Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“Why did you leave me tonight?” His soft question has me raising my gaze away from his arms.
My shoulders slump, the exhaustion of the entire night hitting me. “Because you didn’t know who I was, and you never would have chosen me.”
He scowls. “What are you talking about? The whole reason I was there tonight was because of you.”
My heart leaps in my chest then I realize what this means. He was just being protective of me the way a good boss is. “You followed me there.”
“Of course I did. The thought of you being in the arms of another man drove me fucking crazy.” He runs his hands through his short hair then stops when he realizes it’s short.
I fold my arms over my chest like I can keep him from hearing the sound of my heart breaking, “So it’s a jealousy thing. If you can’t have me, no one can.”
“I don’t know what the fuck it is. All I know is when another guy gets too close to you, I want to rip his arms out. When you smile at another man, I think of a million ways to dispose of him. You’re all I want–to keep you happy and safe.”
I’d think it was just jealousy, but something about wanting to keep me happy and safe makes me think it’s more than that. “How did you even find me tonight?”
“I saw the invitation when you were over at my cabin. You dropped it.”
I lost my invitation. It all makes sense now. He must have used my lost invitation to get in. After all, the bouncer never checked my identification. It’s part of the appeal of a place like that. Your exclusive invitation is the only proof you belong.
He steps forward and reaches for me like he’s going to touch me then drops his hand. “I’ve been in love with you for months. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
I shake my head, forcing myself to be strong. He told me tonight that he’s in love with another girl. I can’t get into something like that. It’s too complicated and will hurt too much. “But you said you were seeing someone else.”
“No,” he says firmly. “I said I was in love with someone then I told you that I’d only been faithful to her. Joy, my whole life I’ve only ever wanted you.”
“If that’s true, then why didn’t you tell me sooner? Why let me go through with tonight and make a fool of myself?” I can’t make sense of this. Ford has never struck me as the type of man who wants to play games. If anything, he seems to value honest conversations.
He looks away from me, the first time he has since he arrived. “Because I’m not good enough for you.”
I take his hand in mine, wrapping my fingers around his warm calloused ones. I tug him over to the couch, settling on it and patting the space beside me. He hesitates for only a second before joining me. He’s so big, and he doesn’t leave any room between us. He can’t get close enough to me.
We’re quiet, neither of us speaking. Even Bobby is quiet in the kitchen, and I’m glad that he’s giving us privacy.
I let the silence linger until Ford finally breaks it. “It was a roadside bomb. I was the one driving. One minute, you’re on patrol, and you’re laughing at a raunchy joke your buddy told. The next you’re waking up in the hospital, and they tell you that everyone else is gone. Lost all my friends in the blink of an eye.”
He’s touching his side, rubbing where the scars are. I don’t even think he realizes that he’s doing it, and my heart hurts for what he’s been through. I take his hand in mine, so he can stop touching the area. I give it a gentle squeeze, offering him courage and comfort.
“I haven’t felt like I deserved anything good since. Then there you were on my front porch, and I thought maybe fate was teasing me. Maybe this was my punishment, to be tormented by a beautiful woman I couldn’t have. Someone I fell in love with.”
“You fell in love with me?” I repeat, the moment finally starting to feel real. This isn’t just another one of my late night fantasies after too many trashy romance movies and a pint of ice cream. This is real. It’s happening.
A muscle works in his jaw, anger returning to his expression. “That’s why I couldn’t let you go tonight. If you were going to dance with someone, touch someone, kiss someone, then it should be me. It should always be me. Because you’re mine, and I will fight anyone who tries to come between us.”
I can’t help the grin that’s spreading across my face. “Good. Because I will fight anyone who tries to come between us too.”