Page 84 of Just Between Us

Concern flashed in his dark eyes. “Okay.”

I swallowed past the lump that had expanded in my throat.

Jesus, why was being vulnerable always so fucking difficult?

“Um ... I said something last night that I think came out wrong.” I traced the tattoos on his arms to stay connected yet avoid his eyes as my mind spiraled. “It was probably nothing.” I laughed, feeling utterly ridiculous. “But I said something about going back to my normal life. I didn’t mean that this wasn’t normal—I mean, it’s not, for me, but—I just meant ... I don’t know why I said that. Honestly, I don’t even know what my normal life is anymore. But then you came home drunk, and I thought maybe it was because I said that and I?—”

“Shh ... ,” he soothed. His hand rubbed up my back, and I relaxed into him. “It’s okay. I know what you’re saying.”

Oh, thank god . . .

I melted into his arms.

“Now it’s my turn to be honest.” He stroked a finger down my face and captured my chin between his fingers so I would look at him. “I didn’t like hearing it. I don’t like thinking about you being anywhere but here.”

“I’m sorry.” My heart sank.

He shook his head. “No. Please don’t apologize. I realize it was amething. I handled it by getting shit-faced, and that probably wasn’t the right call either. You deserve better than that.”

My throat was so thick I could barely speak.Open and clear communication? Who was this man?

“So.” He sighed. “Can we agree that next time we just be adults and talk about it?”

Next time.

My heart squeezed with hope. I grinned at him and nodded. “Agreed.”

“Good.” Royal rolled and covered me with his heavy frame as he glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “You’re already late for work, right?”

I tilted my head back to check before smiling up at him. “Oh yeah.Latelate.”

“Good.” He nuzzled my neck. “I want your being late to be worth it, so you’re going to walk into the office with my cum still inside you.”

My walkto the office midmorning was like floating on a puffy cloud. I should have been stressed about how late I was already, but I couldn’t seem to care. Deliciously sore and thoroughly fucked, I hoisted my black leather bag across my shoulder andhummed on the walk to town. Royal had sent me on my way with a hard kiss and a slap to my ass.

It was perfect.

Summer sun streamed through the canopy of trees that lined the residential street. I smiled and waved at passersby, feeling more at home than ever in that quaint little town. When I rounded the corner, I spied Bootsy up ahead, sitting in his usual spot on the park bench.

The tiny hairs on the back of my neck raised as I maintained my steady pace and watched him carefully. He hadn’t noticed me yet, as he was digging through a plastic bag on the bench next to him.

Normally I had looked forward to whatever strange and wonderful tale the old man would tell, but ever since our odd interaction and the wild theory I had developed about the Sinclair twins, I had grown uneasy. He was too close to Russell King to be trusted, and my gut wasscreamingat me that there was something more happening below the surface.

I gathered my courage as I approached. With a deep breath, I sailed past him and threw a wave over my shoulder as I kept walking. “Hey, Terrance.”

“Morning,” the old man grumbled at my back.

Without faltering, I kept my casual pace, but alarm bells clanged against my skull.

Terrance.

I knew from my digging that Terrance Sinclair was called Bowlegs, and he was supposed to be dead. If that was the man who claimed to be Bootsy, then why would he answer to his twin brother’s name?

He wouldn’t.

My heart pounded as I did everything in my power not to scream and run. Behind me, I could hear the man calling to me and getting closer. “Miss Bauer! Miss!”

I turned and smiled. “Yes?”

---