Page 33 of Cupid Loves Curves

“Jessica doesn’t need a project, Luke. She needs stability, someone who will love and honor her.”

“If she gives me a second chance, that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” I argue, and I mean it with every fiber of my being. “I’ve been working on getting my shit together. I even got a therapist through Warrior Cares.”

Jake stares at me for a long minute, then nods slowly. “The most important question is this: what does Jessica think?”

I rub my hand along my jaw and exhale slowly. “I’m not sure yet. The spark is still there.” I explain about the whole matchmaking affair, which makes Jake roar with laughter.

“Sweet mercy. She didn’t tell me she was doing that.”

I chuckle, grateful the conflict between us is easing. “Well, she probably didn’t want her older brother laughing in her face about it.”

“Man, that’s part of the charter of being an older brother!” he rubs a hand over his face. “Back to the matter at hand. If she wants you and goes into everything with open eyes, I won’t stand in your way. But if you hurt her again… I’ve got a shovel in my trunk.”

“Understood,” I nod. “I’m not going to fuck things up.”

“Good. Now prove it.”

The hammer fallsfrom my hand, landing with a dull thud against the unfinished pine floor of the new safe house. Waylon’s laughter is a deep rumble that fills the space between us and carries an edge of knowing mischief.

“Boy, Jake’s gonna have your hide if he finds out you’re sniffing around his sister,” he teases, reaching over to pick up the fallen tool.

I can’t help but crack a grin, even as I shake my head at him. “Jake doesn’t own her, Waylon. Besides, Jessica’s a grown woman. And I already talked to him.”

Waylon raises an eyebrow and gives me a long look. “Fair enough,” he says, handing me back the hammer. “Doesn’t mean he won’t try to string you up by your toes just for kicks.”

“Let him try,” I retort, though I know well enough to take Jake’s threat as a promise. I take the hammer.

“You sure you’re ready for this?”

“More than ready.” The moment I say the words, I know they’re the absolute truth. It’s no secret that I’ve been messed up sincecoming home, but if I want something more than ghosts and demons for company when I’m alone, I need to do something about it. Seeing Jessica again reminded me of what was possible, of how good life could be.

Ain’t no way in hell I’m fucking things up again with her. I’m going to make Jessica mine for eternity.

“Good,” Waylon says, watching me closely. “You don’t talk about her much, but you obviously had something special.”

I nod. “I wasn’t in a good place then. You know that.”

“It sounds like you’ve got your head on straight about this.”

“I hope so,” I admit. I know it’s not going to be easy.

“Anyway,” Waylon says, grabbing another plank. “Thanks for helping the other night. I know you were on your date. Harley wasn’t scheduled to bring anyone to the safe house, but…”

“Yeah, I know. You can’t always predict when someone will need protection. If things get serious with Jessica—”

“When,” corrects Waylon.

“When.” I smile. “I know we’ll be able to trust her with all this.”

“Of course. She’s practically family already,” Waylon says. He’s worked closely with Jake and the others at Ghost Security, setting up digital surveillance around the safe houses and the rental properties. “Have you talked to her yet?”

I think about Jessica and how perfect the unexpected date was. The kiss we shared has been on constant replay in my mind, especially at night or when I’m in the shower. Our connection was still there, unable to be ignored. “I will. Soon.”

Not a moment goes by when Jessica doesn’t work her way into my thoughts. I know I’ll have to prove myself to her, and it’s something I’m going the distance on.

I’ll prove to Jessica I’m a better man than I was and that I’m the only man for her now.

CHAPTER 7

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