Page 84 of Without Apology

It dawned on me she probably didn’t have a clue how much I was worth. Nor did she seem to care.

“Just a small gesture. Coffee. Her favorite dessert. A tall alpha biker with tattoos and piercings.”

I looked at her, horrified. “I think her favorite dessert will do. And I can’t believe she shared with you the type of man she prefers.”

“I gotta be honest, a bad boy was not what I’d pictured, although it did make me feel better to know you’re not her type.”

I laughed, relieved this conversation was lightening up. “Thank you.”

She scrunched her face in an adorable way which showed she didn’t know what the hell I was talking about. “For what?”

“For taking something seriously and making me laugh afterward. It’s just what I needed.”

She stroked my face gently. “It helps me to understand why you can’t say those words.”

I wished I could say sorry without associating it with painful memories or feeling weak. I wanted to have it mean what it should again. But I was skeptical that day would ever come.

“I appreciate you telling me about your father, too. It helps me to understand why tonight was especially upsetting for you. Guess we both have old wounds.”

“That we do.”

“As for gestures to show you the sentiment instead of saying it, I think I have yours figured out.”

I traveled south down her body, intent on my target.

“Apology accepted,” she moaned when my lips found her clit.

***

It was a strange thing in the morning to wake up feeling lighter. There was no doubt the reason was that I’d shared some of my demons with the extraordinary woman currently on her stomach softly snoring next to me. Stretching, I saw Cooper pop up his head as if he was waiting for a sign of life from us. Big guy probably needed to go outside.

I slipped out of the bed quietly and, after pulling on my trousers, walked out to the living room with Cooper following. I let him out the back into the fenced yard, noticing the sun had just started to dot the landscape with its first rays. Once he moseyed back inside, I gave him his two scoops of kibble. Mosey was a word I’d learned here in Texas and found it perfectly applicable to the big dog. I was about to slip back into bed to wake Peyton up for morning sex when the front door opened.

I froze. I was too stunned to move as an older version of Peyton, one with shorter hair, appeared.

She stared at me with her eyes wide. “Holy fucking shit.”

I wouldn’t have pictured those words coming out of a mum’s mouth, but there they were. Why was she barging into Peyton’s house without so much as a knock?

“Uh, hello,” I awkwardly greeted.

“Hello. You must be Simon? Hopefully. Because if not, my sister is definitely still pissed at him, if you’re someone different.”

I was rendered momentarily speechless but, thankfully, recovered. “I’m Simon.”

She grinned. “Lucky you, then.”

“Right. Um, let me put on some more clothes.”

But before I could do so, a man came in right behind her. “You forgot the flowers—” In his hand was a bouquet of tulips he handed to the woman I assumed was his wife.

“Oh, hello there.” His eyes bounced between me and her. “I’m, Kevin and the woman still drooling over your non-dad bod is my wife, Jen, Peyton’s sister.”

I stepped forward to take his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you both.” Unbelievably fucking awkward. “Peyton is still asleep.”

“Nope, I’m up.” Peyton’s voice came from the hall before she arrived herself in a fuzzy robe, mouthing I’m sorry. She looked at her sister. “What are you guys doing here?”

“The walk. Cooper. Remember? Plus, it gives us the chance to finally meet the elusive non-showing Simon.”

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