Page 34 of Fixing to Be Mine

His brow lifts. “You’re a tiger.”

“If you only knew.”

“Actually, after that little show you put on this morning, I think I’ve got a pretty good idea. Now, how about some breakfast? I’m in the mood for some corned beef hash,” he says, and I know a subject change when I hear one.

“What’s that?”

“A Southern delicacy,” he says, grabbing a cast iron skillet from the cabinet and a carton of eggs from the fridge. “I’ll make you some. If you hate it, I’ll cook something else.”

I watch him work, taking in the way he moves like this space is his kingdom—barefoot, half dressed, ridiculously attractive. My fingers drift to the cover of the journal he gave me. My thumb traces the edge of it.

He looks back at me. “Go ahead. I know you want to ask me a million questions right about now. I can handle it.”

I hesitate, but he’s right. I do have a lot of questions. “Was she really the love of your life?”

“At one point, I would’ve said yes, but I now realize our relationship was built on lies, so I don’t feel like it counts,” he says as the pan sizzles. “We dated for three years, and I thoughtI’d marry her. Luckily, I figured out she was dishonest before she had the chance to ruin my life. Some things you can’t ever come back from, no matter how pretty you are. Once my trust is broken, it’s never the same.”

“I understand that.” Guilt washes over me because I’ve said certain things to protect myself.

He turns back to the skillet. “I don’t have feelings for her and would never ever, ever get back together with her. I told myself I wouldn’t date again unless certain criteria were met.”

Now my curiosity is piqued. “Like?”

“I have to feel the spark. You know that underlying current that drives you insane?”

I nod, knowing what he’s referring to. “The one that puts you in a complete choke hold?”

“That’s the one,” he admits, his voice rough and sexy. “There has to be a mutual attraction. No one-sided bullshit. I can’t do that again. Sex drives must match. I’m not looking for a fling when I want forever.”

My brows lift. “And what’s your number one nonnegotiable?”

“If I’m in a relationship with someone, I don’t do guessing games. I need someone emotionally available. I don’t need polished or perfect. I want something real, someone I can spend forever with. What about you?”

“I want the same things,” I whisper. “I need freedom to say what I mean without being gaslit, guilted, or minimized for it. I need a partner who can commit.”

He smirks. “Sounds like I’m your man.”

“Oh, you’d better stop,” I tell him.

“I’ve learned that some men are highly intimidated by strong women. Not me. I’m secure and encourage boss bitches.”

I take a sip of coffee, and the warmth spreads through me. “There are times I feel like I’m too much and other times whenI’m not enough. It’s a very hard place to be in,” I admit for the first time in my life.

“I think you’re perfect the way you are,” he says.

“You don’t have to say that.”

He moves toward me. I stand in front of him, and he places his hands on my shoulders, staring into my eyes.

“Be yourself while you’re here. Your true self. The one you hide from everyone else.”

His thumb brushes against my lower lip, and I’m lost in the morning haze with him.

“What are you doing to me?” I ask, scared I’ll lose myself in his spell.

“It’s you, not me,” he says with a grin, then focuses on the sizzling skillet.

I let out a ragged breath and return to my seat, glancing at the journal. I could fill it full of everything in my head right now.

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