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“But it doesn’t work that way. You want to be here, in town, with your memories and do things for kids and what kind of selfish fucker would I be if I said I was worth more?”
“You make me love you more, you know.”
“I love you, too, Longstocking.”
His words send shockwaves through me, but there’s a desolate note. “This isn’t about love. I hate this place, and I have a life outside of here. So, we don’t mesh.”
“Fucker.”
“Nadie.”
He grabs me and turns me, pressing me into my door. He kisses me hard, long, and deep, sending all my senses spinning and tumbling.
I cling to him, kissing him back, opening to him, pressing against him. He tastes like my dreams, like Diego and despair. And I’ll take all the heat he can give me.
The kiss makes my toes curl as his tongue plays over mine, drawing deeper parts of me up to the surface so all I know is him and me. How this is bigger than us, how it’s doomed before anything can happen.
He’s right, I need to do this and can’t ever ask him to stay. If I didn’t have Jay, I could maybe set something up that’s got momentum and go to him, but Jay will be back, and this kiss . . . it’s all sorts of goodbyes and needs.
He lifts his head, and he looks me in the eyes. “If none of that existed, what would you want, Nadie?”
I don’t even have to think.
“You.”
ChapterFifteen
DIEGO
Someone clears their throat, and I pull away and turn, keeping Nadia behind me. I’m pretty sure she can feel my gun, she’s that close. But this fucking town.
“Sorry to interrupt,” the man says with the slightest of Irish accents, “but someone wants to see you.”
Judging from the accent, it’s O’Grady who’s interested in my company. I guess we made enough of a splash, and he’s still in town.
I nod and turn to Nadia. “Go inside and lock the door. I’ll be back.”
“Hell no. I’m coming with you.”
“Nadia.”
“No, I’m coming, and you can’t stop me.”
I most definitely’ can but I don’t think O’Grady’s going to kill me, and she’s safer with me than here alone so I nod. I look at the guy. “Lead the way. We’ll follow on my bike.”
* * *
O’Grady sits at the RoadSide bar, a whiskey next to him, silver rings on his hands, and his too-long hair finger swept and threaded with a little gray. He looks totally at ease, and I can see how dangerous he is.
He holds himself the way Leo does, like do anything to get his way and not lose a moment’s sleep. And from the way he runs his territory in Dallas . . . yeah, as dangerous as Leo.
“Another De Luca enforcer, you boys sure do get around, don’t you?”
“Could say the same,” I say, nodding at him.
His gaze drifts to Nadia, and he cracks a smile. “So, you’re the teacher causing all the waves in this little town.”
“You got a beef with her, you fuckin’ deal with me.”
