Page 42 of The Marine

I care about her.

Savannah is funny and kind. She loves Ryder, and it’s adorable how playful they are together. He’s very protective of her.

Is that what Aidan would’ve been like had we stayed together? If my father hadn’t died.

Would I be living an idyllic life with a man who loved and protected me? We will never know, as it didn’t work out like that.

God, Mom would be furious if she knew I’d seen Aidan. And slept with him. Not that I’m going to tell her or anyone.

But damn, I’ve been thinking about it a lot.

Especially at night.

He’s like refined sugar. Now I’ve had a taste (again), I want more. And more. And more.

But I can’t.

Aidan Black is my past, not my present or my future.

Still, that doesn’t mean my body understands. Let’s just say I’m going to stop for new batteries on the way home tonight. It was only two nights ago when I last saw him.

“I’ll ask around my network. We’ll find someone. Just sign the contract and we’ll get you ‘Sarah Connor’ ready.”

“Who?”

I roll my eyes. “Sarah Connor. Terminator? Oh my god. If you’re going to be an action heroine you have to watch that movie.”

She groans. “Okay, adding it to the list.”

“When is your last dress fitting?” I sit down and pull my tablet onto my lap and start swiping.

Keeping Savannah focused on the wedding is best right now. She can be scatterbrained and jump from one thing to the other.

Which is why she has me.

“Tuesday,” she says, brightening up. “God, I can’t wait to marry Ryder.”

I smile broadly at her.

“You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”

“Oh! That reminds me. We are having a dinner party on Saturday night. Like a pre-wedding dinner. Will you come?” she asks excitedly.

Aidan.

I really should keep away, but, god, I immediately feel my body reacting to the idea of being near him again. My nipples harden, my core heats.

“Um...”

Shit, what do I do?

It could give me the opportunity to speak to him and be clear that nothing more can happen between us.

If you think that’s where this ends, you are wrong, Briar Sutton.

With Kael attending the wedding next week, I need to make sure Aidan keeps his glowering gaze away from me. Kael will spot it a mile away, and it will be me wearing the bruises the next day.

“I know it’s last minute. If you want to invite the girls, you can,” Savannah says in that vulnerable way.

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