Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
I blinked.
“I know the stakes, Dev. I know they’re even higher this time,” he said, his voice low, steady, and sure in a way that sent goosebumps up my arms. “I know I fucked up before by letting you go and thinking we could just walk away clean. But I’m not asking you to drop your life or forget who you are. I’m just asking for a chance to be in it. That’s it. One chance.”
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering for just a moment as he waited for my response. There was one looming question that I was terrified to ask, because the answer could end this right here and now. But it was a question that had to be asked.
I swallowed and let out a breath before asking, “And what about the club?”
“What about it?”
“Would I forever remain a secret or…”
“Fuck no,” he answered without hesitation. “I’ll take you there right now and introduce you to every fucking one of them, including Preacher. Hell, he already knows about you. Shep and Grim, too.”
“Really?”
“No more secrets, babe.” He cocked his brow. “And that goes both ways.”
“I never tried to keep you a secret.”
“You never had kids and an ex either.”
The thought of telling the kids about Jameson wasn’t nearly as daunting as telling Brian. He knew what Jameson meant to me, and a piece of him was always jealous of it. He’d toss out snide comments whenever we argued, saying that I had my head in the clouds and no matter how much I wanted him to be, he’d never be him.
The thing was, I never wanted Brian to be Jameson.
I’m not sure what I wanted him to be, but he always seemed to fall short. Regardless, the mere mention of his name would more than likely send him over the edge. I was imagining all the vile things he would say when the sound of Jameson’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Where’d you go?”
“I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“How to do this right?” I saw no point in tiptoeing around it, so I told him, “I haven’t really dated since the divorce. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been out of the house, and every time, it was either with Laura or my mother.”
“I get it. This will be an adjustment for everyone, including your ex.” Jameson shook his head. “Hell, I can only imagine how pissed he’s gonna be, especially after the run-in we had last week.”
“What run-in?”
“It was nothing.” I could tell by his expression that he wasn’t being completely forthcoming as he told me, “We had a situation at the Vault, and he came by to question us about it. Needless to say, we didn’t hit it off.”
“Did he know who you were?”
“He didn’t say, but I got the feeling he did.”
“Oh, great. I’m sure he was a complete asshole.”
“Oh, he was, but it comes with the territory.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Nothing for you to be sorry about, babe. He’s the asshole. Not you.”
“Still hate you had to deal with him… Did he help with the situation or just make it worse?”
“That’s yet to be determined.”
“That sounds a little daunting.”
“Not as daunting as the fact that you haven’t told me what’s what.” His eyes locked on mine as he added, “If you’re not in this and you’re gonna leave and wreck me all over again, just tell me now. I got through it once. I can again, but don’t fuck with me. Give it to me straight.”
13
CREED
“Oh, I’m in. I wouldn’t still be here if I wasn’t, but we need to tread lightly with all this and not rush into things.”
I let out a low laugh, but not in a funny ha-ha kind of way. It was a laugh out of frustration, because there wasn’t a damn thing funny about us treading lightly. I could tell by that doubting look in her eyes that she was about to put her guard back up just when she’d finally started to let it down. I was done backtracking.
I raked a hand over my jaw as I told her, “Dev, we’ve wasted too much time as it is.”
She inhaled a quick breath, but I didn’t give her a chance to argue.
“I get it. I know your kids come first. I know you’ve got your life and your plans and a hell of a lot to lose if this goes sideways.”
I paused, giving her a moment to let my words sink in.
I wanted her to know that I understood her concern.
“But I’m not gonna sit here pretending we don’t both feel this, like we haven’t been carrying this shit around for years.”
She opened her mouth, but I shook my head again, cutting her off.
“You want to take it slow, fine. We can do that. But don’t call it treading lightly, Dev. Don’t act like we’re two strangers trying to figure out if this is worth it. We already know it is.” I slipped my arm around her waist, inching her closer. “You know it. I know it. We’re not kids anymore, and we’re not gonna get back all the time we’ve already lost.”