Page 68 of The One I Stood Beside

He pulls me to him, his dick hitting me in the stomach. “Nice to you?”

“Before your mom died, you treated me like I was a pain to be around. Always telling me I had to be the cheerleader and couldn’t play football. But after your mom died, you’d pick me for your team.”

He laughs. “I don’t remember any of that. Shit, I’m sorry.” He kisses my lips briefly then twirls his finger.

I turn my back to him when I’d rather be looking at him. The squirt of conditioner sounds before his hands run down my strands again.

“Anyway, you never told anyone I cried.”

“I told you I wouldn’t.” And I never would.

“Well, after that, I didn’t want to lose you. In a weird way, I got you after Mom died, and I thought that if you didn’t feel the same or if you did, and I fucked it up… that scared me. The more weeks that went by, the more I lost my nerve, and I wasn’t willing to risk it because I’m not sure I can survive without you in my life.”

“Jude.” I circle back, and his hands slip from my hair. “You’ll never lose me. I promise you right now. No matter what happens, I’ll always be in your life.”

He moves me under the water and threads his fingers through my wet hair, tilting my head to rinse the conditioner.

“Do you believe me?” I stare at him, but he won’t look at me.

“Time for soap.”

I push at his chest until I’m out of the stream of water. “Talk to me.”

He runs his palm along my cheek and rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “It will just take time. That’s all. I’ve done enough talking tonight.”

He grabs the washcloth he brought in with him and squirts soap on it, lathering it under the water.

“I’m going to prove it to you. Just so you know.”

He runs the washcloth over me, and my core clenches and aches to have him again.

“You never have to prove anything to me.” He kisses my shoulder before inching me under the water.

Once I’m all clean, I slide along his body to get him under the spray, but his hands on my hips stop me, and he pushes me against the wall. His lips smash to mine, his hard dick pushing against my stomach while our slick bodies slide together. He hitches my leg over one of his hips, and I hold myself steady with my arms around his neck while he sinks into me.

I let him distract me with sex. Maybe he’s only given me one number to the vault code, but when I’m done with him, I’ll crack it open even if I have to take a sledgehammer to it. I’m going to free Jude Noughton of his demons.

Chapter Twenty-One

Jude

We have two things on our agenda today. One is to secure the loan, and the second one is to grab all of Sadie’s stuff and move her into my house. She’s close enough that if anything should happen to her mom, she can race over there, and she can still take her mom to her appointments. Plus, she’ll still be working out of the cottage when she’s doing her graphic design work.

I park the truck in front of the bank. Sadie’s hand goes to the door handle, and I stop her with my hand on her free one.

She turns around. “What?”

“I get your door now.”

She smiles and her hand falls to her lap. “Oh, okay.”

I grab the keys and climb out, going around the front of the truck to her door. I open it and offer her my hand. She slides her smooth, small hand into my calloused one, stepping down onto the running board then onto the ground next to me.

“Thanks.”

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s my job.” I keep my hand in hers, entwining our fingers, and lead us over to the bank.

“I never would have thought you’d be such a gentleman.”

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