Unperfect (Unperfect, #1)

by Susie Tate

I blinked and then forced my mouth to close. Okay then, some men did know how to apologise.

And for some reason I was furious it wasn’t directed at me.

But it wasn’t fear this time with Max. I wasn’t scared of him now. It was awareness.

“The answer is that you tell me who the fuck has pulled you about by the hair so that I can fuck them up.”

“That’s your big secret, isn’t it?” she said. “What’s that?” “You – you’re kind. You’re a good man. You would never hurt me.” “No, love,” I said softly, searching her face and pushing her fringe back from her forehead. “Not ever.”

I could feel the trembling of his body as he held himself back from me – worried, even now in the grip of his desire, worried that he might crowd me, that he might overwhelm me.

Because unperfected Mia was happy. Unperfected Mia smiled real smiles, she laughed, she wasn’t terrified all the time.

“Do you know what says ‘bugger you’ more than anything? What really sticks it to the bastads? It’s living a good life, despite what’s happened to you before. It’s letting yourself be happy. Otherwise, love … otherwise they win. Otherwise you let him win.”

No small talk, no superficial conversations, no expectations of me to perform, no fear – just love and laughter and home and family.