She shrugged. “Yeah, well…”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear with his free hand, then smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “I want this, Beth. I want you. For real. Not just quick, secret fucks or dinners hiding in my house. I want dates. I want to dance with you at club parties. I want you in my lap, wrapped in my arms, when we sit around the bonfire with our family. I want entire nights to explore you. I want to wake up, slide inside you, and hear you moan my name first thing in the morning. I fucking want you in every aspect of my life.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, breaking his heart. He swiped it away with a gentle brush of his thumb. “Saint,” she whispered as she nuzzled into his palm. “I want that too. So much that I can barely breathe because of it. Every time I leave you here byyourself, it feels like a limb is being torn from my body. I ache for you, lying alone in my bed at night. But I don’t know how to move forward without causing chaos.”
“We’ll make it work. We will find a way. Beth, I’m a stubborn motherfucker when I want something. If I have to, I’ll leav—”
“No!” She pressed her fingertips to his lips, squashing the life-changing words he’d have spoken. “I will not let you do that. I can’t be the reason you lose your family, Lee. That would destroy me. We’ll find another way. Promise me you won’t do that.” Her voice trembled with near panic.
He kissed her fingertips, then gently pulled them from his lips. The words scraped like glass coming out. “All right. I promise.” He’d have done it. In a fucking heartbeat, he’d have walked away from everything for her. But he swallowed that truth and gave her the lie she needed.
He might not have a choice anyway. Once Copper found out, he might be cast out of the family, no matter what he promised Beth. He just hoped they’d let him live.
“Okay. Good. Thank you.” She shifted until she straddled him. After a sweet, desperate kiss, she wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his chest, clinging to him like a monkey. Saint slipped a hand under her shirt, stroking up and down her back as he stared off into space.
They stayed that way for a long time, taking comfort from touch and enjoying the peace of each other’s presence.
This was worth fighting for.
This was everything, and no matter what happened, he’d find a way to keep Beth by his side.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
BETH BRUSHED A sweaty strand of hair off her forehead with the back of her arm. Her gloved hands were covered in bleach and aching from hours of scrubbing the inside of her new grooming salon. The place had sat vacant for almost a year, and before that, it had been a nail salon. Thick dust had accumulated over the months, and at some point, someone had been squatting there, as food wrappers littered the floor. She cleaned those up quickly with a push broom, but she’d wanted to give the entire space a proper scrub down before equipment began arriving next week.
Excitement zinged through her as she gazed around the large, empty salon. She had big plans for the place, including setting up a small shop featuring locally sourced items. Last Saturday, she visited a farmers’ market where she met a vendor who made pet-safe shampoo and another who designed collars and harnesses. After exchanging contact information, they planned to meet to discuss her salon hosting their items.
“Okay,” she said over the sound of Olivia Rodrigo belting out from her phone. “That’s enough for today.” She’d spent the past six hours cleaning on her hands and knees, and every part of her body ached. She needed a bath, a glass of wine, and Saint’s magic hands rubbing her, well, anywhere.
As she peeled off her purple rubber gloves, she scanned the street through the front window. The location couldn’t be better. In the center of town, near many other shops, and only ten minutes from Saint’s house. She’d been shocked to find theplace available. Every so often, someone would walk by and peer through the window. Screw helped her hang a coming-soon sign with the name and slogan they’d decided on.
Hell’s Hounds Clubhouse
Handling your best friend with the best care.
It was never too early to advertise. She hoped to have a full house at their grand opening in a few months, once they had all the proper permits and renovations completed.
As she was about to turn and grab the bucket of sudsy water to dispose of it, she caught sight of a couple strolling up the sidewalk. They were arm in arm, deep in conversation. A pang of longing speared through her chest. What she’d give to cling to Saint that way in public, to show the world he belonged to her and how proud she was of that fact.
“Someday,” she muttered. They just had to figure out how.
She took a few steps back from the window so she could watch them walk by without making her snooping so obvious. As soon as they walked in front of her window, she froze.
The woman stood closest to her shop, but her head was turned toward the man, so Beth could see only the back of her hair. Still, Beth would know those curls.
“Melody,” she whispered, taking another step back. The last thing she needed was to be accused of spying on the woman who already hated her. She shifted her gaze to Melody’s partner.
They locked eyes.
Beth gasped.
Demo appeared to be engaged in conversation with Melody, but he stared straight at her, his fiendish smirk sending a chill down her spine.
He was back in town.
Or maybe he’d never left.
What the fuck was he doing with Melody?
