Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“The minute we walked into Tom’s in September and I saw you behind the bar, I knew I was in trouble. Then you shot me that smile—a smile every man in the world would die for, and it happened.”
“What happened?” I whisper, scared and thrilled at the intensity swirling between us.
“I fell hard.”
“That was six months ago.”
“It was.”
“You said I was too wild for you. You put me in the friend zone.”
“I am a fucking idiot, and that was another excuse. I wouldn’t change anything about you.”
“After you came home, things shifted.”
He blows out a breath, pain and conflict filling his features. “I was dealing with some serious issues.”
“What issu—” My words die as I realize it’s not my place to ask.
He picks up on my apprehension and rubs his thumb along my throat. “Your pulse is racing.”
I remain quiet.
“When I woke up in the hospital in Costa Rica, the first thing I remembered was the chaos and the fear on Ford and Talon’s faces.”
“That’s understandable. You are their best friend.”
“Not for me, baby, for Ace. When he finally came around and we knew we’d both make a full recovery, a sense of relief set in, but I had to deal with the aftermath of guilt.”
“Why did you have guilt?”
“You know the first thing he asked about when he woke up?”
“You?”
He nods slowly. “When Harley walked into that hospital room and saw him, she was full of attitude, but I could sense her fear. He hauled her into his arms, and all I could think of was them losing each other. That would have been on me.”
“I’ll refrain from pointing out that logic is stupid, considering it didn’t happen.”
“They shot my brother while I was supposed to have his back.”
“You were in a firefight with crazy Columbian drug lords!” I shout, jabbing his chest.
He doesn’t budge. “Yes, but there is the fact he was shot and could have died. That was on my conscience.”
“Ridiculous!”
“Luckily, you will never be in a similar situation, but we’re highly specialized combat Marines.”
“You’re warriors.”
His mouth curls on one side, drawing my attention to his luscious lips. For the first time since he heaved me inside, I take in the situation. Me in his lap, pressed close enough to feel the warmth of his body on mine. The scent of his cologne hanging in the air. The way his stubble is shaved in perfect angles around his cheeks and neck.
“Wildcat, you keep staring at me like that, this talk will take a totally different direction. I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
“I can’t help it. You’re perfect.”
“Jesus, Julianna.”
The rawness in his voice hits me deep, and I slide my hand to his neck, caressing gently. “Is the guilt gone?”
“Mostly. One night, a few weeks ago, it all came out, and it turns out, Ace was feeling the same. Ford and Talon carried their own blame. We got drunk as piss, relived the day, and agreed to each let it go.”
“And that’s that?”
“Basically.”
“You could have talked to me. I get you weren’t ready for anything romantic, but I’m your friend. And may I point out, in my profession, I’m an excellent listener.”
“That’s bullshit. I was ready for something serious, and that’s why I couldn’t talk to you. If something happened to Ace, it would destroy Harley. She’s your best friend.”
“I have room in my head and my heart for more than one friend.”
“You deal with enough. I didn’t want to taint your life with my shit.”
I jerk, feeling the sting. “You hurting is not tainting my life with shit. I care about you.”
He looks to the ceiling and groans. “I’m not good at explaining it, but I didn’t want my darkness to cloud your life. You’re fucking too good for that.”
Irritation stirs in my gut. “So, you’ve kissed and made up with Ace, rid yourself of the guilt, and now you’re ready to see what happens with us? After you see me out with another man?”
“I know what’s happening with us. The day you pranced your ass through my station looking like you did in that dress and fuck me heels, I was done dicking around. Hearing you’d gone to lock-up to visit a goddamn wife-beater with no regard to how gorgeous you are and didn’t have me at your back pissed me off. I reacted badly.”
“Badly? You insinuated I should be on a street corner.”
“Only if that street corner was covered in red carpet and you were on my arm. Fucking vixen walking in there, laughing with another man, teasing me from across the room. Thought I’d lose my shit. You mentioned taking Harley away, and all I could think was the way men would be all over you.”
The pain of his words that day has stuck with me for the week, even though he explained it was an awful choice of words. At this moment, the pain vanishes.