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“I’ve never laid a hand on a woman in my fucking life and I never will.” Her chest sank all the way down and fired back up, her fingers twitching around her smoothie cup. She started to say something, but no words came out. That telling reaction caused Burgess to dig his fingertips into his thigh hard enough to cause pain, his pulse pumping loudly in his ears. Name the dead man who hurt you.
She pouted. “Oh, Burgess, you need help, don’t you?” “Help me,” he said, hoarsely. “I can’t do what you did this morning. You made straight, white lines in her hair. While talking. I can’t do either one of those things with her. Not even one at a time.”
“Growing up in my house, we had a rule. You have to clear the air before a meal. If you still have anger in your throat when the meal starts, you could choke.”
“They have to experience a few hard losses to appreciate winning. The greatest players are great because they can cope with losing. They’ve been there, been humbled by getting crowned second or third best.” He shrugged. “You can take home the first-place trophy, but it won’t be as sweet if you’ve never experienced second. That hasn’t happened to them yet.”
“He’s hot.” “He is,” Tallulah blurted. “He’s extremely hot.” “In like a mean Daddy way.” “I know. I know.”
Sig considered him through a squinted eye. “I’m starting to think this au pair affair is going to be fun to watch.”
He stroked the side of her face. “‘Neanderthal’ doesn’t even rate, gorgeous.” “Oh yeah? Then why did I want to stab him in the throat?” I’m going to marry this girl someday.
“If you’re talking about our relationship, as short-lived as it was . . .” she said quietly, putting out her hand, terrified he would take it, that his touch would disrupt the stillness she’d worked so hard to achieve. “Why don’t we just agree to . . . forgive and forget.” Slowly, Burgess’s gaze tracked down to her hand, before reestablishing the relentless eye contact that was battering her nervous system. “Forget?” “Yes.” “I couldn’t forget a fucking minute of you if I tried.”
“I would give up everything I own to go back to that day and tell you I love you, too, Tallulah. I’d smile while handing over my soul to the devil for that chance.” He touched their foreheads together and her lips parted, in shock or protest over his words, he had no idea. “I love you. And I’m sorry I was heartless with you. I felt weak and I only wanted you to see me as strong. When I couldn’t give you strong, I lashed out. I thought I was doing you a favor, but I fucked up the best part of my life. I’m sorry.”
