Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“So tell me about the piece you did today.”
My eyes raise. “The piece?”
She laughs. “Yeah, I looked up the slang. That’s what it’s called when you do a tattoo, right?”
I nod, feeling pleased that she wants to try and learn more about what I do. So for the next little bit, while we work side by side, I tell her about the tattoo I did for Miller. She hangs on every word I say, and before I realize it, we’re laughing, talking, and smiling at each other as if we could actually have a future together.
CHAPTER 8
EMILY
“What are you sorry for?”
We’re halfway through dinner, and I can’t stop myself from asking him again. He never answered me before.
He wipes his mouth with his napkin and then puts a hand to his belly. “This was so good, Emily. Thank you for dinner.”
I try not to show my disappointment. I guess he’s not going to answer me. “You’re welcome. You know, anytime, I’ll cook for you. Or we can cook together. You helped a lot.”
He sits back in his chair and stares at me. I fidget in my seat under his scrutiny. When he finally opens his mouth, I hold on to the edge of my seat, waiting for his words. “The reason I said I was sorry is because I shouldn’t have let your neighbor think we were together.”
I open my mouth and then close it. “Oh, uh, is that what you were going to say earlier? You’re sorry for that?”
He nods his head. I lay my hand on the top of the table, next to my plate. I trace a mark in the wood with my finger. He leans forward and covers my hand with his.
The warmth of his hold has me holding steady waiting to see what he’s going to do next. “Emily, you don’t know how much I wish things could be different. I wish I was different. But I’m not the man that you need.”
I turn my hand over and grip on to him because I can feel him withdrawing. “You don’t know what I need, Jack.”
He pulls his hand from mine. “Felon. People call me Felon.”
I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not going to call you that, Jack.”
He shrugs. “It’s what I am.”
I shrug as if it means nothing. “It’s not who you are, though. It doesn’t define you.”
He doesn’t believe me, and I know I’m about to lose him when he stands up and grabs our empty dishes. I try to stop him. “I can get those.”
He ignores me and carries the dishes to the sink. I finish clearing the table and come to help him as he loads the dishwasher. He seems deep in thought, so I continue wiping off the counter, letting him work out whatever it is he needs to work out.
I am not ready for him to leave, but it’s not like I can beg him to stay.
He is drying his hands off, still avoiding me, and I lean my back against the counter beside him. He tenses, and it gives me a little boost of confidence that I can affect him like that. He grips the edge of the counter until his knuckles turn white. He’s going to run. I know him well enough to know that.
But I can’t let him do that yet. I put my hand on his forearm. “Jack, what’s your plan here? You say we can’t be together but what? You’re going to keep watching me and protecting me? How long do you plan on doing that?”
He blinks as if there’s no question. “Forever.”
I blurt out a gasp. “Forever? That’s crazy talk, Jack. You’re not going to watch me forever.”
He just stares at me, and I shake my head. “Okay, why? Why are you doing this?”
His voice is husky and filled with emotion. “Just because I can’t have you doesn’t mean I won’t protect you.”
I slide over toward him until I can feel his warmth at my side. “But you can have me.”
His eyes darken, his nose flares, and he sucks in a harsh breath. “Emily…”
He says my name like a prayer, and there’s a brief flare of hope in his eyes, and then it’s gone. “I can’t have you. No matter how much I want you.”
He’s sincere as he says it. He really truly believes that there can’t be anything between us, but I refuse to just give up. “Okay, so here’s a question. You and your club are just going to watch me?”
He nods.
I cross my arms over my chest. “And what’s going to happen when I bring a man home? Are you—”
He growls, interrupting me, and I can’t stop the smile from forming on my lips. “Yeah, you’re just going to stand outside my window to protect me? Are you going to be okay with what happens inside? What about when I get pregnant and have kids?”