Page 208 of Romeo

Ma Belle: Are you busy?

Me: Never too busy for you, Cher. Just talking to a brother.

Ma Belle: Tell them I said hi

Me: They don’t know you exist yet.

Ma Belle: Why not?

I smiled.

Me: Because I’m selfish and I’m not ready to share you.

Winchester glanced at the phone. “And you’re waiting for her to tell you whatever she’s holding back?”

“I’m waiting for her to decide she wants to tell me. There’s a difference.”

His expression shifted, the teasing fading. “You really love her.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.”

Saying it out loud didn’t feel nearly as terrifying as I expected.

Maybe because I’d known for a long fucking time.

“Then why not bring her here?” he asked. “Let her meet the brothers. Put it to a vote once she sees what she’d be stepping into.”

“Because I want her to choose me before the club gets wrapped around that decision. Once I put my cut on her back, this whole place becomes part of it.” I nodded toward the room around us. “She deserves to know she chose Jasper before everybody starts calling her Romeo’s old lady.”

Winchester leaned back and considered that.

King’s accusation in Rosewood had pissed me off, but there had been enough truth beneath it to matter. I had thirteen years on Fiona. More experience with relationships, sex, clubs, and nearly every other part of adult life. Pretending none of that affected the balance between us would’ve made me exactly the kind of asshole King feared I might be.

Fiona was changing that balance herself.

Every time she pushed back. Every time she told me what she wanted instead of waiting for me to decide. Every time she called me on my bullshit.

Especially that kiss.

“You know most men in this club would’ve claimed her the second they made up their mind,” Winchester said.

“Most men in this club are assholes.”

He laughed. “Fair enough.”

The phone buzzed again.

Ma Belle: You still there?

Me: Always.

Ma Belle: Good

My chest tightened before I could do a damn thing about it.

Winchester caught the look on my face and shook his head. “You’re fucked.”