The openness in her tone surprises me. She truly thinks our time home will be uncomfortable and awkward. She couldn’t be further from the truth. After getting over the shock of me bringing home a woman for the first time, my family will love Regan. I’m one hundred percent certain of this.
When I say that to her, her face pales even more. “I’m not a girl you take home to meet your parents, Alex. I’m the one you invite to functions when you want to make an ex jealous, or your coworkers drool in envy. I’m not parent-certified.”
She groans when I step back so she can spin around to face me. She does, although hesitantly. I attempt to fire off a remark, a comment that any man would be fucking blessed to have her in his life, but she beats me to the task, her comment more pained than pleasant. “Parents have a knack for knowing good people. They’ll smell my rotten insides from a mile away. Luca’s parents did.”
Finally, the truth smacks into me. She’s not opposed to meetingmyparents. She’s recalling bad memories.
“Do you really think I’d take you home to be ridiculed?” Stealing her chance to reply with one of the many grievances firing through her eyes, I quickly add on, “I’ll walk away from everyone I know before I’lleverlet that happen.”
Her eyes dance between mine as if shocked by my declaration. This is one notion I can’t understand. Why in the world would anyone as perfect and beautiful as Regan think she’d be second best? I wasn’t lying when I told her dad I didn’t care if our relationship was two hours old or over a decade long, she’ll always be my number one priority.
“Two nights, Rae, give me two nights of the real you, and I’ll do the same. No holds barred. No secrets. No lies—”
“No omissions of truth.”
I smile then nod. “Just two people hanging out like we did at your ranch.”
Her smile matches mine, her memories just as fond. We only left her ranch a little over twenty-four hours ago, but it feels more like a lifetime. I’d give anything to go back to that moment in the field where we became us.
After a deep breath that expands her chest, Regan locks her eyes with mine. “Truth?” She only says one word, but the hundreds streaming from her eyes express more than real words ever could.
Even panicked I’m mere hours from losing her, I nod. It’s time for me to be honest. I just need to bring her stalker to justice first. If I confess right now, she’ll never let me protect her. She may not even let me see her again. I don’t want either of those things to occur, so although I’m pledging honesty, it must start from now. I can’t confess to old sins just yet.
“Okay.” Regan releases another big breath before stepping closer to me. “I didn’t take a shower.”
My eyes dart to her hair that’s bone dry before scanning the little pockets in her collarbone. They don’t have a single drop of moisture on them.
When I return my eyes to Regan, she confesses, “After the first time we. . .fucked, you went a little quiet. I knew something was off.”
Although pleased at her uncomfortable wording, it does little to ease my agitation. “So instead of asking me what was wrong, you spied on me?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Well. . . not technically.”
Catching my stink eye, she adds on, “I intended to take a shower. I switched on the faucet. . . I just never got in.”
“Did you press your ear against the door?”
Her lips quirk into a smile. I really wish they wouldn’t. I can’t stay mad at her when she’s smiling at me. It is impossible.
“Yes.” She chews on the corner of her lip, enhancing her sexpot look. “When that didn’t work, I used a glass.”
I smirk, half-impressed, half-peeved. “What did you hear?”
Her smile drops as her eyes narrow. “More my raging heart than anything.”
I exhale a relieved breath.
It is quickly withdrawn when she adds on, “But I know you’re hiding something from me, Alex, so until you come clean on what that is, I refuse to go anywhere with you. Trust is a two-way street. You either give it to me fully or cross the road, leaving me on the other side.”
This. . . this is the exact reason I know she is the woman for me. She gets me. Even while masking my confusion in a way I’ve been trained to do, she sees through it. She sees the real me.
Now things are about to get even more real.
9
Istare at Alex, confused and complexed. I thought he’d be frustrated at my lack of trust, but the crinkle in his brow isn’t there because of what I said. It is therebecauseof me. I went the honesty route because I thought it was the right thing to do. I’ve lied so much the past decade, I’m having a hard time distinguishing between truth and dishonesty.
I was also hoping a little bit of honesty would encourage Alex to do the same. If the uneasy crinkle in his top lip is anything to go by, I’m skeptical.
