Page 100 of Must Have Been Love

“No problem. It was a pleasure to meet you, Skyler. I hope to see a lot more of you.”

This time when I shake his hand there’s no dizziness at all. “Likewise,” I tell him.

And after his secretary gave me all the info I need for my blood draw, I walk outside, smiling as I feel the warmth of the sun bathing my face.

Good things are happening. I can feel it.

Maybe this is what it’s like to finally grow up.

twenty-nine

HUDSON

I stride into The Salty Dog and look around, my jaw tight because it’s been a long day and I’m exhausted as hell.

As soon as I set my eyes on her behind the bar, laughing at something Jesse’s said, I let out a long breath. Like she can sense my need for her, she slowly turns her head in my direction and our eyes connect.

I want to lift her over my shoulder like a damn caveman and get us the hell out of here. To somewhere without people or expectations.

“Hi,” she breathes as I reach the bar.

“Hey.” I lift the counter up, ignoring the raised eyebrows of a few locals as I make myself at home.

Not that I care. We agreed that we’d tell Ayda about us, and I’ve already started doing that with the blessing from Dr. Methi. And of course the word has spread that we’re seeing each other. I know she’s told Jesse and I’ve spoken to Autumn and Parker – who already knew.

But nobody else in this town is owed any explanation. I just want to hold my fucking girl.

So I do. I pull her into my arms and drop my face into her hair, breathing her in like she’s more important than oxygen. Like she can sense my need, she tangles her fingers into my hair, scraping the line where it meets my neck.

“Ahem.”

I look up to see Jesse staring at me.

“Don’t fucking start,” I say to him. If I want to hold her I will.

“Somebody’s grumpy,” Skyler murmurs. “What’s up?”

“Hey, before you say anything else, as Skyler’s brother I feel the need to lay down some ground rules,” Jesse insists. All the people sitting at the bar turn to watch us.

I let out a long breath and look at Skyler for help. I don’t want to do this now. How can I make it any more obvious?

“Don’t look at me like that, I had to deal with your sister,” she says. “You can deal with my brother.”

I take her in with needy eyes. She’s wearing a denim skirt and a patterned shirt, tied at the waist to reveal her taut stomach and a hint of her tattoo. Her hair is in a high ponytail and she’s got a slick of lip gloss on and nothing else.

And then I look at Jesse, who has the same stubbornness to his jaw as she does.

“If you hear me out,” Jesse says, looking amused at my annoyance, “you can take her out for the night. I’ll close up.”

“Then do it.” Because as soon as he closes his mouth I’m dragging her out of here and to my car. I don’t care where we go. To the hotel, to the cottages, hell I’ll be content to sit with her in the car and watch the moon together. I just need to be where people are not.

“Okay.” He nods, looking suddenly uncertain. Skyler looks from me to him and then back to me again, her eyes beseeching. I give her the smallest of nods.

I won’t hurt your damn brother.

“Okay,” Jesse says, jutting his jaw out. “In the absence of Wayne, I’m the closest thing Skyler has to a father.”

“You’re two years younger than her,” I snap.

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