Page 92 of S.O.S. Billboard

Even though Del and the team generally knew about the things he’d done in his past and how they bothered him, only Mizzay was privy to some of the depths of Billboard’s secrets,andhis coping mechanism. She often ran interference for him when he needed solitude, for which he was grateful.

They pulled into Billboard’s driveway far too soon, and walking inside almost felt like a death-march. He knew it was time to lay everything on the line with O’Shea, but now that he’d decided he wanted her in his life, he was scared. What if she was horrified at who he’d been; what he’d done?

It was the same old litany that played over and over inside his head; especially whenever he thought of a nebulous futurethat might include a wife and kids. Those insecurities had only ramped up with the advent of O’Shea.

“Listen, Billboard. Don’t sweat this.” O’Shea told him as she deposited her small duffel on his couch. “Just because my baggage came out and was on display tonight, doesn’t mean yours has to, as well.”

“No,” he responded adamantly. “I want you to hear it all, O’Shea. So you canbewith me. For good. Do you understand?”

“I’m starting to get the picture,” she answered pointedly. “But aren’t you jumping the gun a little? You want me to move in, but you haven’t exactly come out and declared your love or anything.”

Billboard swallowed; words tumbling from his mouth. “I’ve been holding it back, O’Shea, but believe me, it’s been threatening to come out.”

Her mouth dropped open, and Billboard was shocked at what he’d just admitted.

But he had to be honest with himself.

That “I love you”hadbeen reverberating around in his brain. He just hadn’t fully acknowledged it until this very moment.

Billboard figured he should be scared shitless. After all, he’d never told a woman he loved her before. But when he analyzed his feelings, he realized he suddenly wanted to shout his love to the moon.

First, however…

He manned up. “All I’m asking is for you to listen to exactly what you’re getting into,” Billboard warned, “beforeI make any pronouncements that might blindside you and guilt you into ignoring who I really am.”

“Wrong assumption, Billboard,” she rebutted. “I knowexactlywho you are.”

Billboard wasn’t budging on this one, and crossed his arms over his chest.

O’Shea studied his face for a long minute, then came to a conclusion. “Okay. If this is what you need, I’ll listen. But it’s not changing my mind,andI want us to be cuddled up in bed while you talk. I think we’ll both need the physical connection.”

“Deal,” he agreed, but as he turned away, it felt like a monster the size of Godzilla was sitting on his chest.

They both brushed their teeth; Billboard upstairs in the guest suite, O’Shea in the primary. Then seven minutes later he walked into his room. O’Shea was already in his bed, under the covers. And…was she naked?

He gaped. “I, uh, might feel more comfortable if you had something on,” Billboard advised her, his tongue thick in his mouth.

O’Shea whipped back the covers to reveal miles of gorgeous, bare skin. “Well,I’llfeel more at ease if you take yours off,” she retorted.

Billboard groaned, but his fingers were on his zipper, and somehow, he’d already lost his T-shirt.Damn.

“This doesn’t mean we’re making love, O’Shea.” He said the words out loud so he’d have the strength to resist her pull.

“Okay,” she agreed. “Not right away, at least. Butafteryou’ve said your piece and I’ve assured you that nothing you’ve revealed is a deal-breaker, I’ll be jumping your bones.”

Billboard swallowed hard. He could live with that.

He shed his clothes and slipped into bed beside O’Shea where she snuggled up to him, causing his cock to stiffen.

Fuck.

Billboard snorted to himself.

Who knew that in times of deep stress, his damned penis would be capable of independent thinking.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“I hurt people,” Billboard spewed, almost before they’d had a chance to settle.

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