Page 78 of Fierce-Hyde

“Don’t go there,” he said. “You’re beautiful not just on the outside but on the inside. There is more to you and anyone else than looks. I’ve outgrown that. I’ve matured. I don’t need to say that again, do I? Every woman I was in a relationship with wasn’t anything like the women I had fun with.”

More things to process. “Okay,” she said. “But there is also the fact that you have a lot more experience than me. You’re more outgoing too.”

“I call bullcrap on the outgoing part. You’re very outgoing.”

“For my job,” she said. “But in my personal life, not really. I rarely put much time into my personal life. I spend most of my time on my career, friends, or family.”

“Then it’s time to put you first and maybe us together,” he said.

“But not putting you first?” she asked.

“I don’t think anyone should put another first all the time. It’s unrealistic and puts too much pressure and stress on everyone. Focus on yourself and then the rest follows. I can say that now because it’s what I’ve done for the past half a year or so. I’ve had some missteps, but I feel like everything else is falling into place.”

He calmed her irrational emotions and thoughts when he talked like that.

If they didn’t have the past they did, she’d think he was the perfect match for her.

“I’ll do that,” she said.

“Good,” he said. “Back to the Fierces. I told Ryder about us dating. I mean I told my mother, so Ryder should know too. You’ve told Raina.”

“True,” she said.

“Drake and Jade were listening outside of Ryder’s door, so they know.”

“Everyone in that building is so sneaky,” she said. “I’ve heard it from Raina.”

“Which brings me back to letting the Fierces, Ryder’s father and uncle, know we are dating. Ryder said not to. Drake, Jade, and Raina said yes.”

“You asked Raina?”

She couldn’t believe her best friend didn’t give her a heads up.

Hmm, something to think about there.

“I did,” he said. “She gave the best advice.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“To follow my gut and talk to you about it. Which I planned on doing anyway.”

“Thanks for that,” she said. “What do you think?”

“First off, do you care if they know?”

“I don’t care if anyone knows,” she said. “Secrets aren’t healthy. There is nothing to hide, is there?”

“No,” he said. “I agree one hundred percent. But I’m not going to just announce it. If it comes up, then I’ll just comment as if everyone knew but them. Jade’s idea.”

“Works for me,” she said.

He’d cleaned his plate and went for a second helping. Guess it came out better than she thought.

“This is awesome,” he said. “I’m trying not to drop any on my shirt.”

“I’ll just clean it up for you if you do. You know, you’d have to take it off for me to do that.”

“It makes me want to smear food on it now with the look in your eyes.”

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