Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“I was going to cool off in the pool,” I told him.
He held me in the towel. “Not yet. We have company,” he said, then let go of me to turn around just as one of his lawyers turned the corner from stepping down off the patio and headed this way.
“Wh-why is your lawyer here?” I asked nervously.
Was this about the divorce papers? I hadn’t thought about those in weeks.
He patted my towel-covered bottom, but didn’t reply.
“Stanz, you remember Branwen,” Linc said.
Stanz was holding papers and a pen. I felt sick. Was he signing the papers? Why now?
“Yes, of course. It’s good to see you again,” he replied.
I gave him a shaky smile. “You too,” I lied. It was not at all good.
Linc’s gaze moved back to me. I turned to look up at him for answers that just might break my heart yet again.
“Stanz has all the legal work handled to have Stevie’s last name change to Shephard. He just needs your signature, and then he can file it.”
I blinked. Stevie’s last name. We’d never talked about it. He had never brought it up. I wasn’t sure what to think. He was her father, and the only reason his name wasn’t on her birth certificate was because he hadn’t known about her. But shouldn’t he have asked me or just mentioned it? Why bombard me like this?
Was that what this had all been about? The past two weeks. The family time. Being together. Sleeping in bed with me. Had he been prepping me to just do whatever he told me to? Panic, disillusionment, and—as always with him—pain. Eventually, it came.
Stevie called out for him and told him to watch as she did a trick. I stepped past him, no longer able to make eye contact. Taking the papers from Stanz, I looked down at them.
He held out a pen and showed me where to sign. Once I was done, he took them, and I turned to look back at Linc, who was watching me.
“All you had to do was ask me. When have I not given you what you wanted? I’m an easy yes for you, aren’t I, Linc?”
Tears clogged my throat as I thought about all the nights I’d thought I saw something in his eyes when he looked at me. But it was always me and my wishful thinking. Emotion boiling over inside me, I let out a sob I hadn’t wanted to.
“Heck, Linc, you’ve owned my heart for most of my life. I’ve loved you for so long that I can’t remember a time when I didn’t. With that kind of power, why not use me like your puppet? Because I clearly allow it.”
Spinning around, I started for the house. Stevie had heard me. I was too loud. I’d let myself break down in front of her.
I heard his heavy footsteps just before his fingers wrapped around my arm and he stopped me. I used my free hand to wipe at the tears.
“Just let me go,” I pleaded.
Using both of his hands, he pulled me back until I was pressed against his chest. His warmth made me shiver. Mocking me and all that I represented.
“Say it again, Ringlets.” His voice was hoarse as his breath tickled my skin.
“What?”
“Tell me you love me.”
I closed my eyes as another whimper escaped me. “Why?”
He reached up and pulled my hair over to one side, then pressed a kiss on my bare shoulder. “Because I need to hear it again. Hear the woman who owns me—and will own me until I take my very last breath—tell me she loves me. That she can love me after all the darkness and shit I’ve put her through.” He pressed his lips to my temple. “I think I fell in love with you in Vegas and ran to save you rather than me. But fate brought you back to me, and I almost fucked that up. Please, tell me again.”
Sniffling, I wiped at my face. I turned to look up at him, not sure I trusted this. But when my eyes met his, my heart stuttered, and I sucked in a breath. “I love you,” I said, letting it back out.
He grinned, then lowered his head. His lips brushed over mine.
“Dad! What awah you doing?” Stevie called out, sounding alarmed.
Linc’s arms held me firmly, not letting me move away as he lifted his head to look at our daughter. “I’m kissing your pretty momma,” he replied.
Stevie’s giggles brought a smile to my face as Linc’s gaze dropped back down to me.
“Thank you,” he said simply.
“For what?” I asked.
“For loving an outlaw,” he replied with a sexy smirk.
“Linc Shephard, my heart never gave me a choice.”