Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
His tone wasn’t defensive. It was steady and certain, and I wanted to believe every word he said. I really did. He searched my face like he was reading every unspoken word. And that’s when he said, “Trust is something that’s earned. You don’t have to worry. I’ll earn it.”
“And I’ll earn yours.”
“You’re well on your way.”
“You, too.”
The black brace wrapped snug around his wrist looked out of place against my bare skin and the rumpled sheets. I carefully took it in mine and asked, “What happened to your hand?”
“It’s fine.”
“It doesn’t look fine.”
“It is.” Before I could question him further, he peeled it off, and with one quick motion, he tossed it to the floor. He lifted it and quickly twisted it back and forth. “See? All good.”
“If you say so.”
His knuckles were bruised and cut, and the deep blue colors looked to be fading, but still crept halfway up his arms. My eyes lifted to his forearms when I spotted more bruises and scrapes. They were a clear sign that he’d been in an altercation, but the second his gaze met mine, I couldn’t help but ask, “Does it hurt?”
“Nah, this is nothing. I’ve had a lot worse.”
Of course, he had. Unfortunately, that didn’t make me feel any better. I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles, before nestling back into the crook of his arm.
“Honest and no half-truths, right?”
“Yes?”
“There will be good days and some really bad ones.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “That’s how this life works. Things will get loud. They will get messy and sometimes even dangerous. But when they do, you don’t face it alone.”
His words settled deep in my chest.
“These guys are my brothers, not in name or blood, but by choice. And if one of us takes a hit, we all feel it. We stand together, and if you’re with me, that means you’ll never have to face the hard times alone. We show up every time.”
I studied his face and the conviction that lay in his eyes. This wasn’t bravado. This was a promise. A way of living that I’d never imagined, and while it was a lot to wrap my head around, it warmed my heart as I muttered, “Family.”
“That’s right… Sometimes it’s the one you’re born into, and sometimes it’s the one you build. Either way, you protect it. You fight for it, and you don’t go running when things get hard.”
“I get it.”
“No, you don’t, but one day you will.”
And there it was again. That grounding sense of sincerity made it hard to doubt him, even when the circumstances felt overwhelming. I let out a slow breath, and the tension in my chest eased.
Not because I suddenly understood every part of his world.
I didn’t. But I did understand him, and for now, that was all I really needed.
His world might’ve been complicated.
But this moment wasn’t.
This moment was everything.
I lowered my head on his chest, and I’d barely closed my eyes when my cellphone started to ring. The second I heard the Minion ringtone, I knew it was Lila Kate and groaned. Of course, she was calling now.
I didn’t want to move, so I let it go to voicemail. I thought that would be the end of it, until it started ringing again. Luke chuckled, “You gonna get that?”
“I guess I'd better.”
He reached down and grabbed my purse, and once I had my phone, I answered and put it on speaker. “Hi, Lila.”
“Well? Was I right?”
“Yes, you were. Apparently, I was worried for nothing.”
“I told you,” she responded proudly. “I knew there was no way he wasn’t interested in you. He looks at you like he could gobble you up at any second.”
Luke’s eyes lit up, and before I could react, he leaned down and playfully bit my shoulder. I jerked back, stifling a laugh as I nudged him away. “Behave.”
“What was that?” Lila asked.
“Nothing. Just a wild turkey in here trying to take a plug out of me.”
“So, you’re with him?”
“I am.” I glanced over at Luke and smiled. I had so much I wanted to tell her, but this wasn’t the time. So, I said, “Thanks for pushing me to come talk to him.”
“Any time.” She hesitated for a moment, then asked, “So, have you seen Smitty?”
And just like that, the air in the room changed.
Luke stilled next to me, and the warmth in his expression drained so fast it made my chest go tight. His jaw fixed, and his eyes darkened with something that looked to be regret. He shook his head, letting me know something was off.
I couldn’t leave her hanging, so I told her, “I haven’t, but when I do, I’ll be sure to tell him you asked about him.”
“Okay, but don’t be weird about it. I just met the guy. I don’t want him thinking I’m over here pining away over him.”