Page 21 of Strictly Forbidden

“You have an amazing background.”

“Eclectic. What do you do?”

I hadn’t thought about how to answer a simple question. “I’m slowly taking over my grandfather’s company. Believe it or not, he was into gaming systems early on.”

“Wow. That sounds like fun.”

The truth was my brother had control although I was still listed as vice president, which was always something that had bothered both my brother and me. “Yeah, well, it’s interesting.”

“I bet. His company is based out of here?”

“Denver but it’s one of those situations where I can work remotely. Plus, my gramps died a couple years ago so I get to do what I want.”

“I’m so sorry.” She studied me intently, as if still uncertain what I was made of.

That made two of us.

“It’s okay. He lived a long life. He was a good man. Thank you though.” I missed the guy more than I wanted to admit. He’d been the one to push me into living up to what I was worth early on.

Another awkward moment settled between us. This was a bad idea.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” she asked.

The question was so out of the blue I was taken aback. Leave. You shouldn’t be here, you asshole. But I couldn’t follow my conscience. “I’m not going to lie. I wouldn’t mind having a nice dinner with a beautiful woman. It’s been a long time since I did.”

“I guess I should have asked you if you were married. That was shitty of me.”

I felt the darkness sweep over me, the anger that had taken a significant toll, sending me to the hellhole for far too much of my life. I did my best to pass it off, but I could tell she caught my expression. “Nah. No woman would want me. I’m a handful.”

“Most men are. Tell me. How good are you at cooking a rare steak?”

I gave her my most slightly offended expression before grinning. “I’ll have you know my dad used to tell me that I made the best steak anywhere in the state of Colorado.”

“Then you’re hired. I’ll stick the potatoes in then feed my little monster here. Feel free to bring in your groceries. I know you purchased some perishables I wouldn’t want you to lose.”

“You were watching me.” I couldn’t help but grin. Meanwhile, she blushed the loveliest shade of rose.

When she held up her hand, showing me a Girl Scout pledge, the grin remained. “Guilty as charged.”

“I feel honored.”

There was something so special about seeing the way she interacted with Max. He was so responsive to her, which almost made the green-eyed monster slip into my mind. I’d gotten so close to the dog that I’d lost track of time, somewhere inside me wishing I could keep him as my own. But seeing them together, the way she was fawning over him and the number of toys already strewn about the rooms of the house I could see, I knew their pairing was perfect.

I’d shut down so long before, only Max being able to revive what little I wanted to remember from the past, that the moment seemed surreal. Even the way she presented the pup’s food, requiring him to wait for a few seconds before chowing down was priceless. It told me a lot about the woman. I wanted to grill her with questions, to learn who’d dared try to destroy her spirit, but I knew where the information would take me.

Nowhere good.

For now, I’d do what I could to try to remember my humanity, pretending like I knew what the hell I was doing here.

As she took out several things from the refrigerator, every few seconds checking as if to see if I was still there, I had a feeling I would have a difficult time keeping my hands off her.

Noel was the first woman since walking in on the bloodbath I’d allowed myself to be attracted to.

But the ache was strong, so much so I felt guilty for even finding the woman so very beautiful.

Maybe Dr. Daniels had been right about the dog rehabilitation program. I felt like I’d become a different man. Did that take away the continued rage, the need for revenge? I doubted anything could ease the manic feelings of fury until every single person responsible for taking away the most precious things in my life faced death, but at least a small part of me felt at peace.

For now.

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