Page 74 of Utah

“Very funny.” I linked my fingers behind her back and pulled her close.

As if sensing I needed to hear the words, she wrapped her arms around my waist. “I love you, Paul Kingsley.” Her eyes widened in amusement when she said my full name, and for once, I didn’t mind the sound of it. “And I’m so happy we’re building this life together.”

Her love for me tethered me to her, so powerful that I felt indestructible, as if nothing could ever hurt me again. Except for her.

But that was a risk I willingly wanted to take over and over again.

42

“Absolutely. We’ll do it soon. Okay. Bye.”

I clicked the button on my earbud to hang up my phone as Utah walked up behind me, startling me. I never heard him approach, which was unusual because he wasn’t a quiet man.

“You’d love what?” he asked, kissing the back of my neck.

“Dinner with Lena. That was her on the phone. She just found out I quit and was checking up on me.”

“She doesn’t like me.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” He smirked. “Okay, maybe she’s not your biggest fan, but it’s not like you care.”

“You’re right. I don’t. I was just pointing out the obvious.”

I wished I was more like Utah in that regard. He never gave other people’s opinions of him a second thought. Other than those close to him.

“I like you. That’s all that matters.”

“Youlikeme?” he asked, a faux-offended tone slinking through his words.

I leaned back, bracing myself against the sink. “Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”

He grabbed my waist, hoisted me onto the counter, andlinked his arms behind my back.

“You better more than like me. In fact, after I’m done with you, you’re gonna be so goddamn enamored with me, it’s gonna make your head spin.”

“Enamored… wow. And what do you mean ‘after I’m done with you’? What are you gonna do?”

“Today is the day.” He wiggled his brows, and I loved seeing this lighter side to him.

“The day for what?”

“You know what for.” When I continued to play dumb, he added, “The doctor cleared us for sex.”

“She clearedmefor sex.”

His mouth dropped open in surprise. “Not funny.”

“I thought it was kind of funny.”

He trailed his fingers beneath my hair and grabbed a handful, gently pulling my head back, his grip tight. Amusement was replaced with desire, and all I wanted to do was wrap myself around this man.

The last time we had sex, which was close to two and a half months ago, we’d had a fight afterward. If memory served me correctly, it had something to do with him wanting to tell Knox about us, but I refused. My brother didn’t need to know about my business, especially since it hadn’t been serious between us. There were times I wanted it to be, and he didn’t. And then, when I got used to the idea of simply having fun with no strings, he’d turn around and say he wanted something more serious.

We flip-flopped continually, and then, after our argument, I just let things fizzle out between us. I wouldn’t take his calls, wouldn’t talk to him when he stopped in to see me at work. He’d finally gotten the hint, but he’d still show up at Rocky’s and sit in the corner. Every time I saw him, my heart warred with my head. And then I found out I was pregnant, and all hell broke loose. Knox found out about us and attacked Utah, and Iwas right back in the middle of uncertainty about my future with him.

But when he’d gotten hurt, almost killed, nothing else mattered.

Not the indecision that held me captive.

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