Standing up, Murphy eyed his brother warily. “And what outcome is that?”
“You’ll never bejustNessa’s friend.” Tank grabbed Murphy’s shoulder, squeezing it in reassurance. “You’re her mate.Her true mate. And the more time you spend with her, the more those lines will blur until you can’t hold yourself back any longer.”
“It won’t be like that.” Murphy wanted to believe his own words, but after seeing Nessa last night, his first instinct had been to mark her. To make her his in every way possible, and the urge hadn’t left him.
“If you say so, brother,” Tank murmured, squeezing his shoulder again. Then he dropped his hand to his side. “If that’s all you wanted to talk about, get the hell out of here so I can go back to bed. It’s early as hell.”
With that, Murphy watched his brother venture back into his home. Back to his bed, where his pregnant mate waited for him.
Murphy’s bear lifted its head and released a long, dull roar of longing that echoed in his mind as he left the porch, heading to his SUV. Once it abated, all Murphy felt was his own loneliness creeping in.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Nessa exclaimed with a small whine, rushing through her house as her phone’s alarm blared loudly in her hand. Exhaustion lined every hurried step she took, her eyes bleary and her head foggy from the little sleep she’d actually gotten.
After she’d left Murphy’s house last night, it had taken her nearly an hour to get home, and then she’d been too wired to fall asleep. She’d tossed and turned most of the night, worried about whether throwing her friendship in his face was the right decision.
He hadn’t seemed interested, and given everything he’d told her about his past, she understood. The poor man had suffered a lot at the hands of someone he’d loved, so it made sense that he’d want nothing to do with someone fate had decided he needed.
She didn’t blame him for protecting himself from further heartache. She knew that kind of pain intimately, although their experiences were a bit different.
Nessa bit her lower lip in agitation. She still couldn’t believe that she’d confided some of her sordid past to Murphy. She’d never spoken to anyone about it before, and even though she’dkept it vague, it was obvious what she’d meant; at least to her. But after everything Murphy had shared with her, she’d felt compelled to divulge her own reasons for avoiding relationships.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t realized how much she’d actually craved a romantic partner until the chance was gone. Or maybe, subconsciously, she’d just yearned for the idea of being mated to him?
In her romance books, fated mates were so devoted to one another. They would never dream of beating their women or harming them. They kept them safe. Protected. They nurtured and worshiped them.
After everything she’d been through, it sounded perfect. Like a dream come true, even though the aspect of being in a relationship was still daunting.
Jason wasn’t like that with Hunny, though,a voice whispered in her head.He was an evil bastard—
Nessa pushed all thoughts of that man from her head, determined to have at least one day without suffering a panic attack or crippling anxiety.
She turned off her phone’s alarm as she hustled toward the front door, her tangled hair falling into her face. With a huff, she tossed her phone onto the table in the entryway, running her fingers hurriedly through her strands in an attempt at professionalism. It didn’t matter that she owned her own shop and technically set the hours; she still hated showing up late.
I really need to hire someone to help with the shop. Then she might actually get to enjoy sleeping in every so often. But hiring someone meant she’d have to deal with a stranger in her space, and she didn’t know if she could handle that.
Snatching her boots up from the floor, Nessa slid one on and then the next before bending down to lace them, her thoughts wandering back to Murphy.
Would he take her up on her offer? Not just to be friends, but to stop by if he was struggling? She hoped so, but given how he’d kept his distance over the past few months, she doubted it. Not to mention, he was proud and headstrong.
Straightening, she grabbed her jacket from the hall closet, slipping it onto her shoulders before plucking up her phone and purse from the end table and rushing to the front door. She ripped it open, all but throwing herself onto the porch as she whirled around to close the door behind her.
She was in such a rush; she didn’t even realize someone was at her doorstep until she careened into them, her back slamming into a hard body.
Letting out a small shriek of pure panic, she whipped back around, her fingers gripping the handle of her purse tightly as she swung it instinctively.
Chapter 8
Before Nessa’s purse could connect with her unexpected visitor’s head, a large hand locked around it, crushing the supple leather in a tight grip.
Pulse thundering in her ears, she looked up to see a familiar, devastatingly handsome face, his brows pulled down into a severe frown.
“Murphy?” she exclaimed, a voice in her head all but shouting with glee,He’s here! You didn’t scare him away!
Her heart skipped a beat, and warmth blossomed in her chest as she took Murphy in. He was clad in a pair of dark denim jeans that hugged his muscular thighs and a rich blue sweater that accentuated his creamy complexion, the expensive fabric stretching across his muscular shoulders and chest beforeloosening around his torso. His dark hair was slightly tousled, like he’d just combed it with his fingers.
She was still gaping at him when his cologne enveloped her; sweet flowers, pine, and sandalwood wreaking havoc on her senses. It was so much more intoxicating, so much more pronounced than when she’d woken this morning to hints of it lingering in the air.
Damn, he smellsgood.
