Page 16 of Tech

"You know, don't you?" I ask.

He grins. "I have to admit, I never met a man trying to set his daughter up before." I snort as he continues, “He tried a few times with Sniper to see if he'd date you, which kind of makes me want to punch your dad right now, but?—"

I cut in, shock shooting through me, “Do you mean Sniper, as in the biggest player in high school? That Sniper?"

He grins, waggling his brows, and disgust runs through me as I scrunch my nose. I never met him, but everyone knew who he was. I mean, he slept with teachers, for God's sake….

"Druggies, momma boys, players…. Really, Daddy?" I mumble and drop my head with a groan, and James chuckles a little before he speaks, making me lift my head.

"Come on, let me give you a ride home." He pouts a little, and murmurs, "Please."

I laugh, shaking my head before groaning. "Fine, but get ready for my father to hound you. I've literally just left a man inside he set me up with and who ended up being a cokehead. He'll think of you as the king and try to set us up, even though he promised me no more." His brows shoot up, but he nods, not at all upset about my words, making my stomach flutter.

He nods over to a bike and fear instantly hits.

I step back. "Uh, yeah, no, not happening."

He chuckles, gently wrapping his arm around my waist, making me suck in a breath as he guides me toward his bike. "I promise, I won't let you fall."

I swallow hard as he climbs on, passing me a helmet with a smirk. I take it, not thinking, and I can physically feel myself go pale. I've never been on a bike before….

"Come on, Angel. I promise you'll love it," he whispers, his eyes piercing into my soul and a gentle smile on his face.

There's that name again. Angel.

Biting my bottom lip, I slowly put the helmet on my head, making him grin as he holds his hand out for me. Taking a deep breath, I grab his hand and let him help me climb on. I ensure that I sit on the dress, so I don't flash anyone, before he tugs me forward until I’m pressed against his back, and he guides my hand around his waist.

"Hold tight, Angel, and always keep your feet on the pegs."

I nod and bring my other arm around, holding him tightly as I grip his wife beater. He rubs my bare calf, making my stomach flutter again, before he revs his bike and drives off.

I tighten my hold on him, planting my head on his back, my eyes taking in the scenery.

He doesn't take me home like I thought he would. Instead, we drive around for what seems like minutes but is actually hours, helping me loosen my hold on him and enjoying the ride. Finally, he takes me to the overlook above the town.

We stay here for hours just talking about life, and everything just feels right, he feels right, like we belong, like he’s mine.

Before I knew it, he was kissing me goodbye outside of my clinic, promising I'd be seeing him again soon.

And he was right. I saw him repeatedly, over and over, until he became everything to me and dug deep into my heart.

It’s just a shame I forgot that giving someone your heart could lead to heartbreak.

5

Tech – Two Months Later

I curse, grabbing my cut, quickly putting it on, before grabbing my keys. I head out of my room at the club. I'm fucking late; I got sidetracked going through the club's accounts, and now my girl is going to kick my ass.

My girl…. Fuck. Who knew I'd love calling her that so much, after swearing to be a bachelor for life.

Bumping into her that day at the bar was the best day of my entire existence, and every day since, I've taken her on dates and hung out with her and her family. I've given her all of me and have ensured to show up at her practice every chance I get to carve myself into her life.

Fuck, even her sister Josy, who is thirteen, screams with delight each time I show up at the farm, running to me. She was skeptical at first, but thankfully, I won her over. And Ollie, I shake my head, fuck, I love that boy. He's seven and a fucking daredevil.

Last week, he got a wheelbarrow and rode it down a hill in the fields behind the farmhouse near where we spend most our time together.

The kid is lucky he didn't break his neck.

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