Page 13 of Saving Shepperd

“Oooh, lucky girl.” Then I had no idea what came over me. Maybe I knew this guy could really be special—or maybe it was the bone-deep loneliness I was feeling before he sat down with me. I wasn’t normally one to willingly discuss feelings but said to the incredibly handsome guy with no preamble, “I’m really sorry about the other night.”

The moment the words came out, I wanted to rewind and handle the conversation differently. Namely, not have it at all. I liked Law’s playful nature. He made me laugh whenever we spoke or spent time together. Now that I opened the door that little crack, would he want to dissect every problem I had one by one? Would I have to go into detailed explanation of every fucked-up thing I’d experienced as a little girl?

He squeezed my hands a little tighter and surprised me by lifting them to his lips and kissing my knuckles.

“There’s no need to apologize. And one day”—he paused and met my transfixed stare—“when you feel like you trust me enough…”

I swallowed so hard it actually hurt.

“You can talk to me about what that was all about.”

Uninvited tears filled my eyes, and it pissed me off, honestly. I wasn’t a big crier, and that was the second time today that I was pulling a Hannah. Maybe my hormones were in overdrive preparing for a period. I hadn’t had one of those in almost a year since my body weight dipped to an all-time low. But some months, my hormones still went through the motions anyway.

“Babe?” Law said, and I realized I’d been just staring at him for longer than normal. “Okay?”

I dipped my chin and raised it in two quick, jerky motions, and that was good enough for him.

He squeezed my hands one last time and said in a much lighter tone, “Good. Now, finish up so we can go. I’m ready to get to it.”

He meant the gym, and I knew that, but a little naughty voice in the back of my mind was shouting that I’d like to get to other things with him instead. The smile that spread across my lips gave away the mental conversation I was entertaining, and he grinned too.

“Oh, we’ll get there too, baby,” he assured with a devilish smile.

This man was big trouble. Judging by the way he lit up parts of my body that no one else ever had, I was deeply concerned about how irrationally behaved I would be willing to be with him. Definitely wouldn’t be letting that slip out in a moment of weakness, though. I could barely handle his charm and charisma at their normal levels. If he knew he had me hooked, I’d be devoured whole.

Before I could answer his original question, the girl behind the counter shouted, “Sarah?” I stood to get the sandwich I ordered in a moment of weakness, and my companion was visibly confused. He put his hand out to stop me, probably thinking I heard her wrong, but that was the name I gave her when I’d ordered. Now I’d have to explain that weird little habit too.

These were just a few of the reasons I never had a long-term boyfriend. I had so many odd habits and rituals I went through in a day. Once I started spending more time with a person, they were exposed to them. I didn’t like feeling defensive or having to explain the reasons I did things. Truly, it wasn’t anyone’s business. I was on thewhatever it takes to get through the dayapproach to life. Most people didn’t realize it because, on the outside, I looked like I was pretty squared away. Or at least I thought I did.

At the counter, I thanked the girl for my order and carefully placed the food in my bag. I didn’t really want the BLT anymore and didn’t want to keep Law from his workout. I plastered on a fake smile and turned to where he was sitting only to turn right into his embrace.

Fuck this guy smelled good. Instinctually, I slid my arms around his waist and let him hug me for a moment. No harm in enjoying this feeling for a few beats. Over his shoulder, I could see the employee staring at us with envy and what could I say? I liked it.

That’s right, sister. This one picked me.

Now I just had to stop acting like a nut all the time so I wouldn’t scare him off.

ChapterFour

Law

The gym was quickly losing its appeal. Holding Shepperd in my arms felt so right. Such a perfect physical fit. I loved the way she felt so small and fragile, but I knew she was anything but. Also, there was the minor problem that we were blocking people from their food orders, and I didn’t miss the looks she already got when she walked up to the counter in the first place.

The woman was a head-turner. It was that simple. Even though her face was completely free of makeup, and her golden hair was piled in some messy nest on top of her head, she was every American boy’s wet dream. An image of the woman in a pair of short cut-offs, sexy cowboy boots, and a vest with nothing else made my dick swell. She was my perfect image of the girl next door.

With my arm around her waist, I tugged her out of the way before the hangry patrons turned feral.

“As much as I want to keep holding you, there are some restless people behind you,” I muttered beside her ear. At the same time, I was mentally celebrating that she didn’t shy away from the public display of affection. I was a hands-on kind of guy. Always had been. Physical touch was the most satisfying way to express how I felt about someone, and that was our first public go at it and it felt really good. It felt right.

I wanted to check with her, though, to be sure I didn’t overstep. “Thank you,” I said quietly as we headed toward the exit.

“You’re welcome?” she asked while smiling through the question. “For what, exactly?”

“It was presumptuous to just touch you like that in public. I’m grateful you didn’t mind it happening,” I explained with a grin.

She looked up at me for a long second and then treated me to the most beautiful, genuine smile. I’d seen the fake one she used as a weapon, and I’d seen the equally fake one she used as a shield. This smile was neither of those.

“No.” She shook her head slowly. “I didn’t mind that at all.” An unexpected giggle burst out of her as we left the shop. “I think the girl behind the counter just had kittens, though.”

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