For a long time, I thought I’d never find someone to want me for who I was, rather than what I could give them.
People only wanted to be friends with me, only wanted to date me, only wanted to be seen with me, because of who my family is, and it left me deeply untrusting of everyone who comes into my life.
But things are different with Asher, and now Rowan. They only ever mention the things they want to give me, not what I can give them, and it’s one of the main reasons I can’t trust myself when it comes to them.
How am I supposed to resist two men who say all the things I’ve longed to hear my whole life?
Our moment is cut short when my phone starts vibrating on the table beside me.
Rowan drags in a breath, savoring the moment before he presses a gentle kiss to my forehead and hands me my phone.
I glance down at the caller ID and sigh.
I’ve been dodging my grandfather’s calls all day, but he’s only going to keep calling, and the longer I leave it, the more pissed he’s going to be.
Asher lifts me from the chair before turning us and sitting down with me straddling his lap, sending sparks of need to my pussy.
I need to get this fucking plug out of my ass before I have a spontaneous orgasm.
Rowan gives me a knowing look but doesn’t move away as I accept the call with shaky hands.
“Hi, Granddad,” I say, forcing my voice to sound happy to speak to him. “Sorry I missed your calls. I’ve been working all day to set myself up for the week.”
Not a lie.
Every weekend, I like to spend a few hours each day so I can catch up on anything I missed during the week and update my own records so I always know where everything is at.
“Trent called me this morning, furious that my granddaughter could be so disrespectful. You’re representing the Malone name, and therefore you need to act like it.”
“Me? Disrespectful?” I laugh. “That man was the most repulsive, sexist, misogynist I’ve ever met and spent the entire time we were together insulting me.”
“I don’t care, Hannah. It’s your responsibility to do as you’re told to support the future of this family.”
I open my mouth to respond but quickly snap it shut again. No wonder I have so many hang-ups around trust when this is how my family treats me.
“And then that piece of shit your mother married threatened him? I had to talk him down from pressing charges.”
I scoff. “He’d have to explain the bruise he left on my wrist if he did that, so I very much doubt that ever crossed his mind.”
“You’ve always been a disappointment, but this is a new low, even for you.”
His words hit me exactly where he intends, my chest tightening until I can barely breathe.
“Trent has agreed to another dinner with you, provided you promise to behave yourself.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no. Like I’ve told you repeatedly for months, I have a boyfriend. I went to dinner last night as a favor to you, but as I said when you called, it was a one-off. I’m not on the market, and therefore you can tell Trent and anyone else you have lined up that I will not be going out with them.”
“How dare you?—”
I hang up before he can finish his sentence. If not for my own sanity, but for that of the two men who look murderous at the way I was just spoken to.
I slump against Asher’s chest, his arms immediately tightening around me as he silently holds me together.
Rowan drags a chair across the room until he’s perched in front of us, his hands wandering my back and sides in comforting passes.
