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I was safer here than anywhere else in the world.
Just the mention of her set my blood to boiling, and not in a good way.
That time of my life was a sore wound. I’d bullied Haley because I was a moron. My mama raised me better, but I’d been an idiot. More than an idiot. I’d been an asshole.
One day, I’d find the right woman. And when I did, I’d do anything to make her happy.
If Haley Bently were a rattlesnake instead of a gorgeous woman, I’d be a dead man.
Haley was just as stunning as she’d always been, except gone were the awkward teenage motions.
Maybe a lot had changed, but that flash of temper in her gaze sure hadn’t.
I was a man, and I knew both of them as well as I knew myself. They thought she was drop-dead-gorgeous, because she was, and were curious.
Without another word, I scooped up the girl who hated me more than the church ladies hated Satan.
My grip on her tightened. “Easy, darlin’. I just want to get you patched up.”
Something about her had always riled me up—back then it was a lot of things but now that I was an adult, I recognized what it was.
Lust. Pure and simple and dangerous.
Haley was the type of gorgeous that would keep you up at night.
I was fucking up all over again. I’d sworn to myself if I ever laid eyes on her again, I’d make things right.
I fought the urge to tuck back a loose golden curl, my chest squeezing. She was so goddamn beautiful she took my breath away.
She smelled sweet, like honeysuckle and jasmine.
I looked up at her. If I were a good man, my cock wouldn’t have hardened in my blue jeans from looking at her from this angle.
“I’m sorry. I’m stressed. Seeing her was… was something else. And I’m trying to keep everything afloat until Hunter gets back.
“I’ll handle it.” Because the idea of my brother getting close to the only girl I’d ever bullied made me see red. I would earn her forgiveness. Starting with that dress.
Second dress I’ve ruined. I’m sorry for both. I don’t know how to make it up to you, but hopefully this can be the start. - Cam
Giving gifts and being prepared for anything were two of my love languages. Not that I was in love with her.
I fought off a smile. I was proud of her, but I was sure if I expressed that, it would piss her off.
Which meant that she’d be around me more. Which meant I might get to show her the real me and make up for every time I’d ever hurt her.
But I liked seeing him eye to eye like this. He had pretty eyes. Stop that.
Calling him Cam suddenly made him feel a lot less like a villain in my mind. I heard his voice behind me, soft and baritone. “See you, Hal.”
I hated the way my pulse shot through the roof as the back door swung open and shut.
“If there is anything I can do to make it up to you, I’ll do it.” A heavy silence fell between us. I stared at him, my heart beating so loud I could hear it.
“Hi.” I’d been thinking about him all day. All fucking day.
“Yeah,” he said, but his tone was unconvincing. He swallowed hard, his eyes falling on my lips and then rising back to my gaze.
Was I going to forgive him? Really forgive him?
“It doesn’t matter that it’s been that long. I still think about it. I still think about you.”
Her strength was something that I’d always admired, but I realized I hadn’t truly seen it until now.
Rage worked through me. The idea of a man harming her, trying to kill her, threatening her.
“I care about you,” I whispered. “It may be crazy. I may not have a single shot in hell with you. But I care, Hal. I care a lot. And I like you more than I should.”
“I do want you. I want you like a garden wants the sun. When I see you, I can’t see anything else. I want you and no one else. Maybe I’ve always wanted you.”
She pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re kind of bossy?”
When I finally got to kiss the woman of my dreams, it was going to be perfect. Because after tonight, I’d realized two things.
One, Haley was meant to be mine. Two, I was going to spend every waking moment showing her that I was meant to be hers.
He looked a little more rugged this morning, and I found that I liked him like that. He was hot. Hotter than he’d ever been in high school.
He wants me.
“On my knees, sunshine. I’m begging you to let me take you on a picnic and spoil you and for you to let me take a ride in that Corvette.”
“You’re perfect, you know that?”
“All I want to do right now is kiss you.” “Don’t,” I whispered, swallowing hard. “The whole town is going to be talking now.” “Let them talk,” he murmured.
“You keep looking at me like you want to eat me,” she teased.
“I want to kiss you.” “I want to do more than kissing.” My ears were burning now. “Hal, you’re going to drive me crazy.” “I plan on it.”
“It would be nice to get my mind off things, and… I want you.” Fuck. I was a goner.
I’d never felt this way before about a woman. When I wasn’t with her, I wanted to be with her. And when I was with her, I never wanted it to end. I never wanted her to leave.
“I’d want to be married for a couple years and travel together before starting a family.”
The idea of taking you tomorrow at our picnic is going to keep me up tonight.
“More than you can imagine, sunshine. I might be easygoing, but I’ll put you on your knees and make you beg for my cock like a good girl any day of the week. But only if you want to.”
