Page 50 of Forbidden Confessions: Vol. 2
Lucky bastard.
“I’m hoping you’ll forgive me if I ax the small talk. I need help.”
I hear sounds that suggest he’s kissing his wife, and it’s a long moment before he answers. “Sure. Tell me what’s up.”
After glancing down the hall to make sure Vanessa isn’t coming my way, I sigh. “I’m in deep with my boss’s daughter. If I touch her, he’ll kill me, and I don’t mean that figuratively.”
“Wow. Okay. Give me a second, honey.”
“Sure,” I hear Sophie murmur, then the sheets rustle.
Normally, I’d tease my brother about constantly fucking his wife, but good for him. And I don’t have time now.
“So…if you take her to bed, you’ll get fired?” Rand asks.
“That’s a given. But I don’t care. And that’s not my problem.”
“So he’ll kill you. Are you capable of beating him?”
I have to think about that. “Physically, yeah. But he has twenty years on me in this dirty fucking business. He has tricks I’ve never thought of, and he’s got the kind of patience it takes to wait until, one day, years later, he whacks me in a dark alley with a knife in my gut.”
“Damn. How Vanessa this girl are you?”
“Hopelessly. What did you do, bro? At some point, you knew getting seriously involved with Sophie would lead to an epically public reveal that would destroy your privacy forever. It wasn’t a gun to your head, like my situation, but it was still a shit show that changed everything. How did you…” I’m not even sure what words I need to finish that question.
“Decide she was worth it, despite everything? You come to that point, man. Vanessa means enough to you or she doesn’t. I’m sure her father just wants what’s best for her, to make sure she’s treated well and is always taken care of.”
“He’s never said, but I’d worship her.”
“You would.”
“I’m dying to. But the job…”
“You might have to rethink that.”
“Done. If it means having Vanessa, I’ll find something else.”
“So you’ll have to convince her father.”
It’s not that simple. “Rand, he knows what I’m capable of. He’s seen me in action. Hell, he’s taught me most of what I know. I doubt he’ll ever think I’m good enough for her.”
“You don’t know that.”
“He’s warned me away before. More than once.”
“All you can do is plead your case, stand your ground, and be willing to put a ring on her finger.”
I would, but… “I don’t know if she’s ready.”
“Why not?”
I sigh. “She’s only twenty-one.”
“So? It’s not like you’re an old man.”
“But I’m older by more than a couple of years.”
“So what? How does she feel about you?”
