“To keep your sister safe,” he deduced.
“Yes, she—”
He put his finger on my lips. “It’s great you care that much, but you can’t shelter her from the world, babe.”
“Believe me, I’ve figured that out. It’s going to suck, but I’ll be sharing this with Cat. Maybe she’ll see it differently and forgive Dad.”
Punc chuckled. “I doubt that. She doesn’t take any shit, based on how she was after your attack. Wouldn’t let me sugar-coat anything.” He paused as though something occurred to him. “Hell - he didn’t say jack about your attack and showed damn little remorse. Surprised I didn’t deck him then.”
“Well,” I started.
“No, babe. He looked guilty, but he didn’t even reach for your hand.”
“Yeah,” I whispered, my nose stinging. I’d really been trying to ignore that aspect of the confrontation.
“Let it out, honey,” Punc encouraged.
A tear leaked out of my eye. “He’s the one person we should be able to turn to right now. He’s our last link to Mom, and it makes me feel even more alone.” A wry laugh squeaked out of me. “And that’s a tough thing to do these days.”
Punc bent forward so we were eye-to-eye. “You’re not alone, Savannah. You just gained a helluva big family.”
I swiped at my eyes. “I did?”
“Yeah. We’re a brotherhood, and it gets crazy, like any family, but they’ll do anything for me - and now, you.”
A bunch of feelings swirled inside me. It felt overwhelming yet calming. I’d never had any man step up for me like this. Then again, I’d never had issues like this either, but I knew I’d fallen for him. I couldn’t imagine anyone else being so right for me.
“Have I told you how much I—,” I paused at the cocky smirk that twisted his lips.
His brows shot up and he finished my sentence, “How much you love me?”
I tilted my head. “If that was my answer, would it freak you out?”
He shook his head as the smirk relaxed into a patient smile. “No, Savannah. I’ve never asked another woman to be mine. I fell for you the moment you got sassy about building up a cushion.”
“You’re joking.”
He brushed his lips across mine. “I’m serious. And I stopped falling the moment you swung off my bike this evening. That smile on your face…the way you love being with me. I love you, Savannah.”
“I love you, too, Ted.”
He kissed me hard. It went on and on, to the point when he stopped, I felt dizzy.
“I love it when you look dazed like that.”
“Are you sure this isn’t too soon?” I asked.
“Woman, I don’t care. What I know is that life is short and you’re the one. The only other opinion that matters about it is yours.”
I lowered my chin to concede the point. “Okay, but, um… I’m kind of a single mom to a smart and sassy teenager.”
He grinned. “Yeah. I’m not gonna be a father-figure to her, but I know she’s part of the deal here. She’s great and Doug had it wrong. Iwillkeep Cat from him if I think for even a second he’s putting her in danger.”
How did he keep getting hotter?I smoothed my hands down his chest. “Okay, okay. It’s all right.”
He shook his head. “Not really, babe. I should have hit him twice and much harder than I did.”
“Boy, you’re this protective now, how gonzo are you gonna be for our kids?”
