Page 61 of Love Lies Bleeding

“It wasn’t a question. I’m gonna talk to Dad and we’re gonna figure this out as a family. We may not need to talk to Mancini. Nick Kendrick is as dirty as fuck. There’s bound to be a way we can find something on him.”

“I’ve already asked for the meet.”

“Then call it off.”

“It’s too late.”

“Please, Jake, let me speak to Dad about this before you make any moves you can’t come back from.”

“Fine but either way, Nick is done.”

“I agree. Now, the important question is, what are you going to do about Cherry?”

“I love her, Mac. I never stopped, and I want her back. I just need to figure out how the hell I can fix this before I tell her the truth.”

“You should tell her now.”

I shook my head. “No, I have to win her over first, remind her of the good times, of the chemistry between us.”

“Well, this sure does explain the fireworks when you two are in the same room together.”

I smile for the first time since finding out KLM had a bead on Cherry’s mom’s place.

“So what’s the plan?”

“I’m gonna be where she is. Every time she turns around, I’m gonna be there.”

“It won’t be easy. I don’t know her well but I do know she’s stubborn and getting kicked out of Harvard will have left a bruise.”

I punch his arm. “You’re not helping, Mac.”

He grins. “But I know a woman who might help.”

I tip my head and give it a short shake. “No, don’t involve Lexi. I need Cherry to know she has her best friend on her side.”

“Alright, Jake.”

I stand, needing to get out on my bike, and just forget about everything but the open road for a while.

“Jake?”

I swing back to look at my friend, who is still sitting on the couch, looking pensive. “You should have told me. I’d have been there.”

“I know.”

He would have, they all would have but I’d put enough pressure on his family, and adding to it or being a burden to them wasn’t something I wanted to do. Not now and not ever.

21. Cherry

The front door to the shop opens and I look up with a smile, ready to greet my customer, but it freezes on my face when I see Jake walk in instead. He isn’t dressed for work, the suit has been replaced by worn jeans that hang off his hips. A V-neck white tee molds to his muscular chest and I fight the urge to wet my lips. His feet are encased in tattered biker boots, and he still wears the jacket he’d had back then.

He looks like my Jake, the one who broke my heart but also the one who made it beat faster, who’d text me ‘good morning, beautiful’ or some other sweet greeting each day, just like the one I’d received this morning. My heart beat harder in my chest as he grins and walks closer.

“Good morning, Blossom.”

God, why did he have to be so hot? Folding my arms over my chest, I cock my hip and glare. “What do you want?”

“Is it too cliché to say you?” He scrubs his chin and tries giving me a hopeful look.

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