Page 93 of Talk About… Rivalry

“This is incredible,” Sidney said. Her voice was full of awe. “How did you get this far?”

“I already had a team waiting to come in, I was just doing the initial fixes on the building. There were a few holes that needed patched, small fixture swaps, that kind of thing,” I explained. “When I realized that I wanted more time with you, I pulled the plug and had him come in early, taking over for me so I could focus on our pack.”

She turned to me so fast and she looked startled. “Wait, you put all this on pause for me?”

“I wouldn’t say I put it on pause, I just handed over the reins,” I corrected. “But I would have if I needed to. You’re more important.”

She chewed on that lip again until I was moving forward and tugging it free yet again.

“You’re always abusing that lip,” I teased, leaning in and hovering for a moment, soaking her in just before kissing her. It gave her a chance to pull away if it was too much but she didn’t. She leaned in.

Our lips collided and I deepened it, hands gripping her hips as I pulled her body flush with mine. My tongue swept in, tangling with hers as I devoured her.

My cock took notice, straining against my pants. If I was this turned on now, I couldn’t imagine what her heat would be like.

When I pulled away I rested my forehead against hers. My eyelids fluttered close as I soaked in her presence, reveling in the warmth of her skin against mine.

“Have I told you lately how sorry I am for the way I acted back then?” My voice was hoarse, full of emotion.

“You did and you don’t have to keep apologizing. I have plenty to apologize for during that time in our lives. I’ll admit,after that lunch from hell, I never would have pictured ending up with you, Leo, but people change.”

“They do,” I admitted. “I’m glad you’re giving me this chance. I want to get to know more about you, to know everything that I don’t already know. I feel like I’m behind the others.”

She let out a little laugh. “It’s not a race, Leo. We’re not going anywhere, right?”

There it was, that vulnerability sneaking in again.

“Exactly,” I said. “So, while I check in on things I’m going to need you to come sit at the bar and tell me every little fact about yourself that I’ve missed over the last several years.”

I led her over, picking her up and putting her on a barstool before walking around to the other side of the bar.

“Can I interest you in a drink, miss?”

“Do you even have any drinks to offer me?” she teased. “That aren’t booze this early in the day.”

“I do,” I confirmed, reaching under to the refrigerator and grabbing out a bottle of water and uncapped it before sliding it over.

“The finest spring water for my lady.”

Her laughter came a little bit easier this time. This was exactly why I needed a moment to just be with Sidney, only the two of us, finding our own place in this pack.

“Where should I start?” Sidney asked. Her fingers playing with the label of the water as she waited for me to answer.

“Start at high school. How did things go for you? I want to know the good, the bad, the sad.”

“There’s really not a lot to tell. The moment I was capable enough I was working on the farm after school, before school, weekends, holidays.”

“Damn, did you even get time for friends?”

“When I was done with my chores I’d sneak over to the Whitaker’s place. I swear they kept my sanity back then. MamaWhitaker is probably the only reason I turned out as well as I did.”

“I’m glad you had them,” I said, a new appreciation for Maverick and his family settling in me. “He’s protective of you, too, isn’t he?”

“Maverick?” she asked, chuckling to herself. “He’s always been the overprotective brother for Avery. I just always assumed that it was the same for me by extension, apparently I’ve just been blind all this time and so was he.”

“Two ships passing in the night,” I agreed. “I’m glad you found your way together. You’re a good match.”

The corner of her lip tipped up in a half smile. “You’re only saying that because you’re mine, too.”

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