Page 60 of Ravaged With You

He turned away, then back again. Nothing. Once again, she was gone.

He was seeing ghosts. He was surrounded by goddamn ghosts. He had to be.

The woman was dead. She and the men who’d helped her.

But what if she wasn’t a ghost?

He told himself that he was being paranoid, but he couldn’t take the risk. He bent toward Renly. “I have to go.”

“You okay?”

“I’m antsy about being away from Jo under the circumstances. It’s probably my imagination, but I’m not going to second guess myself.”

Renly looked around the table. “Want us to come with you?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m sure it’s nothing. Just my own paranoia. But I’m not taking chances with her.”

“Fair enough.”

He clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Next time I see you, you’ll be a married man.”

“I know. Isn’t it fabulous?”

Red had to agree. Because he didn’t think he’d ever seen a man look happier than Renly did in that moment.

He thought of Jo as he headed out, then walked down the street toward Emma’s house, his brother’s face filling his thoughts. That’s when Red knew how happy he’d look if only Jo could be his.

Seeing Renly was like looking in mirror, after all.

What he still didn’t know was if he could ever have her. If he would ever be able to truly open up. And even if he did, he didn’t know if she could handle his shit.

His brother was right. Red was too scared to push.

But he’d learned one thing for certain tonight, if he didn’t, he’d never know what could have been. And damned if he couldn’t live with that either.

Chapter Nineteen

Because my friends have absolutely no class, we’re playing pin the cock on the porn star when I look over and see Red step in through Emma’s front door. His brows are furrowed, and I don’t think it’s because of the ridiculousness of the game.

I hurry to him, stumbling a little because I’ve had too much to drink. “Is something wrong?”

“We need to go.”

My stomach twists. “What happened?”

“Nothing. It’s fine.”

“Then why do we have to go?”

“Dammit, Jo, please. Let’s go.”

I study his face, see the genuine concern there, and nod. “Just give me a second to say goodbye.”

I make the circle, say goodbye to my friends old and new, then give Abby an extra tight hug. “I’ll think about you tomorrow at one,” I tell her. That’s when their ceremony before the judge is scheduled for. “You’ll be a married woman when I see you again.”

Her grin is wide and her face sparkles with happiness. “I know. Isn’t it awesome?”

“It really is,” I agree, then hurry back to Red.