Page 132 of Strictly the Worst

“What?”

“I want to meet her without you. Just the two of us. Woman to woman. So I can apologize.”

I blink. Is she really asking that after everything that happened last night? “No,” I respond, unable to hide the anger from my voice. “It’s not going to happen.”

From the corner of my eye I see Tessa starting to stir. Fuck, I was too loud. Her eyes catch mine and I feel a weird sense of serenity wash over me. I can do anything with this woman by my side.

“I need to go,” I say, hanging up the call, even though my mom is trying to persuade me to let her get her way. I walk back over to where Tessa’s sitting up in bed. “You’re supposed to be asleep.”

“Who was that?”

“My mom. Wanna hear what she wanted?”

Tessa smiles and it lights up her gorgeous face. “What?”

“To meet with you, without me. To talk woman to woman.” I roll my eyes. “The gall of it.”

“You’re sweet when you’re angry, you know that?” She rolls onto her knees and kisses the tip of my nose. I grab her and pull her closer, until she has to steady herself against my chest, her palms flat on my pectorals.

“I’m not sweet,” I tell her, kissing her jaw. “I’m sexy. And strong. And masculine.”

She giggles. “You are. So masculine.”

My fingers slide down her side to her hip. “Say it again.”

“So strong. So manly,” she whispers as I kiss her throat. “Especially when you’re getting chased by pigs.”

I look down at her. “You just spoiled it.”

“I still have the video footage,” she tells me. “In case you were wondering.”

“Part of our prenup will be you erasing it.”

“We’re getting a prenup?” she asks.

“Damn right. You’ll have to sign that you’ll never leave me.”

She brushes her lips against mine. “Only if I get to keep the footage.” Her fingers brush my neck and it sends a shiver down my spine. “By the way, I’ll do it.”

“Do what?” I ask, distracted by the way her other hand is tracing circles on my chest.

“Meet with your mom alone. Just the two of us.”

I blink, thinking I’ve misheard her. But when our eyes meet there’s an earnestness in them that makes me realize I didn’t.

“No,” I say, my stomach falling. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Maybe I do.” She kisses me softly. “I’m not afraid of her.”

“Maybe I’m afraid of you meeting with her,” I mutter. “She might scare you off.”

“Nothing could do that.” She wraps her arms around my neck. I’m severely distracted by the way her breasts press against my chest. “I’m the one that almost scared you off.”

“That could never happen.” I kiss her again. I will never get enough of this woman’s lips.

“Let me talk to her,” Tessa whispers against my mouth. “I promise it will be okay.”

I frown. “If she’s a bitch again, you leave, okay?”

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