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If I wasn’t careful, I could fall for a man like Shepard Colson. I just wasn’t sure if he’d do the same with me. Not if he knew everything.
“Dude, are you okay? Are you having a stroke?” Anson snapped his fingers in front of my face.
So, I met his stare and pulled out my wallet. Pawing through it, I tugged a one-dollar bill free and handed it to him. “Not going to do a striptease for you because you flashed me a single.”
“What do you think?” “I think this is seriously fucked, and I’d like to remove Brendan’s balls from his body.” “Gee, thanks for your professional opinion, Dr. Hunt.”
“Thea, one does not remain friends with a man who looks like that.”
She was out front watering her garden in those damn overalls, her cat trying to attack the water as she went. The sight was beyond ridiculous, but it was somehow transfixing.
“People fool us. We think they’re one thing when they’re really another. It doesn’t say anything about us; it says something about them.”
“Stay here.”
YESSSS
Because watching him walk around in those white tees that hinted at the planes of muscle I’d stalked through my window as he worked in my yard would be more than I could take. And what if he wore them with gray sweatpants around the house? Good God, I’d be powerless.
“If you think there’s anywhere I’d rather be than here, you’re dead wrong.”
When I stepped outside, Shep had done a head-to-toe scan and said, “If this is what you do with twenty minutes, I’m in trouble.”
“Such a gentleman.”
“Sometimes,” he whispered in my ear.
That was the kind of beauty Thea had. The type that sucked the air right out of your lungs.
A chuckle slipped free, and I didn’t miss the way Thea’s gaze dropped to my mouth. It was as if she was tracing it with her eyes and memorizing the sound.
Sutton only laughed harder, and it was infectious, bringing me under, as well.
stop their friendship is so special to me
Shep pinned Lolli with a glare. “Why can’t you be a normal grandmother and knit sweaters or something?” Lolli drummed her fingers across her lips. “I could come up with an interesting snowball pattern…” “For fuck’s sake,” Shep muttered.
Shep’s eyes were on me, and I saw such warmth in them, tenderness even.
“Don’t think I don’t want you there, Thorn. I want you wherever I can get you. Why do you think I’ve been coming to the bakery every day for months? I don’t even like sweets.”
I wanted to be like that landscape, moving and evolving. Ever-changing so no one could ever catch me.
her bottom lip. “Behave or there will be consequences.” Rhodes’ eyes hooded. “What if I want those consequences?” Shep made a gagging noise. “Please, God, make it stop.
“Don’t ever speak to her again. You even think of looking in her direction, and I’ll do a hell of a lot worse than break your nose.”
“The little brother who used to think it was funny to throw water balloons at me while I was sleeping does not get an apology for an early visit.”
“Never liked my full name. Not until I heard it on your lips.”
“Well, I’m going to be googling how to hire a hitman,” Sutton clipped. “Then he won’t be able to get back to you at all.” The ghost of a smile appeared on Trace’s face. “Gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.” “Don’t care,” Sutton snapped. “This goes before a jury, they’ll see I was doing the world a favor by ridding it of that vile scum.” “Amen,” Anson muttered. Trace sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Let’s see what we can do via the legal system first.”
“I might’ve paid Anson so I could talk to him with shrink confidentiality protections.” Anson scoffed. “Paid me a fucking dollar.” “Hey, two dollars,” Shep shot back.
“A dollar, huh? That’s a steal.” “Don’t go spreading that around,” he grumbled. “I am not open for business.” Trace’s lips twitched. “Can’t really see you as the warm and comforting type, so that might be for the best.” Anson flipped him off.
“Thanks for making sure I wasn’t alone.” “I’m with you. Always.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve dreamt of peeling clothes off you? Don’t steal that pleasure from me.”
“For making me feel worthy, even at my worst.”
“Hey, Selly. Miss me?”
WHAT THE FUCK
“This is your home.” “You’re my home.”
“Your heart is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. Beautiful because it’s been broken. Those cracks let it become something else entirely. Stronger. Wiser. The fiercest defender of anyone who needs it. And the gentlest confidante for anyone who needs understanding. You see it all. And you don’t look away. You come alongside without judgment, and you simply love. You can’t ask me to walk away from that after I’ve experienced it. It would be like living in the sun, only to exist entirely in darkness.”
Her mouth fell open in adorable shock. “You know?” “I know.” Thea scowled at me, her legs still locked around my waist. “That’s cocky.” My thumb stroked across her cheek, clearing the remnants of her tears. “Not cocky. You just show me every day.”
“You’ve made me realize my own strength, my bravery. You’ve made me a fighter.”
Rhodes was quiet for a moment. I glanced at her. “You okay?” She blinked a few times as if coming out of a haze. “I love having you as a part of our family.” The words were like a surprise attack, sneaking in with a sucker punch to my diaphragm. “Rho.” “Love it for me because you’re awesome, funny, kind, and you’ll talk plants with me until we’re blue in the face.”
“But I love it for Shep more. He’s different since you two started spending time together. I can’t totally explain it, but he’s more at ease. At peace. And I know he’s happy.” My eyes began to burn. “He gives me the same. More.”
“It was where I started to find myself again. Hear my own voice. Remember who I was after all his lies beat me down.”
i'll sob rn
“Sometimes, I don’t want to be strong. I’m tired, Shep.”
“Then let me take the load for a while.”
“I’m okay, but when I turn ole Bren-Bren into a ballless wonder, I’m really going to deserve a gold star.”
“Are you watching your back when you sleep?” He chuckled. “Definitely careful not to step a toe out of line.” Rhodes rolled her eyes. “You spanked my ass in front of the entire crew this morning.” Anson simply shrugged. “You were getting sassy. And you know what those shorts do to me.” “Please, God, make it stop,”
Cold metal pressed into my side from the back seat, making me jerk. “Eyes forward. Keep driving. I’d hate to put a bullet in your spleen.” It was more snarl than voice. But it wasn’t male. I tried to turn to see who it belonged to, because there was something slightly familiar about it. But the metal object jabbed into my ribs. “I said eyes on the road, slut. Or maybe I’ll go for your heart right here and now.”
WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK
I’d risk losing my life to save Thea because, without her, I knew I wouldn’t truly be living anyway.
She just smirked at her grandson. “Not selling it, Mr. Po-Po. You can’t lock me up.”
He stared down at the screen, a massive smile spreading across his face. “It still weirds me out when he smiles,” Kye muttered. Fallon smacked his chest. “Don’t say that.”
“Can’t imagine sleeping without you. Or not having Moose scare the crap out of me with his nighttime crazies. Don’t want to wake up and not have the first thing I see be your face.” “Shepard,” I whispered. “That full-name biz had better be a fuckin’ yes,” he growled. “Yes,” I breathed. “Stay.”
All the lights made him glow, too, but it was more than that. That light came from within him, too. His love for me, radiating out.
“Easiest choice I’ve ever made, choosing you, Shepard Colson.”
I burst out laughing as I felt the last shreds of weight from my nightmare lift and I finally, fully stepped into the light.
