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This. This was why I loved my family. But this was also why I don’t like my family. How do I choose between someone my parents approve of or the man I’m already married to? I may be an only child, but my parents made up for that. They were both so kind and loving. My mother had such simple dreams for me.
“I don’t want to wonder either,Eomma.”It was like a secret I whispered for only her to hear. I didn’t want to choose between Joseph and Logan. I wanted them both. They filled a hole I hadn’t known was in my soul.
After saying goodbye to my mom on the phone with a promise that I would call soon, I reluctantly got dressed. She gave me a lot to think about. I hadn’t known about her past relationship. I had always thought my dad was her one and only. This perfect love story. That it was all so easy. I guess it was my mom’s way of protecting me until I was finally ready to hear her.
It made sense. She never questioned who I hung out with. She never judged. I don’t know what I was afraid of. I cut contact from everyone when I lost my child. But that time was over. I needed to be stronger. Women had some of the toughest jobs in the world. I didn’t want to be perceived as weak. Sure, I could still grieve, but I’d been through hell. It was time to find my confidence.
???
With those thoughts swirling in my mind a week later, I headed to the garage. It was midday, and I knew Joseph would be sweating underneath a hood rather than eating lunch like he was supposed to.
I walked through the large garage he owned and waved to all the guys I saw. Each and every one of them looked up and did a doubletake. I glanced down at my clothes, wondering if I had spilled something on my white summer dress. But there was nothing. Was it the red heels? Maybe they worried I’d slip. I also carried an order of food for Joseph. Maybe the men were hungry.
A long whistle rang out. “Boss, your girl is here.” JD, one of the younger men on the crew, called out, his face beet red from the sweltering heat.
“Fucking who—ouch, shit!” A crash was immediately followed by more cursing.
“Jojo?” I called out to the area at the back of the garage. “Where are you?”
I couldn’t see beyond the cars lined up. Some were lifted while others just had the hoods up. Every guy on the staff looked extremely busy, trying not to make eye contact—with good cause. Joseph had told the last guy who outwardly lusted after me that he’d gouge his eyes out and force-feed them to him while his wife watched. Stone cold. Jojo could be like that sometimes.
“Hana?” Joseph walked out from behind a large Chevy, a stained cloth in his hands as he tried to get rid of some of the oil stains.
“There you are, Jojo,” I exclaimed, slapping a happy smile over my face.
Joseph’s eyebrow furrowed as he took in my outfit. He came to some kind of conclusion and grunted before grabbing me under the elbow and steering me toward the back office.
“What are you doing here?” he growled in my ear, releasing me with a gentle shove and slamming the door behind him.
Fuck, his rasp could moisten my panties, if I were wearing any. “Well, somebody left me in bed all by myself without even saying goodbye last week,” I pouted. “I just wanted to check and make sure that you were doing alright.”
Joseph cleared his throat. “I’m fine. I just have a lot of work to catch up on,” he said, gentling his tone. “And thank you for lunch.”
He was clearly trying to get me to leave.
“Oh, that’s fine. I guess I’ll just go then.” I let my shoulders fall like I was dejected and turned away. But instead of putting his food on the desk, I sat the bag on the chair and swiped my hand over the desktop, knocking most of the piled items onto the floor. “Oh no, whoops.”
“What the heck, Hana-Banana? I don’t have time for this.”
I whirled around. “Let me just pick all this up then.” I had added a little shakiness in my voice so he would think I was flustered.
Then I bent over forward and touched my toes. I didn’t drop to the ground with my legs closed like a lady. Like I’d been taught. Oh, no. I spread my legs and showed Joseph exactly what I had on underneath my dress. Fucking nothing.
“Can you help me, Jojo?” I looked over my shoulder and batted my lashes at him.
Joseph moved so quick.
He lifted me to my feet.“What the fuck are you thinking walking around with no panties?”he demanded.
“I figured I should be prepared for anything,” I protested weakly.
Joseph grabbed my throat, causing me to yelp in fear. “You walked into my garage with no fucking panties on—for what? So, all these men could see and smell what’s mine?” He tilted my head back to look at him.
When I saw the rage in his eyes, I clenched up all over, fear stealing my breath more than Joseph’s grip.
Then I heard my mother’s voice. This was Jojo. My childhood best friend. The man who's been in my life longer than any other, save for my father. He wouldn’t hurt me. He would never hurt me. He wasn’t Luke Cartright.
He was Joseph Pierce. And. He. Was. Mine.
