Page 64 of Verses

“I’ll drag the goddamned band with me, whether they like it or not. Do or die.”

Until Wolf touched my cheek, I didn’t realize how erratic my breathing had become. But in his eyes, I could see his belief, his faith—and it meant more than any praise or money he could have given me. “If anybody can do it, it’s you. And we’re lucky to have you.”

Again, my breath was gone, blown away by not only how well this guy got me but also by his confidence in me. Unlike how Kyle and I tore each other down all the time, this man built me up, brick by brick…word by word. Although his hand no longer touched my cheek, I could still feel his warmth, the vibration of his soul against my skin—and we were closer now somehow.

I wanted to say to him all the words I couldn’t form. This time, I brought my hand to his face, cupping his soft beard in my hand, gazing into his eyes. “Thank you,” I managed to say, but my eyes drifted to those lips framed by beard before returning to the emerald gems in his face looking back at me. Bringing my face closer to his, I parted my lips in anticipation of what was to come.

But he touched his forehead to mine. “Little bird…I care about you too much to let you walk down this path.”

“What do you mean?”

Again, he stroked my cheek, but this time it felt like his touch burned my skin. “I mean I know what you’re thinking—but there are a thousand reasons to not go there.”

Yes, I knew what he was saying, but my heart didn’t want to hear it.

Still…I had no defense against him.

“There’s the age difference, but that’s not my biggest concern. There’s also the health of the band. How do you think Kyle would feel if we started dating?”

My knee-jerk reaction wasn’t necessarily true. “Like he would give a shit.”

“I think he would far more than you give him credit for. But even that’s not the worst of it. Songbird, I know you think you know me, but you don’t. I’m a bad man and a worse partner. I care about you far too much to subject you to me.”

“That’s not true, Wolf. You’re a good man. I know that better than I know anything—and I’ve known some evil men in my life.”

His eyes searched mine again and he cupped my cheek. “I believe you have—and I don’t want to be one of them. I try every day to be a better man, because I can’t change my past. But I can’t be the man you want me to be—or the man you think I am. And you are far too precious to me to let me happen to you.”

I didn’t care what he said. I knew with every fiber of my being that his heart was good, no matter what he seemed to think. I’d witnessed it far too many times.

Touching my nose to his, I said, “People change, Wolf. And you are not the man you were. You’re not the man you think you are.”

The way his eyes searched mine told me he wanted to believe—and he was so close. All I had to do was seal it with a kiss. My eyes half closed as I turned my head to touch his lips, so near to mine. I could feel his breath against my skin.

But then he pulled back, almost like I’d burned him. “No, Hayley, we can’t do this.”

My throat constricted as emotion welled in my chest—but I refused to cry. I shook my head before looking around for my coat. Ah, but I hadn’t worn a coat. I’d put on a jacket earlier that day before it had grown colder outside.

No matter. I couldn’t say there. Not now.

“Then I guess I’ll go,” I said, picking up my jacket and putting it on.

“No, not like this. And I promised to give you a ride.”

“I can walk.”

“No. It’s too far and too cold. Don’t be stubborn, bird.”

“I don’t care.” With that, I started walking toward the front door.

“Hayley,” he said, his voice firm, embodying a quality that made me freeze in my tracks. But I refused to turn around to look at him. His boots clomped across the tile but I kept my focus on the door. When he wrapped his arms around me from behind, I felt a glimmer of hope.

Until he spoke.

“Please don’t let this ruin our friendship.”

I lowered my head and put my hands on his, hoping it communicated to him that, no matter how I felt right now, I’d get over it.

Maybe.

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