Page 140 of Forgiving Fate

I know there are a million and one words she wants to say, but cannot find which one to say first. So instead of waiting for her to choose, I reach out my hand and loop my pinky through hers.

Her eyes snap to mine and she whispers, “You’re mean.”

Fucking adorable.

I chuckle. “Damn. That wasn’t what I expected you to say first, but I’ll take it.”

Shaking her head, she says, “Oh, I have many things to say, but they are not appropriate for a public place. Unlike you, I know when and where to say them.”

Brat.

Untangling my finger from hers, I motion for her to come closer, and she does.

In a low whisper, my lips brush against her ear as I say, “Sweetheart, the hunger I just saw in your eyes when you caught sight of me permanently marking my body in honor of you showed your cards. So stop with the sass or it will be a longgg night of just me reaping the benefits of this little game you are playing.”

A gasp falls from her lips and she tries to mask her obvious arousal, but it’s pointless because everyone in here can see the heat in her cheeks and the way she is gripping the table in frustration.

“You’re an ass,” she says through gritted teeth as she stands back up.

“Mhmm,” I say, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close.

I finally understand Grayson’s need to constantly be touching Logan. Finding your person feels like seeing sunshine after a hurricane. You desperately want to bask in the beauty for as long as you can and never let go of that feeling of warmth and safety.

“Sorry, he didn’t tell me what he was getting, so it was a shock,” Allie says, grabbing Harrison’s attention from Gray and Logan.

“Harrison, this is my boyfriend, Landon. Landon, this is Harrison, mine and Lo’s friend from college.”

My heart threatens to beat out my chest at Allie introducing me as her boyfriend. Never in my life would I have thought this would be our outcome, but I am so freaking happy it is.

Unwrapping my arms from Allie’s waist, I hold out my hand to shake Harrison’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m the boyfriend.”

His hand grips mine. “Nice to meet you. Damn, the girls weren’t kidding. Y’all are gorgeous. I really need to make thismove permanent. Any chance there is a gay bar or something close by so I can find me a sexy mountain man covered in tattoos?”

Chuckling, I rest my hand on Allie’s hip, my thumb slipping under her sweater, brushing back and forth. “Thanks. I am not the person to ask for the best spots to go in terms of bars, but I know there is a club in downtown Seattle that Leo and a few of my friends frequent.”

Harrison looks to Allie in confusion and she explains, “Leo is going to school to be a nurse practitioner. He’s doing his clinicals at the hospital where Logan and her friend Harper work. He is also a bartender at the bar across the street, which their youngest brother Noah owns.”

“Gotcha! I will definitely check it out! I’m just excited to be here and back with the girls. I’ve missed them so much,” he says, a genuine smile on his face.

“We are so happy to have you here, Harrison. It’s nice having a little piece of Alabama up here in the land of trees,” Allie says, a big smile on her face.

I am so happy to see her thriving and as much as I hate the idea of another man taking her attention away from me, because let’s face it, I want all of her attention twenty-four seven and I am not ashamed to admit it. Nothing matters more than seeing her walk closer toward the place she is striving to be.

Chapter Fifty

Allie

“Girls, come get somewarm drinks after your game so you don’t freeze your little toes off out here!” Shelly calls from inside the Hideout.

“Yes, Ma’am!” Lainey, Logan, Harper, and I all say the same time.

I play my next card and watch as Lainey smirks as she lays down a draw four for Logan.

“Oh, you little brat. You’re lucky you’re cute!” Logan says as she picks up her cards.

Harper giggles and Logan’s head snaps to her. “Don’t be laughing. I’ve got something coming for you!”

“What does H have coming to her? I want to be a witness to you knocking her down a peg or two,” Noah exclaims as he walks up from his Jeep, holding a case of water.

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