Page 119 of Until It Was Real

“Extremely well? Are you saying I’m not worth it?”

“You’re determined to fight me today.”

I throw my arms in the air. “Of course, I am. You paid off my debt without my permission.”

He stalks toward me. I try to hold my ground but I fail and end up retreating until my back hits the wall. He slams his hands next to my head.

“I want you to live with me.”

“I know.” He’s told me often enough.

“But you refuse to move out of this ratty old motel suite as long as you’re working the night shift here.”

“The suite is part of my compensation. If I move out, Sadie can’t afford to keep me on. And I can’t lose this job.”

“Your debt is paid. You don’t need this job anymore.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “I didn’t ask you to save me.”

“Havoc, you don’t have to ask. Anything you need, I’ll bleed to give you.”

My body melts at his words. But I refuse to give in. I can’t. He doesn’t know everything.

“I want to give you a home, a family.”

“You’ve given me a family,” I whisper.

The Raider family has embraced me with open arms. They message and call, and pester me constantly. Rhett thinks they’re cockblockers. I think they’re wonderful.

He cups my face. “Let me give you a home, Havoc. Please.”

I wish he could give me a home, but I’m afraid he won’t want a home with me when he knows.

“I’ll get you a pet. But not an otter.” He shivers. “Otters freak me out.”

I giggle. “Viking is adorable.”

“She scurries on the floor.” He smiles down at me and those blue eyes sparkle with warmth. “Move in with me and we’ll get a dog.”

The temptation is nearly too much to resist. I love dogs. I love him. I glance away before I give in to those pleading, piercing blue eyes.

“There’s another problem,” I mutter.

“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it together.”

I nearly smile. How Rhett has changed his tune over the past weeks. He’s gone from jumping to accuse me of keeping secrets to being ready to slay my dragons for me. And with all of his intensity focused on me, it’s hard to resist him.

“We haven’t discussed children.” I whisper the words, hoping he won’t hear me, but he does.

“I’ve been waiting for you to bring up this topic.”

I scowl at him. I’ve been terrified to bring up the topic. Scared he’d leave me when he finds out the truth. And here he’s been waiting for me to bring it up!

“You have? Why didn’t you bring it up?”

“I didn’t want to push you.”

I lift a brow. “Didn’t want to push me? But you’ll pay my debts?”

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