Page 96 of Desperate Needs

Imagining a life without her was impossible now. And I wasn’t the kind of man to walk away from a treasure like her.

This Christmas I was getting what I wanted, naughty or nice. And so was my sassy little firefly. And I meant that.

She could have whatever she wanted. Whatever she needed. As long as she said yes.

Hell, there was nothing my sweet Darlin’ could ask for that I wouldn’t get her.

I’d do anything to secure her as mine.

“Hey, Connor,” Balor said.

“Yeah?”

“You have a Merry Christmas, cuz.”

“You, too.,” I said, then I remembered the whole Andrew thing that had caused this mess, and I closed my fist, throwing a left hook to his jaw.

“Fuck!”

“I owed you one,” I said, and braced myself for his counterattack.

His body was taut, but just as quickly as his anger came, it left. He shook his head and blinked his mismatched eyes.

“You’re a crazy fuck. But I did deserve that.”

I nodded and grinned, walking away at an even brisker pace.

I had no more time for fucking around with him. There were more important things for me to tend to.

Like getting my ass to one of Josef Aziz’s houses in upstate New York before the holiday traffic thwarted me.

I started the engine and checked the glove compartment, removing the black velvet box and sliding it into my pocket, feeling a little like a naughty Saint Nick.

I knew Clementine liked splashes of color, so even though I wore black on black, I had another pair of Cole Haan shoes on my feet. These were dark red suede with bright white soles.

I couldn’t wait to see her face when she saw them.

Here I come, Darlin’, ho ho ho.

Chapter 42-Clementine

While I was lost in my fantasies of a certain sexy stud muffin, I failed to notice the car had stopped.

“Clem!”

“What? Why are we stopped?” I asked, looking at Jade, Shelly, and Coral who were all just laughing at me.

“Cause we need gas, and I have to pee, you scatterbrain! What were you even thinking about?” Coral asked.

My cheeks burned, but I just rolled my eyes. They didn’t need to know where my thoughts had been.

“Shut up, nosy. Come on, I’ll walk you to the ladies’ room while Shelly and Jade get the gas.”

“Ooh, get me some gum, will you?” Jade asked.

“No way. No gum for her, Clem, I’m serious. This brat left her chewed gum in my cup holder last time.”

“Oh my God! One time,” Jade defended herself.

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