Page 93 of Perfect Alpha

“Bullshit,” I interject. “There’sno wayyou do.”

“Ido,” Gavin insists.

“Okay, list them,” I challenge. “We have all night.”

“Seriously, what was her name?” Bobby asks, with a lazy grin. “She was gorgeous.”

“Savanna,” Victory replies with a sigh. “Irish accent and a total dime with a body that can make grown men cry?”

“Right,” Bobby replies with a grin. “I just call them all babe. Makes my life easier.”

“You guys are disgusting,” Victory mutters. “Did you even like her?”

“Likeher?” Bobby’s voice is laced with genuine surprise. “I have no idea. I didn’t really think about it, baby girl.”

“When are you heading back to the city?” Gavin asks, over Bobby’s raucous laughter.

“I don’t really know,” Victory answers. “My parents love having me home, and with my job, I can work from anywhere.”

And then she shocks the hell out of me.

“But I’m seriously considering getting my teaching certification like I always planned and moving back home.”

“Don’t teach high school,” Gavin pleads. “You’ll give those poor saps Mrs. Robinson fantasies.”

“I’d like to teach college,” Victory replies.

“Even worse,” Bobby says regretfully.

“What about being an agent?” I ask because this answer matters a hell of a lot to me.

Victory shrugs. “I could do it part-time, or maybe give it up completely. It was never my first choice career. Besides, I want to spend more time with the people I love. That’s all that matters in life, and I guess I had to learn the hard way.”

“And you’d live here again?” Bobby asks, saving me from shaking Victory and making her answer that exact question.

She shrugs again. “As my parents are getting older, it would be nice to be closer to them. Losing Hannah…” She pauses as her voice gets thick, lost in a memory. “It… To be honest, it ruined me and changed my perspective on almost everything, including work. Moving home is how I’m leaning, but I need to get my head on straight before I finalize any major decisions.”

The same sentiments roll through me. The only things that matter now are protecting Aidan and getting Victory back in my life for good. She’ll experience a whole new, determined side of me that is not giving up until she’s mine.

We stay in the hot tub until the wee hours of the morning, and the twins are a great distraction with their rambunctious, affable humor. When they get up to head home, Victory doesn’t make a move to do the same. I’m still hard as hell and appreciate her saving me.

“We’ll catch you guys later,” Bobby says.

“Night you two,” Gavin adds.

“Goddamnit’s cold,” Bobby complains. “You may want to just stay in there.”

“Great idea,” I reply, wrapping Victory tighter in my arms. “Now buzz off.”

“So ungrateful,” Gavin muses.

“The worst,” Bobby agrees.

They’re still chuckling to themselves when they leave, and Victory turns to smile at me. “You’re safe now.”

“Thanks, angel. And I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Cade,” she assures me. “You don’t stop being a guy, despite everything that’s happened. Your dick doesn’t know.”

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