“Me? I’d leave his sorry ass in the dust, become my best self and I’d find love again. Real love this time though, and live a life full of happiness. And I wouldn’t be shy about letting everyone and their brother’s mother’s uncle’s cousin know about how much I loved my partner!” She stared at me. Like a deer caught in headlights. She sat up and turned to look at me.
“You would?” The confusion on her face was obvious. It was like I was speaking a foreign language.
“I’ve always known that when I found the woman I wanted, I’d be obsessed. From the moment I met her until forever.”
“But…wouldn’t someone consider getting revenge on an ex a little unhinged? Or like, how was what you described revenge?” She looked like she was trying hard to process. I sat up slightly, draping my arms around my knees. I offered her a hand to hold if she wanted.
“Some do. But not me. If the girl needed that to move on and help her heal, I’ll help. I’ve got a good lawyer and bail money for us. I’m also an excellent driver, protector, and I can come up with a great back story if needed. But personally, I think that’s too much time and effort to waste on two people who clearly aren’t worth it. And, they do say the best revenge is a life well lived.” I said with a shrug and that earned me a smile, small, but it was beautiful. She nodded her head and laid back down, snuggling in a little deeper. I could feel the moment she fell asleep, the moment she melted into me. I had a few moments of bliss, of soaking the moment in before sleep pulled me under.
I was woken by a hand shaking me.
“Good morning sunshine. You two sleep well?” Clint’s voice asked, as a body on me shifted and stretched. I wasn’t acknowledging that voice at all. I wrapped my arm around her again and pulled her closer.
I wanted more sleep. More sleep with the future Mrs. Johnston.
Because she was. And will be mine.
I just have to play the long game, because I’m pretty sure she either knows the idiot from the party or is the wife. And I want to prove not all men are assholes like him.
I’m a gentleman, and I’m already obsessed.
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Devin’s POV
I stretched my tense limbs out before I snuggled deeper into the warmth that was surrounding me after someone tried to wake me up. I could feel heat radiating all around me and it was too comfortable to give up just yet. I hadn’t had this kind of warmth…ever. I felt a hand try to shake me awake again, but I just grumbled, not wanting to fully wake up.
No. Go away. Sleep. Comfy.
Just as I was falling back into dreamland where Hottie McHotterson from the party last night was waiting for me, the warmth I was snuggled deeply into, moved. Not like a little shuffle, or small movement to get comfy again. No. This warmth that was wrapped around me, rolled us onto our sides and pulled me closer, cuddling me tighter.
I froze. Wide awake now.
What, or more accurately,whois cuddling me?!Whowas cuddling me?Whywas there someone cuddling me?! I could feel my heart beating wildly in my chest as I racked my brain to try to remember the night before. How did this happen? I remembered being on the patio and…Eddie. Eddie covered me with a coat, and then I was looking at the stars and…Hottie McHotterson?
“Johnny Cash?” I whispered so softly I was sure no one heard me, but my hands still flew to my mouth like I’d just exposed state secrets out loud, when the warmth rumbled with a deep baritone chuckle and a honey-sweet voice responded to me.
“Yeah, gorgeous?”
I shot up, away from the warmth so fast I made myself dizzy! My hands were holding my head as I fell back onto the incredible sexy, yummy, deliciousness on a stick, or legs. Tree trunks really if what my hand was resting on wasanysort of indication of what might be lying in wait under these clothes.
Shit.I was right back where I started. Laying not to the man in black with tree trunk thighs and a voice that made parts of me tingle with a want I hadn’t felt since before Becky. The memories of last night were coming back to me. The library. The fire. The conversation.
“Come back, Red. We were cuddling so nicely,” his voice thick with sleepiness, his arms fumbling as pulled my arms around him, effectively pulling back into his perfectly toned and muscular chest that smelt just as fucking manly and delicious as it did last night. I swear I thought the cedarwood and pine scent he was wearing was a feature of Clint’s fancy-ass fireplace.
Nope. It was Johnny fuckin’ Cash.
Jesus or whatever higher power is up there, help me. I had to be fucking losing it! There was no way I was actually considering snuggling back into this incredibly sexy, drool-worth man!
The second bucket of ice came when I heard Eddie’s voice, sounding light and happy, like he’d had the best night of his life.
And he might have.
But I could not, under any circumstances, let him find me like this. I’d never hear the end of the teasing.
“Hey, babe. Did you find her? Babe? Is she still sleeping?” I held my breath as Eddie paused, waiting for aresponse that never came, and sounding way too close for comfort. “Oh come on, handsome. I know you’re not ready to tell people about us.”
Who is he talking about?
