Page 77 of Smolder

“I’m thorough,” I replied.

Plus, my brother had abducted his girlfriend without thinking anything through, and that had been a mess to clean up. I learned from his mistakes.

“Is thewhere are wething still something you won’t tell me?”

I wanted to trust her. I’d never wanted anything more than to know she wouldn’t leave me. That she was as fucking obsessed with me as I was her.

“Alaska,” I told her.

She didn’t seem shocked. “I thought so. Especially when you said the brown bears and wolves.”

I finished with her hair and laid the brush down. So much she still didn’t know. I wanted her to know it all, but I couldn’t trust she wouldn’t turn against me. If I could get her to fall in love with me, then maybe I could be completely honest.

“Done already?” she asked. “I was enjoying it. That felt good.”

Smirking, I picked the brush back up and placed a hand on her shoulder when she started to get up.

“If it feels good, then I’ll keep doing it.”

She eased back down and made an appreciative little sound.

“Does Haven House know my Grams is gonna be there for at least a week?”

“Yes,” I assured her, “they do.”

“Thought so,” she said with a sigh. “Sebastian?”

“Yeah, Ace?”

“Why were you at Railhouse that night we met?”

“There was a man who owed us money. His loan was due, and he was late. We were waiting on him. The morons you were hustling at pool worked for him. When we met with them outside, I also took the liberty of getting what they owed you.”

She was quiet for a moment. “Why?”

“Why get your money?”

“Yes. Why did you care if they paid me or not?”

That one was easy.

“Because from the moment I’d walked in, you’d had my full attention. I was fascinated with you. I loved watching you laugh, and damn if you didn’t have the prettiest blue eyes I’d ever seen.”

She turned to look at me, and I stopped brushing.

“Really?”

I grinned. “That can’t be so hard for you to believe, Ace. You’ve looked in a mirror.”

She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “You’re different though, you’re, well, older and sexy and rich. I would think you had gorgeous women at your beck and call.”

I let my gaze drift over her features. Each one so achingly perfect. “Yeah, I guess I do. But they don’t have your fire. They don’t entertain me, and they never surprise me. It’s not just about beauty—that doesn’t last—and honestly, it fades quick when they start to talk. But with you, every word that came out of your mouth had me transfixed. I couldn’t get enough.”

She licked her lips and ducked her head, hiding the smile on her lips.

“Thank you,” she said just above a whisper.

“Why are you thanking me, Ace?”

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