Page 120 of Shadows of You

“Don’t even think about it,” I warned. “You’re only going to dig yourself a deeper hole. Pull your shit together and see if you can figure out how to be a decent human being.”

I felt a presence at my back, and Grae stepped up next to me. “She’s right. Think about your words real long and hard. I’ve picked up knife-throwing as a hobby and wouldn’t mind a new practice dummy.”

Katelyn snatched her purse off the bench and stood. “Come on, Heather. We need to leave. This park isn’t safe anymore.”

“Not for the likes of you,” Grae muttered.

I had to turn away. I worried if I kept watching Katelyn, I’d go after her and really break that perfect little nose. As I turned, I caught sight of Roan. I was expecting fury. Hurt even. Instead, I found his shoulders shaking as he laughed so hard that tears filled his eyes.

I gaped at him. “You’re laughing?”

He struggled to get composure. “You threatened to break her nose.”

“It only seems fair. You broke someone’s nose for me.”

Roan grinned, pulled me into his arms, and nuzzled my neck.

I breathed him in, letting his scent swirl around me. “I hate that people say this crap about you. Makes me livid when you’re the best person I’ve ever known.”

His arms tightened around me. “Tender Heart.” The nickname was a gruff utterance. “I don’t give a damn what they say. I give a damn whatyousay. And it seems like you’d go down into the fiery pits for me.”

I tipped my head back. “I’d follow you anywhere.”

“Please don’t make out right now,” Grae muttered. “I’m happy you two are together, but I don’t need to see that.”

Roan shot his sister a scowl.

Grae held up both hands. “Why don’t we take Cady and Charlie for a sleepover at our house?”

“You don’t have to do that,” I argued.

Caden wrapped an arm around Grae’s shoulders. “We’d be happy to.”

Grae sent him a soft smile. “Might be good practice.”

This time, Roan turned a gentle look on his sister. “Happy for you, G.”

“Don’t make me cry. My hormones are already going crazy,” Grae sniffed, smacking him. Then she turned to the playground. “Sleepover at my house!”

The kids cheered.

Roan brushed the hair out of my face. “Now what are we going to do with an entire house to ourselves?”

* * *

I pulledmy robe tighter around myself as I stepped out of the bathroom and listened. I’d expected Roan to be on me the second we walked through the door, but he wasn’t. He’d taken the dog out. Made me a cup of tea. So, finally, I’d taken a shower. Now, I didn’t see or hear him anywhere.

Maybe he’d gone out to the barn. I couldn’t deny the hint of disappointment that flickered to life. But I ignored it and headed into my bedroom.

I came up short when my bare feet hit the carpet. Roan stood by the window, shirtless, in nothing but low-slung uniform pants. I nearly swallowed my tongue.

Slowly, he turned, his gaze heating as he scanned my body.

I didn’t miss the opportunity to drink him in. The wide expanses of muscle, the lightly tanned skin, that dusting of hair that teased his chest and then disappeared in a thin trail beneath the band of his pants.

“All clean, Tender Heart?”

Roan’s voice was liquid smoke and had my toes curling into the carpet as I forced my eyes to his face. “Yes.”

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