Page 93 of Best Laid Plans

"And what's the third thing?" Katya wanted to know.

Trevor tapped her nose with a finger. "That once we accept we're in love, come hell or high water, a man like me is goin' after my woman. And Anson is like Beau, like me…."

"I love it when you say my woman," Katya infused her voice with a little sultry Marilyn Monroe. "It makes me all hot and bothered.

"Sheesh, girlfriend, Trev is my brother," I joked, and then turned to Trevor. "So, what you're sayin' is that men are scared morons who think with their cocks; want to avoid being perceived as weak; and when they finally get their heads out of their asses, and know they're in love they go all me, Tarzan, you Jane?"

I saw Trevor and Katya's eyes flit behind me, and I knew who was there, even before I heard his voice.

"Somethin' like that, Sugar."

Chapter 35

Anson

It wasn't chance that I met Dom at Fiddler's. We were supposed to meet at Vic's, but when I saw her go into Fiddler's, I texted him and changed the venue for our drinks and dinner.

Yes, I was being the creepy stalker, following my girl around. That was the only way I could learn more about her. I wouldn't have known she ran most mornings if I wasn't stalking her.

Once I figured that out, I set my alarm to drag me out of fitful sleep so I could join her at the butt crack of dawn. She ran four miles, and that told me she was in shape.

There was a regimen to how Nova lived her life. After two weeks of following her around, since I moved to Savannah, I'd learned that Nova worked hard. Took care of her body. Had a shit ton of friends, and a very healthy social life. She didn't date. And in all honesty, didn't seem to have much fun. When she was with friends, she was the one who left to go home early. She was the one who didn't consume more than one or two drinks. She was the one who talked less and listened more. There was a reserve about her that hadn't been there seven years ago. Had I damaged that indomitable spirit of hers that wouldn't be subdued no matter what was thrown at it, or was this just part of her growing up?

Our experiences shaped us. Being in the military had made me less emotional and more pragmatic, even ruthless. Well, not at Beau's level, but I usually didn't fuck around with the soft shit, and got to the point. Losing Nova had made me cynical about love and marriage, which was why I didn't care that I was engaged to Bailey. It hadn't mattered. Women were interchangeable, and from what I could see, Bailey was as good a society wife as any other woman eager mamas in Atlanta pushed my way. Yeah, sometimes we were still living in the Gone With the Wind era here in Georgia.

Had Nova's experiences made her more reserved? Afraid of having fun? How could I give that back to her? Get it for myself as well? Being a Larue had always meant living my life in a restrained manner. But Nova had been a bright light of joy and warmth. With her gone, I'd simply reverted to being a jaded asshole.

Now, I felt that I needed to bring light and warmth; love and trust into Nova's life and mine. Sure, she had friends, and she was close to Trevor, her half-brother—but she held her cards close to her chest. I didn't blame her. If I were her, I'd do the same. After all, she'd learned the hard way that there was no profit in being vulnerable, in letting loose, because it would only lead to pain.

"Anson."

I held my hand out to Trevor, who looked at it for a long moment until Dom lazily said, "Stop being a dick, Trev, and give him a chance, yeah?

"I'll give him a chance." The woman next to Trevor winked at me, and shook my outstretched hand. "I'm Katya, Trev's fiancée and Nova's BFF."

"Nice to meet you, Katya."

"If you hurt her again, I will break every bone in your body. I won't personally do it, 'cause I'm a lady, but I'll hire someone effective."

My lips twitched, but I held back the smile. It looked like Nova's best friend had accepted me. I was progressing.

Baby steps.

"Thanks, Katya."

Trevor shrugged. "What my woman said."

"What's this, my woman crap y'all have picked up?" Nova grimaced.

Dom took the only empty chair at the table next to Nova. "Darlin', 'cause we're all Neanderthals at heart."

I pulled a chair from a nearby table, and put it in between Nova and Trevor. No way, I wasn't sitting next to her.

"We're almost done and leavin'," Nova glared at me. "So, no need to join us."

"Please," I murmured.

She rolled her eyes, but softened. Baby fucking steps!

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