AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes.” I hate that he had to hear that from me.
“So, I guess she’ll be moving down there for good.”
“She mentioned someone was with her. Thane? He’s one of your bikers, right? You haven’t been asking him for intel?”
“No. After the shooting, I can’t ask anything of Thane. He’ll let me know if anything happens to Lyla, but otherwise, I won’t bother them.”
We keep talking about everything and nothing until Isaac pulls into the diner. The one near the comedy club.
“Seriously? Out of all the places to eat, you bring me back here?” I ask him with a smile.
“You scarfed down your food fast enough that night that I assumed it was a safe bet,” he says as he turns the car off. “And I hate how I spoke to you. What I said wasn’t about you. It wasn’t your fault a shit ton of filthy thoughts about you went through my mind. It was easier to blame you than accept that I was a pervert, lusting after a young girl.”
“I’m a twenty-three-year-old woman, Isaac. Not a teenage girl.”
“You were a teenager just four fucking years ago.”
“But I’m not now. Why is it okay for me to be attracted to you but not for you to be attracted to me?”
“I’m old enough to know better,” he mutters, making me worry he’s about to throw this in a ditch before we even have dinner. He reaches over, though, his warm fingers taking my hand, holding it firmly, confidently as his thumb strokes my skin. “But you’re right. I can’t keep feeling guilty about the twenty years between us. It’s never going to change, so it’s time for me to accept that and get over it.”
“So you’re over it?” I ask.
“I’m over it. Let’s go eat,” he suggests with a grin.
And as soon as I’m out of the car, Isaac is there, taking my hand again. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the only safe way I’ll let him touch me or because he doesn’t want anyone mistaking him as my father.
* * *
Isaac
Holly seems happy enough with my dinner choice, smiling at me while we waited for our food, asking if she said or did things that night I came to get her at the club or imagined it.
And the food is damn good. Burger and fries won’t ever be considered a gourmet meal, but that’s just not the kind of man I’ll ever be. Dating without sex was a good idea to see if she can take me as I am. This dog is too old to learn new tricks. I’m too set in my ways. I’ve never changed a thing about myself for a woman, not even Christine, and I never will.
There’s not a single thing I would want to change about Holly. Sure, it would be nice if she were older. It’s not the age gap that bothers me as much as how young she is, just like my daughters. She’s barely lived while I’ve done plenty, even been to hell and back.
I was still living in a hell of my own making before our paths crossed. When the shit with Dockery was going down, I was so worried about Lyla, about more of my men getting hurt because of him. I still don’t know if Thane will come back to the table or not after taking a bullet.
That shit was stressful for us all. I’m not planning to let any of these quiet, calm days go by without being grateful for them. I wish I could fix things with Lyla, but that’s not going to happen. If she ever forgives me for lying to her for her entire life, it’ll have to be when she’s ready. There’s not a damn thing I can do about it now. Showing up in Georgia, demanding she come home, that we go back to how we were before, or even that she make up with Fulton, who I hate to admit is a good man, isn’t feasible.
“So are you taking me home now?” Holly asks when we’re back on the road.
“Not yet. Unless you’re ready to go home?” I ask, stealing a quick glance at her.
“No. Not yet.”
“You mind if that outfit gets a little dirty?”
“Ah, how dirty are we talking?” Holly asks, and I’m certain she’s thinking about sex even if she’s withholding it from me.
“Nothing that won’t come out in the wash,” I assure her.
“Then, sure. Let’s get dirty. Just not…”
“No, sex. I know,” I reply. “My hands aren’t going to touch anything other than your hands from now on. I assume that’s allowed?”
“I’ll allow it. And kisses that last less than two seconds,” she adds.
