Could they find Johnny? If they did, could I live knowing that this decision could ruin his life, or worse, get him killed? Even if he did get himself into this, and then left us to deal with the aftermath... he's still Leliah's father. Would she hate me in tenor twenty years if she found out about the reason behind his demise?
If he's still alive, he could risk both of our safety again...
There's suddenly a warmth at my side, and I don't realize Ace is next to me until I feel his fingers gently pushing my hair behind my ear, revealing my flushed cheeks.
"I don't need an answer tonight, so sleep on it. Just know, either way, you're safe. I'd bet my life on it."
Feeling like I should believe he's just speaking the words to reassure me, there's something downright sincere about his words.
My breathing shifts, growing quicker beneath his touch.
His hand doesn't move. His fingers linger at the curve of my ear, and I swear I can feel every single one of those tattooed suits pressing against my skin.
"Stop that," he murmurs.
"Stop what?" My voice comes out breathier than I want it to.
"Overthinking." His thumb drags down along the edge of my jaw before he drops his hand entirely, before I can lean into his warmth. "I can hear it from here."
He’s right, but I can’t help myself. If I stop thinking about my complicated problems, then my thoughts are going to drift in the direction of this man. Even now, it’s happening.
"Do you usually make such dangerous bets?"
The corners of his eyes crinkle before he leans back against the island. "The riskier, the better, I'd say. Though I can happily say that the only thing I lose is money."
A life isn't exactly something you can lose more than once, but his confidence helps seep deep enough to reach me.
It makes me think that just maybe, I'll be okay. Physically, anyway. From the way my heart flutters at the rumble of his voice, I'm starting to wonder the fate of that part of me.
I've been hurt once before because of my heart, and if I'm not careful, I'll end up even deeper than I am now.
four
Ace
My apartment isn't anything fancy, but for the first time in my life, I wished I had something worth showing off.
She deserves better than this. She deserves someone who has his shit together, someone with enough space for her kid to run around without risking her getting her little hands on something dangerous. Instead, she gets me.
The sink's full of dishes, and I've got a few clothes hanging around, but thankfully, I'm smart enough to keep my guns tucked away in a safe. The place almost looks normal.
Penny's nose wrinkles when she spots the posters of nearly naked women on motorcycles hanging up near my gaming setup. Yeah, those don't look too good now. Not just because they're inappropriate, but they're also not her. Now that my standards are set in cement, I guess I don't need those anymore.
I watch her face as she takes in the room, and I realize I’m going to have to make some changes, fast, if I don’t want her pulling back on me.
"You probably want to get cleaned up." Dragging my eyes away, I nudge the two of them in the direction of the bathroom. Like the rest of my home, it needs a little picking up.
I'm not a man who has company over very often. Even when I do, the only room that's important is my bedroom. I'm going to have to clean that up, too, aren't I?
Once I'm shoving clothes in the basket, I'm giving a quick rundown of where everything is before rubbing the back of my neck. "Assuming you're wearing everything you own, I can throw all that stuff in the wash while you're cleaning up. I can give you something to wear."
My shirt wrapped around her curvy frame. The thought hits me square in the chest, and I have to physically stop myself from smiling like an idiot. She'd drown in it. It'd hang off her shoulder and show off a little, and I'd get to see her in something that smells like me.
I'm getting ahead of myself. Way, way ahead. If I don’t stop now, I’ll be picturing her with my cut wrapped around her body next, and then a ring on her finger.
Penny will have no trouble finding clothes, but Leliah's a whole different case. Maybe I could cut a hole in a pillowcase or something? Hell, I don't even know what kids wear to begin with, but for Penny, I want to learn.
That's the part that scares me. I've never wanted to learn anything about someone else's life before, and now I'm standing here mentally rearranging my entire apartment for a woman I met only a handful of hours ago.
