Page 64 of Your Soul to Keep

I fought to keep my breathing slow and even, my body relaxed as I waited for his answer.

“Once. I met a woman shortly after I dropped out of college.”

I jolted.

His hand splayed across my back, pushing me closer. “You can’t be surprised there have been other women?”

I winced. “No, but I am surprised you dropped out of college.”

He tensed beneath me. “Why?”

“Because you were always the smartest in the room.”

His lips moved in my hair once more. “Not book smart, baby. Never book smart.”

“Tell me the rest?”

“We got along reasonably well. Wanted the same things out of life. Compatible in bed.”

I gritted my teeth as his palm flattened against my back. “I’m not trying to hurt you, just giving you the full picture.”

“Okay,” I answered, regret for asking warring with the insane need to know.

“It turned out she wanted more than I had to offer.”

“Like what?”

“I wanted to be a fire fighter. Really, it’s all I ever wanted to be.”

“I remember. Your dad wanted more for you.”

“Still does.”

“Still?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay. I get it now. Anyway, her dad owns his own company. Imports or some shit like that.

“She grew up on an estate, guard dog outside, designer dog inside. She wanted me to work with her dad, even talked to him and got me a new job all wrapped up and tied with a big shiny fucking bow.

“I didn’t even know she wanted that until it was a done deal.

“It would have given us more money, more stuff, more bills, and less time. I wasn’t down for that. She knew I had no patience for all that fluff but had some idea I’d come around.

“I didn’t. She left.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.” He hugged me closer. “I wouldn’t be here with you otherwise. The truth is it took me all of ten minutes to get over it. My mom threw a party.”

I laughed. That sounded like Maeve. “I barely got a chance to talk to your mom. How are your parents?”

His lips hit my hair once again. “Drop over and find out for yourself. They can’t wait to see you.”

I stiffened. “What did you tell them about us?”

Are we an ‘us’?For how long?

“That we’re serious.” He sighed and turned into me. Pressing his forehead to mine, he ordered, “Stop thinking so loud. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

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