Always His (Crazed Devotion #1) by C.A. Harms Read Free Book Online Page A

knowing that if my mom had her way I would live here permanently.
    “I appreciate that, but an hour and a half drive to and from work each day doesn’t sound like much fun,” I told him. “Plus I was kinda hoping to find a place closer to Nicole.” I knew he was watching me, waiting or more, but I left it at that.
    “I saw that one coming,” he said with humor. “How are things going with her?”
    “The last time we were together, we talked. She’s still gun-shy, but she at least gave me hope. Now I just don’t know.” The last thing I wanted to do was push her, but the not knowing was killing me.
    “Have you talked to her since?” he asked. I shook my head. “Well, then how in the hell is anything supposed to change?”
    His question had merit.
    “Do you want Nicole back?” he asked. “I mean truly want to be with her and her baby? Because she’s a package deal now, son.”
    “More than anything,” I said without hesitation.
    “Then what are you doing hanging out here on my couch?” I turned to my dad, and he was staring ahead at the television, completely ignoring my questioning look. Without another moment wasted I stood from the couch and patted his shoulder as I passed. I walked through the kitchen, where I paused long enough to grab a muffin form the cooling rack.
    My mother looked up from the sink and smiled. “Where you running off to?”
    “Thought I’d go visit Nicole,” I replied.
    “Well here.” She dried her hands and reached up into the cabinet to grab a Rubbermaid container, which she filled with muffins, cookies, and half a loaf of banana bread. “Take these to her and that sweet little girl of hers.”
    I nodded as I took the container from her. She had just given me an in. Whether or not it would work, at least I had something.

    As I walked up the stairs to her apartment, a For Rent sign in the window of the apartment below it caught my attention. What would Nicole think of me living in her building?
    I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of the sign, which had a number to call on it, before I continued up the stairs. As I knocked, a little girl squealed with laughter on the other side. Nicole said something I couldn’t quite make out just before the door opened. She had on a pair of baggie pajama pants and a tank top that hugged her body. Her feet were bare, and her hair was piled on top of her head. I could tell she was embarrassed by her appearance, but to me she had never looked more beautiful.
    “Hey,” I said as I continued to look her over from head to toe.
    “Hi.” She smoothed a hand through her hair. “Looking pretty hot, huh?” she said in that sarcastic tone of hers.
    “You look gorgeous,” I said as I held out the container. “These are from my mom.”
    She took it from me and lifted it enough to look through the transparent side. “So you drove all this way to bring me—” she paused as she narrowed her eyes, “—cookies and muffins.”
    “And bread,” I added, and she laughed.
    “And bread,” she repeated as she lowered the Tupperware.
    “It’s not the reason I came, but I figured it could maybe help get me in the door.” When she smiled I knew the tension between us had finally begun to fade.
    “You’ll have to excuse the mess. Tori is having one of her wild days.” She opened the door wide enough to let me enter. “I’ve been trying to clean, but it’s pointless.”
    I stepped inside and looked around the room. Dolls and fake dishes were everywhere. On the couch and floor, across the edge of the TV stand, even down the hall. But what to some would look like a mess only brought a smile to my face.
    In the center of the room stood Tori. Her light brown hair was piled on her head in almost an exact replica of her mother’s hairdo. She wore a pair of Disney princess pajamas that looked as if they were a size to big.
    They were obviously enjoying a lounging day at home.
    Before I could say anything, Tori took my hand and pulled me