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“Everyone will stare at me.”
“So let them stare at you. Do you really care what these people think?”
“No. I don’t care about any of them, well, except for my mom. I know if I do anything embarrassing, she’ll hear about it.”
“We won’t do anything embarrassing.” He cupped her face between his hands. “As long as they all behave themselves, I will too.”
She groaned. “I doubt anyone here will behave themselves.”
“Well, now, that’s going to make the night fun, isn’t it?” Leaning in, he kissed her until she clung to him, ready to beg him for more.
She whimpered as he drew away, trying to pull him back.
“We should probably get out there before someone sends a search party.”
“No one cares where I am. They only care about the bride and groom.”
“So what you’re saying is that you want to stay back here with me, pretty girl?” he asked.
She nodded. Yep. That’s what she wanted. Surely, she’d done her duty. She’d turned up, worn the hideous dress, appeared in photos, humiliated herself.
Yep, she’d covered it all.
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, and a shiver of desire ran through her.
“Because if you stay here with me, then I am going to fuck you. Right here in a storeroom. I’ll make you scream so loud they’ll hear you out on the dance floor. Is that what you want?”
Hell, yes. It was what she wanted.
But she knew she couldn’t. Because if someone heard her . . .
“Damn it,” she muttered.
He smiled down at her. “It’s okay, baby. Rain check.”
“Promise?”
Leaning in, he kissed her. “Oh yes. Tonight, you’re all mine. I’m going to spank you, fuck you. I’m going to own you.”
She knew he didn’t mean for forever. Just for this one night. But it still made her dream of things she couldn’t have.
Be grateful you have this one night rather than mourning the loss of a lifetime.
The fact that he wanted her at all was still a surprise.
The woman everyone else rejected. She’d only ever felt worthless. But not when Butch stared at her. Then she felt like she could do anything. Even deal with her fucked-up family and the rest of this messed-up town.
Really, she should get a medal for this.
“There is one thing I need to talk to you about, though.”
The seriousness in his voice was like a glass of water poured over her. Her desire dampened as she stared up at him worriedly.
“Why didn’t you tell me who your stepfather is?”
She frowned. “I didn’t?”
“Would’ve remembered if you’d told me it was Chandler Devout.”
“You know him?” She didn’t know why she was surprised. Chandler was a household name around here. Even if some people cursed him rather than worshipping him as they did here in Devotion.
“Not personally. But everyone around these parts has likely heard of him. He likes to toot his own horn. Loudly.”
That he did.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t . . . you’re right, I should have. I should have thought about the fact that you might not want to come here because of him. Maybe that’s why I didn’t tell you, because subconsciously, I didn’t think you’d come.”
“You don’t make those decisions for me.” He squeezed the back of her neck. “You need to tell me shit, so I’m not blindsided.”
“You recognized him then?”
“He came over to talk to me before the ceremony.”
“Oh shit. I’m so sorry. What did he say?”
“Well, you could tell he wasn’t too happy about me being here with you. Not sure if it’s my appearance or my job or the fact I’m from outside Devotion. Could be all of them.”
“Probably. My mom married him when I was five. A year later, Emily was born. He and I have never been close, although he loves to tell me what to do. And point out when I do things wrong. When I reached eighteen, I went to college, and I experienced life outside of this town. It was hard because Chandler paid for my college tuition, but only if I went to the University of Houston, and I had to come home on the weekends and holidays.”
“Seriously? Controlling bastard.”
“Yeah, I felt pressured to move back here after college, and that’s when my relationship with Geoffrey started. I think I just wanted someone to care about me. Emily hates me. My mom just does whatever Chandler wants. And Chandler rules with an iron fist while pretending to be this amazing guy. But the day I found Emily and Geoffrey together, that was the day I knew I had to get out. So, I packed up and just left. Only leaving a note.”
“I get that. Must have been hard, though. Leaving your mom especially.”
“It was. But this place sucks you in and it doesn’t let you leave. That’s what happened to Mom. She isn’t a strong person and my dad’s death was hard on her. I don’t really blame her for finding someone to fill that hole. I just wish it hadn’t been him. It hurts that Mom and I aren’t close anymore. I miss her. The old her. I am really—”
