Page 105 of The Marine

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

AIDAN

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Briar slept with herback to me all night, but her little feet followed me whenever I moved.

I should have sent her home.

It doesn’t matter that by three this afternoon, Johnny Trevis will be in custody and behind bars. When she told me she had no plans to divorce him, it was like she’d stabbed me in the heart.

Thing is...I don’t believe her.

Maybe I’m dumb or naïve, but I don’t believe Briar plans to stay with her husband. She doesn’t think we can be together. I’m sure of it.

Which means I have more work to do.

Because killing her mother isn’t an option—damn it—so I need to find a way around all the reasons she has for not being with me.

Or through them. With a fucking bulldozer.

God, I don’t know.

Six hours of drifting in and out of sleep haven’t helped me figure out a solution. Nor have the ten years in between now and when Briar last told me she loved me.

But turned her back on me.

When I did sleep, I was plagued with nightmares of her running from me, being stabbed by Kael, then making love to him while holding my gaze, almost enjoying it.

Goddamn unconscious brain.

Today’s wedding is taking place at the Glendale, ten minutes from downtown Los Angeles. I don’t want Briar driving around on her own in case Johnny Trevis is aware someone is on to him and decides to do something stupid.

I sit up on one arm and lean over the dark-haired angel lying beside me and watch her pretty green eyes flicker open.

She stretches and runs her toes down my leg.

Always connected.

“Hey.” Her is voice groggy.

“Morning.” Mine is rough but soft. “You have your dress with you?”

I’m meaning her bridesmaid dress.

“Yes. In the car in its bag.” She curls up on her side and tucks her hands under her face. “Can we just sleep for a week?”

My lips twitch into a small smile and I brush her cheek with the side of my hand.

Emotions are draining and I can tell she’s worn out. I want to wrap her in my arms and tell her she’s safe. To sleep. To know she’s loved and will be looked after.

Forever.

But she’s not ready for that yet.

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