“You sure you don’t want him charged?” I asked. “There’s enough to get him locked up.”
She heaved out a frustrated breath. “No, just tell the bastard never to come near me again.”
I nodded, already mentally making plans to arrange for a few of the guys to fly out so we could dish out our own brand of justice. It would be hard for the dickwad to annoy my woman again if he had two broken legs.
I gave her nape a gentle squeeze and then released her, turning back for the door. “Okay, baby. Have it your way.”
As I got to the threshold, my girl’s melodic voice called out, “Thank you for looking after me, Jacob.”
My heart swelled so big, it beat against my ribcage.
I craned my neck, locked eyes with my woman, and knew in that instant she was it for me.
We’d been together a week, and I knew she was always meant to be mine, the same way I knew our week would lead to another, then three, and eventually forever.
Everything that had happened since Allie died had led me to her, and I was done fucking around.
God only knew how we were gonna work it out, but Saint McClure was gonna be my woman, my ol’ lady, and one day soon, she’d be my wife.
I was gonna plant babies in her and watch her nurture them. I was gonna comfort her when we took our oldest kid to their first day at school, then later wipe her tears away when we watched them graduate from college. I’d wipe more tears when one day they married the loves of their lives, then again when we held their babies for the first time on the day they made us grandparents.
I was gonna live a full and happy life with Saint McClure—soon-to-be Irons—even if it meant I had to sacrifice everything to do it.
—————
Leaning back on the lounger,I cocked my knee, looked up at the stars, and muttered down the phone, “Found my one, brother.”
Shocked silence ensued.
I grinned because I knew it was the last thing Hendrix expected to hear me tell him, but I had no fucks to give, and I also didn’t give the first shit about his opinion or his judgment.
“Fuck me,” Drix breathed. “Can’t leave you alone for a fuckin’ week.” He sighed. “Colt likes her. He thought she was cute when they spoke. He liked that she kept a clear head, and he especially liked how much she worried about you. Dunno how professional it is that you do a job and end up with your dick in the client, but I can’t lie; I had an idea somethin’ like this would happen.”
My mouth quirked. “Is that why you initially didn’t assign me?”
“No, Ice. My reasons were honest. But at the same time, I knew it could go either way with you two. Your reaction to her was so extreme that there had to be a reason why, and it didn’t take a genius to work out that you two would eventually either fight it out or fuck it out. Then I thought, however it went down, at least you’d get your head straight, and you could finally move on.” He paused briefly, and I knew he was building up to something. “You okay with the Allie guilt?”
“Yeah,” I assured him. “I think the birthday visit helped. It’s hard to feel guilty when even Allie’s folks are telling me it’s past time to find someone else. Also, I’ve had a fuck load’a time to come to terms with it. Knew Saint was the one two years ago when I first met her, Drix.”
“You’re a dick for leaving it then,” he muttered wryly.
I let out a quiet snort. “That’s a fuckin’ joke coming from you. The master of leaving shit alone.”
“Anna was married,” he said defensively.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Because you ghosted her.”
“I fucked up royally,” he admitted. “My woman won’t marry me now. Says she’s done it twice, and everythin’ went sideways. She thinks gettin’ married will jinx what we have.”
I shrugged. “If you’re happy, you don’t need a ring.”
“Same goes for you, Ice. You don’t need a ring either.”
I snorted again. “Fuck that. I’m getting my woman down the aisle ASAP. Sucks to be you.”
Hendrix laughed softly. “Happy for ya, Jake.”
His words made my gut warm. “Thanks, Jimmy. Happy for you, too.” I cleared the emotion from my throat. “How’s the club? Are we missing much?”
