Page 104 of Only Ever You

She barks out a laugh. “What?”

“I saw your recruitment office file. And at first, I thought how much Lucas would hate it if we got together, but once you stepped foot in my office, I was a goner.”

Her face falls. “You were going to use me to get back at Lucas?”

“No.” I lace our fingers. “I had a brief thought before squashing it because I couldn’t do that to you. And like the greedy man I am when it comes to you, I told Garrett he could have Simone because you were mine.”

Her sapphire blue eyes study me closely. “Who was I to you?”

I curl my lips into a smile. “My Pipsqueak.”

She laughs, and it’s glorious. I never want to make her cry again.

“It didn’t take me long to realise I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.” I raise our joined hands to my lips and kiss the back of hers. “And then I let her get into my head.”

Pippa draws closer before leaning her head on my shoulder. “I hate her.”

I kiss the top of her head. “Me too. Lucas told me the whole story of how they ended up together. She’s a predator.”

Raising her head, she meets my gaze. “What do you mean?”

“She abused your brother for years. He was just … I don’t know … immature and flattered by the attention. But it started when he was young, and I had no idea.”

Her eyes search mine. “I don’t understand. How could that happen right under everyone’s noses?”

I sigh. “I’m not sure, but I believe Lucas. And I’ll never let that woman into our lives ever again. I told him he should speak to the authorities. It might be too late to do anything about her, but he won’t know until he tries.”

“You’re a good man,” she whispers.

“I want to be your man again.”

Pippa buries her face in my neck. “I’m so scared.”

I close my eyes, breathing in the scent of her skin and raising my hand to stroke her cheek. “I know.”

“I love you so much. I don’t know if I’ll survive you breaking my heart again.”

My chest tightens. What I did to my woman will haunt me the rest of my days. “You might not believe my promises yet, but I swear I’ll never hurt you again. I’m pointless without you.”

“What about all the partying you did when you were away?”

I run my hand down her spine. “Smoke and mirrors. I was miserable. All I wanted was you. I’m not interested in any woman other than you.”

She raises her head. Her eyes are more blue than green today. I always loved the way they look different all the time. She’s so beautiful, and I’m so close to making her mine again.

Pippa swallows hard. “And Adeline?”

“I took care of that.”

“She called me and apologised.”

I smirk, and Pippa’s mouth falls open.

“I warned her at the time not to use that photo to hurt you. She didn’t listen.” I pop a kiss on her forehead. “She just missed out on what could have been a big modelling job for her with Jacob Preston.”

“No.” Pippa’s eyes are wide.

“After we dumped her, she tried her luck. Jacob was going to offer her the work, but he wasn’t happy she hurt you.”

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