I squeezed my hands around the backs of her thighs and said, “Kismet, wasn’t it?”
“What’s the significance to you?” she asked softly.
I punched in the code and walked inside, setting her on her feet right inside the door.
I looked her dead in the eyes and said, “That was the day that I went to prison. Which also happens to be my birthday.”
The worst day of my life.
She inhaled swiftly, shock crossing her face.
“You were in jail?”
I nodded. “Federal prison.”
“For what?” she balked.
“For murdering a governor.”
Her eyes widened, and she stepped back, her backside hitting the door.
Eyes wide, she said, “The man that was in prison for killing the Mississippi governor died during an escape attempt.”
I shook my head carefully. “Nope. I am very much alive.”
“But…how?”
“I can’t tell you everyone’s secrets, but there are seven of us here that escaped from prison with the help of another governor…or ex-governor.”
She blinked owlishly. “Was this like state-sanctioned?”
I shook my head. “Very much illegal.”
Her mouth opened and closed a comical amount before she said, “Why are you telling me this?”
I studied her face. “Why do you think?”
Her cheeks pinked.
“First of all, you need to know what kind of man I am before you let me more solidly into your life.”
She didn’t say anything.
“Second of all, before I get any deeper into this with you, I need to know if you can handle it,” I said. “Handle me. Everything that comes with me.”
She swallowed hard, her throat bobbing with the movement.
“You need to know what kind of man you’re letting around your kid,” I continued. “The kind of man you’re inviting to be a part of your daughter’s life,” I leveled. “I’m already halfway gone for that kid of yours. I’m already gone for you. When I fall all the way, I won’t be letting either one of you go. Not without one hell of a fight.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I’m not a bad man,” I said. “I have morals that I won’t cross. I don’t like the little guy losing. I don’t like a woman living in fear of a man. I certainly don’t like when children get hurt. Especially ones that are under my care and protection.” I looked down at my hands. “I won’t ever be the guy that lets things like that go. And if you can’t handle that, then I need to know now. Before I let myself fall any further in love with you.”
I was looking at my hands, so I wasn’t looking at the woman that was no longer plastered to the wall.
But my head jerked up quickly when her hands came down on top of mine.
Twenty-Four
