Page 29 of Scarred Sunrise

Peyton shook her head. “You’re a survivor, a warrior, and admitting you’re vulnerable does not make you weak, it makes you stronger. Knowing and admitting how you feel is brave, Smithy, and shows just how much you want to fix things.”

“But I broke her.”

“No, you didn’t, and we’ll talk about that next time. For now, I want you to spend some time thinking about what made you change your mind about giving Lizzie a chance.” She held up her hand when he went to speak. “Not now, next time. Are you sticking to the diet I gave you?”

He nodded. “Mostly, although I had a cake with Liz.”

“Cake is fine, cake is comfort food, and we all need a little of that now and again. I’ll see you on Wednesday.”

As he went to bed that night, he gave some serious thought to what Dr Lawson had asked him. Why had he changed his mind about Lizzie and him? Was it as simple as he nearly lost her, and it had shocked the stupid out of him or was there more to it? He turned over in bed, looking at the plain white walls of his bedroom and closed his eyes. Perhaps it was that simple. He smiled at the thought of seeing her again tomorrow.

* * *

Smithy feltlike a dick as he stood in front of the shop Lizzie owned as if he was waiting for his first glimpse of his schoolboy crush. But then, in so many ways, she was all of those things. Maybe not his first crush but certainly the first and last woman he’d ever loved. He glanced up at the store with its two large, double-paned windows and a brick and wood façade which screamed class.

He tried not to remember the last time he’d set foot inside this building, the burn of guilt acrid on his tongue. He had been a puppet then, and not the man he was now who’d beaten the evil that tried to destroy him. He saw her Ford Focus draw up and Dane, who’d been following in his own car, lifted his hand in a wave as he drove past.

The team decided yesterday that Lizzie would be protected at all times, as would Lucy and Meg. He had insisted he be the one to guard Liz. It had been a short battle of wills between him and Dane, but eventually, his stubborn tenacity had won out against her brother. So here he was watching Lizzie walk down the street in slim black trousers, a leopard print shirt, and a camel coloured coat with patent black flats shoes which showed off her pretty ankles. She looked classy, elegant, and so damn sexy he knew he was going to spend the day admiring her ass.

“If you’re applying for the apprentice job, I think you might need to fill out an application form.” Her beaming grin and the heat in her eyes as they travelled over him had his body tightening in need.

Stepping forward, he kept his hands in his pockets to resist the urge to touch her. “What’s the pay like?”

He saw her struggle with her bag and keys. He reached out, took the keys, and opened the door, putting himself between her and the open space around them. Once inside, she locked the door behind her and turned off the alarm.

He followed her into the back room where he was relieved to see she’d totally renovated the space so it looked nothing like the room he’d snatched her from.

She bent to put her bag under the table, and he groaned at the sweet curve of her ass. Lizzie looked at him over her shoulder, a sexy, sultry smile playing on her lips as she spun towards him. Her stride was slow, the heat in her conker brown eyes melting into him. He stayed frozen to the spot wanting her to take the lead, his intention not to push her a flint away from burning.

Her hands came to his chest, the light touch sending bolts of desire through his body. “The pay is awful, but the benefits are outstanding for the right candidate.”

“Hmm, tell me more.” Smithy pulled his hands from his jeans pockets and laid then lightly on her hips, the shiver going through her at his touch almost making him want to drop to his knees.

“Well, there is free tea and cake.”

“And?”

“A staff discount.”

“And?” He was enjoying this light, flirtatious game they were playing. Everything between them had been so serious the last few years, and he wanted this bit of fun.

“I guess you’ll have to apply to find out.” She leaned in close, her lips almost touching his then kissed his cheek before walking away.

Smithy chuckled, loving the way she had him eating out of her hand with only a few words. Removing his leather jacket, he hung it on the back of the door and followed the sound of movement to the front of the shop, admiring the antiques and period pieces she’d collected.

“That was mean,” he whispered as he went up behind her and pulled her back to his front, making sure she could feel what she’d done to him.

Her dark smoky laugh made his cock ache to be inside her. “So was kissing me in front of every member of Fortis and not touching me since.”

He pulled back, sure that underneath the teasing, he detected genuine hurt and uncertainty.

Smithy twisted her to look at him, tipping her chin up when she dropped her eyes from him. “Look at me,” he barked slightly more angrily than he intended. Her eyes met his, and he saw the defiance and strength in them, but also the guardedness. “I was trying to give you time, not rush you or push you into this when you’re not ready.”

Lizzie lifted her hand to his cheek. “Silly man, I don’t need time, I just need you. Don’t you think we wasted enough time already?”

Her words twisted in his heart, winding around it like a vine made of silk. Each strand was binding him to her more tightly and yet with every twist, he felt freer than he ever had. “Yes, sweetheart, we have wasted too much time.”

With that he kissed her deep and long, pouring every single thing he was feeling into it. His hand tangled in her hair, the satin strands wrapping around his skin as he tugged her head back, devouring her mouth until she mewled into his kiss.