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She just needed to understand this experience was one she wouldn’t forget. That was the safe thing to do, and maybe the one that would keep her sane.
13
Ford stared at the door Talia just left through. Everything inside him demanded he go after her, his bear clawing to claim her, show her, tell her, make her see she was his.
His reaction to Talia had been instantaneous when he’d first seen her, and after speaking with his brothers, there was no fucking doubt she was his mate.
Mine.
My mate.
He sensed her in the café as soon as he stepped inside. Her scent was a powerful aphrodisiac that had him, as well as his bear, growing instantly aroused. He would have taken her right then and there, and fuck anyone who saw. In fact, he wanted everyone to see, to know she was his and no one else would ever touch her.
And then there was Mina, ruining the entire thing with her presence.
But Talia had taken away the darkness that had been his companion this whole time. His bear roared out to claim her, mark her, and let every other male know she was his. He’d known he wanted to tell her all of that, but it wasn’t until he had seen her at the café that he knew without a doubt that she would be his.
“God, Ford. It has been so long.” Mina’s voice brought him back to the present, and he realized he much preferred his inner musings to being with Mina in reality.
An involuntary growl left him, and her eyes widened. She thought the noise that came from him was one of danger. No, it was of his bear knowing his mate had just walked out the door.
Mina sat down and gestured for him to take the seat across from her. Ford didn’t have time for this, and when he opened his mouth to tell her just that, she started speaking.
“Please, Ford, just talk to me. I know everything ended on bad terms, but it has been ten years. You wouldn’t talk to me when I called you about the wedding, but things are different. I’m different.” She held up her hand, showing him the ring on her finger. “Please.”
He should have said fuck no, but he sensed the withdrawal from Talia, knew going to her right now would probably push her away even more. Besides, this needed to be done and over with concerning Mina. He put her behind him all those years ago, and for the first time since Talia came into his life, he didn’t feel that self-loathing.
He pulled the seat out and sat down, and her smile grew wide.
“Don’t misunderstand this for something it isn’t. Yeah, it has been ten years. You aren’t part of my life anymore, haven’t been for far longer than ten years, Mina. And I know you feel the same.” The words fell from his mouth without emotion.
She gave him this sly smile, and his bear bristled.
“Come on, Ford. I know you have to still have feelings for me. I saw the way you reacted when you saw me.”
Hold on just a fucking minute.
“What?” He was shocked by what she just said. “Are you out of your fucking mind?” He hadn’t meant to be so coarse, but fuck, what in the hell was she thinking that he still wanted her?
Her eyes were wide, but he wasn’t surprised that she was so conceited she actually thought he’d been pining over her for all these years. No way in hell was he going to let her think he had been sitting around Sweet Water just waiting for her to come back.
“I saw the way you looked at me when you came in though,” she said again.
The fuck?
There was no fucking way she was going to take what he felt for Talia for herself.
“I assure you that wasn’t for you.” Her once arousal-filled expression fell, and she looked down. Ford let his gaze linger down to the very thick prenuptial book in front of her.
But then something clicked in his head.
Why was Talia with Mina in the first place?
Before he could broach the question, Mina started talking again as if he hadn’t just been totally honest with how he felt for her, or lack thereof.
The only thing he could think of, the only thing he felt aroused by, possessed by, consumed with was the image of a fiery little redheaded fox with curves that went on for miles and wide, light-blue eyes.
“I just…” Mina leaned back in her seat. “I have missed you so much. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about you.” She reached across the table, and he knew she was about to grab for him, but he moved his hands onto his lap.
Her desire for him left a bitter taste in his mouth.
