I nod. “When I took over the bar, I thought it would bring us all closer together. Instead, it just felt like I was more on my own than ever. Maybe that’s why I latched on to Jace. It’s definitely why I defended him so fiercely, because even though Jace was a shitty boyfriend, he was still better than not having one at all. Than not having anyone at all.”
“What made you change your mind?”
I manage a smile. “An old friend reminded me I was worth more.”
“You are.”
Our eyes meet, and it’s so intense that my heart begins to race, forcing me to look away.
“You, um…you’ve never found anyone you’ve trusted? That you’ve thought might be worth pursuing?”
“Not romantically,” he says. “Just Jonas. And I only let him in because he’s incredibly insistent.”
“You let me in,” I say, before adding, “You sought me out.”
“Yeah.” He smiles softly. “I did. And that’s why Jonas is so taken with you.”
“And what about you?” I ask. “Are you…taken with me?”
He looks at me with those light green eyes. “Presley Creed, I’ve always been completely and utterly…taken by you.”
“Are you sure that it’s okay if I come with you?” I ask for the fifth time since we left the apartment.
“Yeah, Pres, it’s fine,” he assures me, looking hot as fuck sitting in the driver’s seat of my black Jeep as we head down the 101. This old thing has seen better days, but when he’s behind the wheel? Automatic upgrade.
“You won’t get in trouble?”
His lip twitches. “No. I can promise you I won’t get in any trouble.”
“’Cause I can sit in the car while you?—”
He takes my hand in his and squeezes. “I want you there,” he says. “It will be nice to show you what I’ve been working on when I sneak off during the day with your car for hours.”
“Okay.” I try not to let it show, but that tiny bit of contact has me reeling. Since the nightclub, we haven’t needed to pretend or show any public PDA, so he’s been the perfect gentleman.
He follows every single rule I put in place.
He’s kept his word, going to great lengths to maintain work boundaries. Everyone at the bar knows we’re married, but it never gets in the way. When we work together, he’s professional, both with the staff and the customers.
He is nothing like Jace, and yet I have him permanently stationed behind the bar when I know he could be doing so much more. Hell, I won’t even let him go into the stockroom unaccompanied.
But then again, I haven’t let anyone go into the stockroom alone in weeks. It’s like ever since Jace fucked me over, I’ve completely lost faith in humanity.
I don’t even know how to trust my husband.
He came here to help me save the bar. I’m assuming he thought that meant helping me go through the finances and find a way to keep us from closing. But instead, I have him slinging drinks and taking out the trash.
“We’re here,” he announces.
I look up, and a small gasp escapes me. When he said he needed to stop by the club, I was expecting something similar to the place we went to a couple of weeks ago with Myles.
This is… “Wow,” I exclaim. “This is gorgeous.”
It looks like something out of an old Hollywood film. Mature palm trees frame the Spanish architecture of what looks to be a boutique-style hotel. The stucco arches and carved doors are straight out of my damn dreams.
“You may retract that statement when you see the inside.” He chuckles. “It’s definitely been neglected over the years.”
“Well, it has the curb appeal. Don’t they say that’s the most important part to win over a potential customer? Or is that something I’m remembering fromHouse Hunters?”
