Page 76 of What I Should Have Known

His expression darkened. “No. I’m serious. I get there’s the shit about your dad not liking guys in the military, but we can deal with that later. This is to keep you safe. If Wyatt gets even a hint that you’re not available for him, who knows what he’ll do. And you can’t be alone. At all.”

“Benjamin Phillips, absolutely not. I don’t need a damn babysitter.”

“Oooooh, she just used your full fucking name. You’re in trouble,” Ford mocked, and Bernie flipped him the middle finger without removing his gaze from mine.

“It’s so you—”

“I will be safe. Again, I don’t think you realize how capable I am of handling shit. I grew up with four brothers on a ranch, remember?” I protested.

“Fine.” He knotted his jaw for a moment. “But, even a hint of Wyatt turning aggressive or the moment you know that Sawyer’s told your parents, you call me immediately. Okay?”

I nodded slowly and scooted to the edge of the counter. With his palms against my waist, Bernie helped me slide down to my feet. Towering over me, he gently lifted his hat from my head. His green eyes remained locked with mine, something deeper whispering through them. A thread as strong as baling twine wrapped between us, intertwining our fates together.

“I’m glad I’m yours,” I whispered. His brows twitched, but he remained silent, his hands still draped against my hips. “I’ll always be yours.”

Wet lips pressed against my forehead. His kiss, gently locking onto my skin, danced a ghost of warning and desire through my body. “You’re it for me. No matter what happens,” he replied, barely audible, I almost missed his words.

There were mountains between us and actually having a lasting relationship. I knew that. He knew that. But despite it all, it seemed both of us were willing to waltz to the record of hope. Hope that one day, we wouldn’t have to fight the world to have an us.

His lips peeled away from my forehead, and he smiled down at me. “You better come tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll bring the family too,” I replied.

His hands disappeared from my waist, and I slowly wandered around his frame, shooting a smile at Ford. He winked as I disappeared out of the house.

Chapter 25

KAT

Ihummed to myself, plopping down on my bed, and crashed against my back. The ceiling fan slowly whirred above me. Each blissful moment shared with Bernie drummed steadily in my head, igniting my body with every remembered touch of his. Sliding my finger slowly up my arm, tracing where his fingers had once danced across caused goosebumps to erupt upon my skin.

As giddy as if I’d just had my first kiss, there was nothing that could explode this bubble of bliss I now floated in.

“Kat,” my mom’s voice seared through the air.

Except maybe that.

Not that I was upset to see her, just annoyed that I wasn’t afforded at least one more second lost in the world of Bernie and his sweat mixing with mine.

Pushing myself upright, I glanced at my bedroom door as the handle spun and my mom entered. “Kat, what tookyou so long to come home?” She immediately stopped talking and strode across the room. Turning her nose to the air, she sniffed, inching her way closer and closer like a hound dog on a scent.

Leaning across the bed, she narrowed her eyes and inhaled deeply with her face nearly pressed into my neck. “Who was at Emma’s house with you, Kat?” she asked, her voice turning cold as stone.

I clacked my teeth together, remaining silent.

Stomping across my room, she shoved the door closed with a thud. “I won’t ask again, who was at Emma’s house with you?”

Keeping my mouth shut, I inhaled deeply and tracked her as she marched back to my cedar chest and plopped herself down on the sunflower blanket. “Kat, unless you and Emma are…are more than friends, I know someone else was there with you.”

“Excuse me?” My mouth fell open. “I like guys, Mom.”

“Okay. So, who was there? Because you smell like sex.”

My blood ran cold. Shivers danced across my skin. “Wh-What?”

She inhaled deeply, the anger turning her face red slithered away with the blast of oxygen. “You’re an adult and can do what you want. But Wyatt wasn’t at Emma’s. He’s been here working, so why do you smell like sex?” she softly asked.

With a shrug, I wrapped an arm around my body and glanced toward the wall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whispered.

---