Page 39 of Weston’s Treasure

“Weston—”

“Straight up, Silver, and you need to understand this. Do not think because I wasn’t the one on that boat taking the shots that I would’ve had an issue taking them. Because I wouldn’t’ve. But at that moment, I was more concerned about getting to you and making sure you were okay. Any other time, it would’ve been me topside taking those fuckers out. And that’s something you’re gonna have to figure out if you’re okay with.” I was getting ready to ask why it would matter how I felt about anything he did when he answered my silent question. “I’ve been honest with you, I’ve told you I want to get to know you better. I want you to get to know me. I was clear when I told you while you’re figuring your shit out I was gonna push forward and work to convince you to take a chance. So this is me doing that—giving you something about me you’re gonna have to deal with. My job’s my job and it’s not going anywhere. Which means, as much as it sucks, the possibility is high, I will have to take a life.”

It seemed even though I didn’t want to think about why Alec thought I meant something to Weston, I couldn’t steer clear of the topic. It was front and center in everything Weston did for me, everything he said, all the ways he was honest with me. He just put it out there.

What guy did that?

Why wasn’t he hiding his feelings?

Why wasn’t he playing it cool, acting aloof, making me walk on eggshells trying to figure out if he liked me? Why wasn’t he avoiding topics that had to do with feelings or emotions?

“Don’t most guys try to keep how they feel about a woman a secret?”

“Wouldn’t know. What I do know is, I’m not most guys.”

“No, you’re not,” I grumbled.

“And that pisses you off, why?”

“Because it confuses me that you’re just telling me straight out how you feel and what you want.”

“That confuses you?” He chuckled.

I stopped watching him pulling into a parking space and gave him my best dirty look.

Again, he didn’t wilt under it, he just laughed harder.

“What’s funny?” I unhappily muttered.

“Only you would think me being straight with you is confusing.”

“Well, I don’t know. The last guy I went on a date with kept me guessing if he was going to try to kiss me goodnight. Not that I was going to let him, but I couldn’t get a read all night. One minute hot, the next cold. That’s always been my experience, I never know because they never say anything.”

“That’s fucked.”

“That’s just the way it is. So you being honest about everything, even your feelings, is really damn confusing.”

“Alright, Silver, how ‘bout this?” Weston started and turned in his seat to face me. “Just to clear up any possible confusion in the future, there will never be a time you’ll have to wonder if I want to or if I will kiss you. The answer to that is, yes. I’m not like most men, and I’d venture to say you’ve never known anyone like me. Pleased about that. I don’t have the time nor am I stupid enough to fuck around with you. I’m a man who knows what he wants. I know what I like, how I like it, and I want to be surrounded by it. Does that make it easy for you?”

No. No, it didn’t. Not even a little bit easier.

“Silver,” he sighed, clearly running out of patience. “You may not get it now, but you will.”

“When?” I blurted out.

“When you decide to take a chance and believe you’re safe with me.”

There it was again—take a chance.

“I’ve never had anything good happen to me,” I told him.

“I don’t believe that, but if it’s true, then your luck’s changed. You take a chance on us and I promise you’ll have it good.”

“But—”

“Take a chance,” he whispered, leaning closer.

“I’m telling—”