"Blythe, I already told you last night—this body is yours the moment you ask for it. Just say the word. I’ll drop this towel right now…” Justin reached for the corner that was tucked by his hip, pretending he was actually going to do it. He wouldn't, but it was fun to let her think he would.
“Stop!” Her hands flew to her face, and a cheeky grin quickly plastered itself all over his.
“You know you want me to…” Justin swaggered to his closet, went inside, and closed the door behind him. He heard her feet on the hardwood leaving the room.
Someday,he told himself.
Someday soon he’d have her—all of her. But there were still pieces missing from what he knew about her life in Chicago and the douche bag she ran from. If he was going to get any closer to Blythe, he needed to know what he was dealing with.
BLYTHE
She could hear him walking around upstairs as she opened the cupboards, looking for a mixing bowl. She quickly found all the things she needed to mix up some pancakes, and was using a whisk to stir the batter when Justin waltzed lazily into the kitchen.
“Can I help?” His smile was infectious, and she couldn’t help but flash one back.
“Of course! Want to pour or flip?”
Was he just going to sweep their eventful morning under the rug and say nothing?
“I’ll flip. I can’t pour a perfect circle to save my life.” His laughter mirrored hers as she began pouring pancake batter. Justin picked up a spatula and swatted one bum cheek as he moved around her.
“Seriously?” She couldn’t help but laugh. His impulse was comical. “Does my ass call your name or something? I don’t understand where your obsession comes from.”
Justin stood behind her, lowering his lips to her ear. “In fact, it does. I’m a man with an extreme amount of restraint, sugar. You have no idea. If I have to microdose myself by touching yoursweet little behind every now and then—it’s what I’ll do…until you finally let me get high off these delicious curves. Got it?”
He stepped to the side and flipped the three circles she’d poured onto the skillet.
Shegot it,alright. She wanted to believe if Justin made a move she’d push back; she would stand her ground. But, truthfully, she didn’t know. She wondered if she’d have the strength to do it? The only thing keeping them apart was Justin’s respect for her, and she appreciated it more than he knew.
When they finished their food and were full, Justin threw a ball out of left field. “Tell me about the other guy.”
Ugh.She didn’t feel like talking about Max right now, or ever. But she and Justin were only getting closer, and of all the people, he deserved to know.
“We didn’t want the same things. I thought we did. Turns out, he wanted the complete opposite.”
“How so?” He was sitting across from her at the table, and his hand touched hers patiently.
Blythe huffed a sigh and tried to fight back the hurt and the anger she still felt. “There were red flags from the beginning, I just didn’t see them…or maybe I ignored them.” She paused, gathering her thoughts before spilling it all. “I had an appointment with my doctor, just to make sure I was all clear before getting married. I told Max about it, and that I decided not to get on birth control. He went ballistic and told me he never wanted children. He told me I was going to behis wife,that he had an image to uphold, and that he wasn’t going to have any of it.”
She looked up from her hands. She’d been staring at them while she talked. His eyes were soft, and she felt him squeeze the hand he was still holding. “He took me home, and I avoided him for a couple days… That’s when I snuck into his real estate officeand left a note and the ring—before getting back in my car and coming straight here.”
Justin shifted in his seat. “Does he know this is where you’re at?”
She could tell he was on edge after what she’d just shared.
“I’m not sure. He’s, uh, sent a few text messages. It’s manipulation, that’s all. I’m sure he won’t actually do anything.”
The look on his face told her he wasn’t so sure. “What did the texts say? Can I see them?”
Blythe opened her phone, handed it to him, and waited while he read the text thread.
“Have you told Chris about this? You know he can help if this asshole tries anything, right?”
“No, Chris doesn’t even know as much as you do. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
Justin paused, eying her carefully. “I don’t like it. I think bringing him in the loop would be a good idea. If I see or hear of anyone creeping around, he’s a dead man.” He stood and kissed her gently on the forehead before grabbing their plates and dropping them in the sink.
Justin insisted on following her back to the ranch. The most recent text had been sent just yesterday, and he was adamant that he wasn’t comfortable sending her home without protection.
