Page 108 of Sugar and Skulls

“Not here I haven’t.” He finishes cleaning his area, having just finished with a client.

He drops his large frame down in my chair. “You’ve got a client coming in about thirty,” he tells me.

I take a seat on my stool and wheel myself close to him. I rest my elbows on his long legs, batting my eyelashes at him. He bops me on the nose. “I’m glad you’re back, doll.”

“Me too.”

“So, we haven’t had a chance to talk.”

“About?”

“You and Dirk.”

I sigh and push away from him. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Bill. Dirk didn’t take advantage of me. I love him.”

“He’s sixteen years older than you, Jesse.”

“Believe it or not they taught me math in school.”

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t kill him.”

“You’re worse than my dad. What the fuck, Dan? He’s your cousin.”

“And you,” he sticks a meaty finger in my face, “are like a daughter to me.”

I take a deep breath. Dan is just being protective of me. I know this. He loves his cousin, same as he loves me, but the difference is he feels responsible for my well-being.

“Dan, I love you.” He blushes and turns his face away from me. “You’re one of the best things to ever happen to me. You gave my art life. You gave a young, scared girl a place to feel safe. Most importantly you gave me a love I hadn’t felt since my grandparents had passed.”

He finally faces me, his cheeks still bright red over his dark, bushy beard.

“I know what it’s like to be taken advantage of, Dan.” I drop my head to stare at my hands in my lap. “I know what it’s like to have a man take what he wants despite how I felt about it.”

“Jesse,” Dan groans. “I didn’t mean…”

“I know what you meant. I know why you and Bill both have concerns. You’re going to have to trust me. I know the difference. I’m not a normal eighteen-year-old girl. I’ve experienced things I shouldn’t have had to, at far too young of age. I get it…I do. I love you for wanting to protect me, but Dirk is not a threat. Dirk showed me what love should look like between a man and woman. He’s showed me how intimacy should feel.”

Dan’s face heats again but this time he doesn’t look away. He studies me a long time before speaking. “He may be my cousin, but he’s a straight up jerk, Jesse.”

“Oh, Dan, you’re all jerks but I love you all anyway. Guess I have a thing for jerks.” I bite my lip waiting for his response.

“Fine.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “You have my blessing.”

I stand up and wrap my arms around him. “I love you, big guy.”

“I love you too.” When I release him, he wipes his eyes on the bottom of his shirt. “If you ever tell anyone you saw me cry, I’ll whoop your ass, little girl.”

Giggling I back away from him to get ready for the client coming in.

“I’m taking off for the day. I don’t have anything else scheduled. Lock up after you finish.”

I give him the thumbs up. He kisses me on the forehead before throwing his leather jacket on and taking off.

My mind wanders as I busy myself. I’m so incredibly happy. Raffe and Rachel may have took Dirk by surprise, but I saw it coming. When Raffe looks at her it’s like nothing else exists in the world. I’ve also noticed the heated glances she throws his way. Especially when they are working in the garage together. It was only a matter of time before one of them acted on their feelings.

The door dings my client’s arrival.

“I’ll be right with you,” I holler over my shoulder.

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