He took the glass, swallowed the rest of the whiskey, then set the glass on the deck. “Come around,” he said, tugging her hand. “I want to hold you.”
Shell maneuvered around until she was in his lap, straddling him. His thick arms closed around her, and he buried his head against her chest. She wrapped her arms and legs around him in kind, holding him as close as possible. She’d worn nothing but a thin, low-cut tank top to sleep, and his breath and beard tickled her cleavage.
“Give yourself some time to think and process, then you need to do some serious damage control.”
He grunted. “I know.”
“If you want, I’ll go with you when you talk to them.” She stroked the back of his hair while he began to place light kisses across the top of her chest. Her body reacted immediately as it always did when her husband touched her, even after so many years together. “Copper…” She shivered when he sucked on her skin.
“I always want you with me, baby. But I’m definitely going to need you for this one, right next to me, ready to slap my mouth when I say something stupid.”
She grasped the sides of his face and pulled his head back so she could see the green eyes he shared with Beth. “I look forward to the task.”
Copper squeezed her side, making her squirm and giggle. “Brat.”
That had her laughing harder.
He grew serious again. “Don’t ever leave me, Shell. I’d be so fucking lost.”
Her grin fell. “I hope that’s never something you worry about, not for one millisecond of your whole life. The devil himself couldn’t drag me away from you. You hear me?”
“I hear you, baby. I hear you, and I love you.”
“I love you too, Copper.”
She kissed him with a heart that felt pounds lighter than it had earlier in the night.
Everything would work out, and her family would be back on track in no time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“HOLD UP,” SAINT said as he rolled to a stop in front of Hell’s Hounds Clubhouse. “I’ll come around.”
Beth pressed her lips together to keep from grinning too widely. She didn’t often ride in Saint’s repo truck. The Ford F550 was a monster of a vehicle. A workhorse that could do everything short of towing a semi-truck. The cab was so high off the ground that she felt like she needed to pole vault to get into it. That or find herself a sexy man to boost her in and out of the truck.
Saint strode around the driver’s side with sure, efficient steps. When he reached her door, he opened it, reached in for her waist, and plucked her from the truck as if she weighed no more than a doll.
Well, look at that, a sexy man to help her out. Just as ordered.
“Thank you,” she said as her feet hit the ground. She didn’t move away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Saint’s waist and breathed him in, storing his scent for later when she needed a hit.
“I feel like shit for bailing on you today,” he said, rubbing a hand over his scruff. Usually, he shaved every morning, but today she’d convinced him to hold off. His stubble felt incredible, scraping across her skin, and she had plans that included that very sensation later.
“How many times do I have to tell you, you’re not bailing on me?” She rolled her eyes. “You’d be stupid to turn down this job.”
Saint had planned to join her at the salon for what she hoped would be the final day of cleaning. Tomorrow, the first delivery of equipment will arrive, so she has no choice but to finish preparations today.
A last-minute, high-paying repo job came through early this morning. Saint would be a fool to turn down the money for what seemed like a reasonably easy job. Some big-shot tech guy drove his mistress to Dollywood for a scandalous weekend rendezvous. It turned out the guy had a mountain of gambling debt that caused him to default on multiple vehicle loans. While he and hisgirlfriendwere enjoying Dollywood, Saint would be scooping up his Lamborghini for a pretty penny.
Money and a way to fuck with a cheater.Who could resist?Beth’s only frustration was not being able to ride along on this task. She’d love to see the asshole’s face when he realized his precious seven-hundred-thousand-dollar Lambo Revuelto had disappeared from the parking lot while he was screwing someone who wasn’t his wife of twenty years.
“Besides, Screw will be here in a few hours to help.”
He frowned, unconvinced.
“Lee, I’ll be fine. Go have fun in Pigeon Forge. Maybe ride some rollercoasters while you’re there. Or catch a country music show.” She smirked.
He grunted. “Do I seem like the banjo music type?”
