Page 160 of A Little Tempting

“Honestly? I am. You should’ve seen how tense he was in the police car with me. McDonnell kept looking over at your dad and then at me in the back seat. I think he knows your dad’s dirty and with a little pushing from the lawyer my dad hired?” She lifts a shoulder. “I dunno. Like I said, I think your dad screwed himself over and doesn’t even know it yet.”

She might be onto something, especially if McDonnell’s catching onto things. I never minded the guy. He was always by the book and struggled to follow my dad’s lead despite being the younger and less experienced of the two on the force. But even then, the idea of Dylan going after my dad? Of putting herself on his radar more than she already has? It’s terrifying.

Bunching the thick hoodie material around her waist, I mutter, “I don’t want you involved.”

Rolling her eyes, she reminds me, “I’vebeeninvolved. Your dad made sure I was. He’s the one who wouldn’t leave you alone, not the other way around. Besides, the asshole has had it coming to him ever since you were little. Now, you have someone on your side, so I think it’s time karma catches up to him, don’t you?”

Karma. I’d laugh if the circumstances weren’t so shitty. I never believed in karma. Never believed anyone was looking out for me or cared about what happened to me. But after meeting Dylan, I can’t help but wonder if maybe there’s more to it. More to life. More to random occurrences I always thought were meaningless until my little wallflower stumbled into my life. But even so, the idea of Dylan being within a hundred-mile radius of the man who made my life a fucking hell feels wrong.

“I don’t want you hurt by him,” I admit.

Shimmying away from me, she spreads her arms wide and does a slow spin. “Do I look hurt, Ollie?”

When I hesitate, she faces me again, propping her hand on her hip. “This is the part where you say, ‘No, but you’re cute when you’re protective of me.’”

My laugh eases the knot in my chest, and I breathe in deeply. “Is that what I’m supposed to say?”

She nods. “It’s exactly what you’re supposed to say.”

Reaching for her, I drag Dylan into me again and slowly sway us back and forth, savoring the feel of her small curves pressed against me. I’ve been terrified since her arrest. Of the consequences. The repercussions. Whether she hated me after putting her neck out for me the way she did. Whether she’d ever forgive me for dragging her into this mess. Seeing her like this? Happy? Healthy? It’s…fuck, I don’t even know.

“You’re cute when you’re protective of me, Dylan,” I finally murmur.

A grin nearly splits her face in two as she loops her arms around my neck. “Why, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m also a badass prison girl,” she adds.

“You spent one night in jail.”

“Andsurvived,” she points out. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re dating a badass.”

“I’m in love with a badass.” The words should scare me, but they don’t. Fuck, they’re almost cathartic. Cleansing. Soothing. I’ve never loved a girl before. Never loved anyone, really. Not like this. I didn’t even know I was capable. Of loving. Of being loved.Until I met her. And even though I’m far from experienced when it comes to the true meaning of it, it doesn’t make my feelings less true. And loving Dylan? It’s like breathing. Natural. Easy. Inescapable.

Her smile falls, and she stops us from swaying as she peers up at me. “What did you say?”

“I said, I’m in love with a badass.”

“And when you say badass…”

“I mean you,” I clarify. “I’m in love with you.”

Her breath hitches like she’s not sure she believes me. “You’re in love with me?”

“I’m one hundred percent in love with you.”

“And it’s not because I was arrested yesterday?”

“Nah.” I kiss her nose. “Those glasses, though?” Letting out a whistle, I drag my hands up her bare thighs to cup her round ass. “Those were definitely the game changer.”

Closing her eyes, she lets out a quiet laugh. It’s laced with disbelief and fucking awe as she lays her head back on my chest.

“I love you too, you know,” she whispers.

“You do?”

“Yup. But for me, the hoodies sealed the deal.”

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