over by the fireplace, and stood in front
of it. She wrapped her arms around her waist and watched the flames. Her gaze
traveled to the mantel where a silver-framed picture of the four of them sat.
She picked it up and stared at it, the flames reflecting off the glass and
making the picture seem to move with life.
    The
picture had been taken three years ago, right before she’d moved to Denver. The
four of them had decided to take one last big trip. They ended up going to
California, driving instead of flying and making it one long road trip. She had
hated that part of the trip, even in Tallin’s massive,
roomy truck. It had been three days of cramps and aches, but once they had
finally reached the beach, it had been well worth it.
    She
ran her finger over the glass. The four of them had posed for the picture, the
men in the back in their trunks and her standing in front of them in her
polka-dot bikini. She put the picture back, refusing to