Page 28 of Loving Her

“Huh?” I ask, still lost in my panic.

“Don’t you remember what I told you when I got back from visiting Devil with Cooper?”

“Have I mentioned how much I’m glad your road name is Breaker and not Devil, Satan, or any variation thereof?”

He chuckles at me. “Focus, Doc. Do you remember what I told you when I came back that day?”

“That you wanted me to call you Mattie?”

“Keep it up, Doc, and I’ll be turning your ass red tonight,” he fake-growls. Despite knowing it’s a fake threat, I feel heat zap through my insides, and I jerk as I feel my panties grow wet at the thought of Breaker spanking me combined with the growling noise he just made. I bite down on my lip to keep from letting a moan escape. My body feels foreign to me, craving things I’ve never even thought of from a man before. Considering my ex, having a man spank meshouldbe the last thing I’d desire,but… “You like the idea of me spanking your ass, don’t you, Doc?”

“Um …”

He grins. “You and I are going to continue this conversation tonight after we get our girl to bed.”

For a second, my heart stops.Our girl.He can’t know what his words mean to me. I don’t even think he realizes he referred to Tinny as his. It was natural and I like that even more than him saying it. He loves my daughter. I think I knew it all along, but as a single parent, you can’t help but worry. Everything you do, every step you make affects your child. You have to always keep them in mind. Bringing new people into their lives is—in some ways—like navigating a minefield. Tinny is the reason I haven’t allowed myself to have sex with Breaker. I know it’s coming. I get closer and closer to that step as the hours pass. I want him. I can’t keep fighting it.I don’t even want to.

“Okay,” I whisper, unable to stop the smile that lights up my face.He loves my daughter. Is there a chance that he could love me one day?

“Save whatever wicked thought you have in your mind right now, honey. Do you think you’d be willing to go to Kentucky with me?”

I nod yes. I don’t even have to think about it. I want to be with him. I want his family to see that he cares about me, and I care about him. I want them to know that whatever his past was, me and Tinny are his future. “When are you wanting to go? I can start clearing off my calendar at the clinic. Cooper and Iva will be here to check in on the place.”

“How about next week? I’d like to get it over with. I don’t like knowing I’m hurting people. Plus, I know I need to face this head on. I would have done it when I first found out, but honestly, I want you by my side. It’s probably not something I should admit. I’d rather you think of me as a man who will fight the world for you and not blink—and trust me, Indy, I will. I just need you in my corner when I face them. I need to know you’re there and you’ll support me and care regardless of what happens.”

“I do, you know?”

“Do what?”

“Care about you regardless, Breaker. I don’t care if you get your memories back or you don’t.”

“Honey—”

“It’s not important to me if you’re a badass biker, or a cuddly teddy bear who watches Frozen with my daughter and sings off-key with Elsa.”

“It’s not that off-key,” he grumbles.

I giggle. “Whatever you say, big fella’,” I joke. “The point is, I’ll be by your side regardless.”

“I’m going to hold you to that, Doc.”

“Do it. I dare you,” I whisper back, and then I get even braver. I kiss him, pouring all the emotions that I’m feeling, but not ready to name just yet.

But maybe soon …

Chapter 17

Breaker

“Bwaker?”

“Yeah, Kiddo?”

“I missed puzzle time with you today.”

Looking down at Tinny’s little, innocent face, my heart squeezes in my chest. It’s a reaction that I have often. It’s just that this little girl owns me. I’d do anything to keep that smile on her face. Then again, I’m the same way with her mother. These Shelton women know how to bring me to my knees and the trick is, they don’t even try.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I had to help Mommy, though. You still had fun with Uncle Cooper and Aunt Iva, didn’t you?”

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