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She sighs. “Fine. I’ll help you. But I have to tell you something too.” She pauses. “I don’t like talking about my ex but you’re gonna need to know this. Because I just don’t trust the son of a bitch not to show up if he hears about you.”
I lean back into a table, crossing my arms and legs, just waiting. I don’t want to push her. Just like I don’t want her to push me.
“My ex was an abusive son of a bitch,” she whispers softly. My whole body goes cold and still. The thought that this man touched her makes ice cling to my skin. I shiver.
“What exactly does that mean? Did he touch you?” I whisper. My fists clench at my side and I want to hunt this man down just from the look on her face.
“He did. The last time we fought. But mostly he was just good at undermining all my good, happy thoughts. He was a master at telling me how beautiful I was in one breath and telling me that I needed to lose weight in another.”
My head reels. Rage pours over me like scalding hot oil. “There’s not a damn thing wrong with you, sweetheart. I hope you told him that and then to go to hell.”
She flushes, staring at me and I see her pupils dilate until her eyes are dark and deep and deadly to my self-control. “No, I didn’t bother arguing with him.”
I step closer to her and my hand reaches out to touch her cheek, marveling at the soft, petal-smooth feel of her skin in my rough hand. “That’s your first mistake, sweetheart. If some man can’t appreciate you for the beautiful, magical woman that you are, you walk and you keep walking until you find a man who appreciates every damn little piece of you. If you snore, he thinks it’s music to his ears. If you get a little sassy, it turns him on. Every thing that that guy thought was bad, the next guy thinks is the best part of you.”
I move even closer, so close that her head is resting against my chest and I pant, loving her so close to me. My eyes rake up and down her lush curves. She’s got wide hips that beg for my hands to hold onto while I slam into her, my dick nestling between her soft, sweet, juicy pussy lips and my body curving over hers. Protecting her even as I take her, claim her with my body.
I freeze when I can’t think about anything but her staying in my house, hair tousled from my hands and her lovely body rounded with my baby.
I close my eyes and back away, desperate to give in but knowing that it would be the worst idea ever. I can’t do that to either one of us. I like her too damn much and I cannot stand the idea of hurting her. She’s already suffered so much.
My name won’t be a swear word on her lips at some future time.
I back away slowly, letting my hands drop down and feeling every particle of me tightening with the urge, the need to stay by her side. To feel her touch and make her feel as good as I know she’d make me feel.
Instead of touching her I say, “Be my girlfriend. My fake girlfriend.” And I curse the impulse that made me touch her and realize what I’m missing out on because I absolutely can’t do it again.
This is fake and it needs to stay that way…for both our sakes.
Chapter 5
Callie
Abig, familiar truck pulls up outside and I move to the front door, smiling back at Jenny. She’s my new help because I’m gonna get burned out if I don’t have some help.
“Just make sure that you get those cupcakes and muffins mixed up for the morning and keep this door locked since we’re closed. I’ll be here first thing in the morning to get them started for tomorrow’s sales.”
She nods and her pretty green eyes smile. She wrinkles her nose, her freckles making her look way younger than her thirty-five years. “I’ll take care of everything. Just go have fun.”
It’s been a week since we became a couple and Rory really likes to keep up appearances because he’s come to see me every single night after he gets off work. Even if he just sits and watches me make up batter for the morning’s bake.
He steps out of the cab of the truck, dressed in a sleek t-shirt that fits across his big, barrel chest like a second skin. I lick my lips.
Lord, that man is good to look at.
He stops in front of the glass door and smiles and just like that my heart skips a beat. I unlock the door and smile at him happily, pushing my unease at the joy I feel when I see him away. Out of sight, out of mind.
“Hey,” he murmurs huskily, his green eyes darkening to shimmering emeralds. “You look gorgeous tonight.” My breath shivers out of me and goosebumps dance on my skin.
I grin up at him and he reaches out a hand to tuck my hand into his. “It’s not every day that a real-life cowboy is going to teach me how to ride.”
He rolls his eyes and I wave at Jenny as he sets his warm palm on my back and butterflies skitter back and forth in my belly. She locks up with us on the other side, smiling and waving.
“Let’s go, princess. I’ve got two very gorgeous horses dying to meet you.”
“Oh, well, I’m dying to meet them too. And we’re gonna have a talk about not hurting me.”
He turns to me and his warm palm cups my chin, lifting it so that I can’t avoid his gaze. “They won’t hurt you. I won’t let them. I’ve got the most docile horse from the ranch set aside just for you. I promise that you’re safe with me. You’ll always be safe with me.”
