Page 70 of The Final Beat

Her head practically swivelled off her neck as she turned to look at me. “No, you stupid dick. What the hell do you take me for? I’m not some drummer bunny, you know.”

“I never said you were.” I had wondered if she had a thing for drummer boys but had been satisfied it was coincidence that Clemente and I both hit skins for a living. “Denny isn’t pretty enough, anyway.”

“Hmm maybe not but he doesn’t throw punches unnecessarily either.”

“Come on, Daisy, I’ve explained and apologised for that.”

“It was still a dick thing to do. And stop calling me fucking Daisy.” She reached up for her sunglasses and whipped them from her face, pushing them into her hair.

“Why the hell are you wearing sunglasses at almost one in the morning?” I asked. “In fact, why do you ever wear them when it’s not sunny?”

I knew it was to hide the pain in her eyes but wasn’t sure she’d ever admit it.

“Who are you? The fashion police?” She was deflecting.

“No, so are you going to tell me?”

She looked me up and down and then turned away. “Sometimes you’re such a turd I don’t know what I ever saw in you.”

I was sure her words were meant to insult me, but they didn’t. They made me smile.Shemade me smile.

“Don’t you meansee?” I corrected her.

“No,” she snapped. “Saw. We are a done deal, remember?” She arched an eyebrow. “Your words, Joseppi.”

She was right, they were. Words that I deeply regretted.

“I was hurt.”

“Ah, poor baby,” she mocked, stretching her legs out in front of her. Not that they stretched far as she was so short, then she sighed. “I don’t hate you for punching him, he deserved it. I just wish you’d realised.”

“Yeah, so do I and I am sorry.” Swallowing back the dry lump in my throat, I took her chin between my finger and thumb,gently forcing her to look at me. “I would do whatever it took to make you feel safe. You know that don’t you?”

She licked her lips as wary eyes watched me. When I stroked her cheek with my thumb, her breath hitched, and she leaned into my touch. I was seconds from kissing her, but I’d made so many mistakes with this woman, I had to make sure I did everything perfectly from then on. I had to have patience, just like Ali told me, because however we moved forward, it had to be her decision. But, if she decided we were done then maybe I’d have to reconsider it, because I couldn’t lose her, of that I was certain.

She gave me a single nod of the head. “I do. The problem is, Joseppi, I think maybe any trust I had was beaten out of me a long time ago.”

Anger rushed my senses as I thought about the life she’d had and what that monster had done to her then and was still doing to her. Fighting back the need to clench my fists with fury, I just nodded.

“I know, Daisy,” I whispered, “and that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Dropping my hand from her face, I leaned forward and kissed the corner of her mouth. It was soft, gentle, and quick, and as soon as it was done I stood up and left. As I walked away I left my heart on the bench with the woman I was undoubtedly in love with.

CHAPTER 30

JOEY

3 Months Later

“He looks like he might just sneak off for a celebratory wank,” I muttered to Ronnie as we looked over at Beau and Simone. They were wrapped in each other’s arms with their spare hands holding onto Ethan who was jumping up and down in front of them. “Engaged and got his own way on building our own studios.” The guy who owned the one we’d been to see hadn’t budged on the money he wanted so we scouted out somewhere else. We’d found a piece of land not far from it and decided to build our own state of the art studio. Two in fact, along with a rehearsal studio for extra revenue. Ironically, it was going to cost us more than the farm, but we were happier spending money on brand new rather than upgrading an old building.

Beau was the one who’d championed it so had been walking around like Billy Big Bollocks ever since we’d signed for the land. Now, it was his and Simmy’s engagement party and there was far too much happiness in the room.

“Ooh no, that golden smile has turned into a frown,” Amber said from her spot on a stool, nodding at the happy couple. Shehad a bowl of olives resting on her stomach, which was huge even though she still had a couple of months to go.

“Shit, Sylvie approaching.” Ronnie grinned. “She’s got a face that says she’s on the warpath about something.

“Has he never got on with his mum?” Amber popped another olive into her mouth, watching the Bradley’s like it was some Hollywood movie and she was eating popcorn.

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