Page 76 of Beautiful Beast

“Even he might not have enough money,” Belle muses.

Briggs drops to his knees to try and pet Buster, who immediately backs away and hides behind Belle. She passes Briggs a treat from her purse and he uses it to cajole Buster, who is rather hesitant with new people.

Except for me. We’re buddies, even though he’s a complete traitor and hasn’t even said hello to me yet, wagging his snub tail so hard over the cookie that his whole body is vibrating.

“Do you want to join us for some drinks?” Belle asks.

I glare at Briggs so hard that he chuckles. “Adam just threatened to kill me if I do. So, I’ll let you guys hang out, but hopefully, we can all hang out another time.”

“You never mentioned if you have a girlfriend,” Belle says.

Now I’m directing my glare at her.

She rolls her eyes. “Not for me, though your friend is rather dreamy.”

“He’s far from dreamy,” I reply. “More like a nightmare. Trust me.”

“I’m single and ready to mingle,” Briggs says.

“I have a friend who I can invite as well.”

“Great because I was about to ask if you have a sister,” Briggs says with a wink. “We’ll get everyone together here.”

Considering I’m in recluse mode, I don’t know how a dinner party just got planned at my place, but apparently, I’m losing all control of my life.

“I’ll rent out a private space in a restaurant,” I suggest.

A dark restaurant.

“But then Buster can’t come,” Belle complains.

“He’ll be fine hanging out here on the couch. And now Briggs is heading home to his couch.”

When we’re finally alone, Belle steps into my arms. Having her body pressed against mine in the calming silence of the apartment is the sweetest relief.

It’s going to be so hard to let her go, but the time will eventually come when she settles down with a nice guy in the suburbs.

Probably a minivan-driving accountant.

“I wanted to say something that I didn’t get the chance to before you freaked out and made me leave last time,” Belle says.

“I didn’t freak out.”

“You did. Anyway. The little girl… She might have been talking about all the tattoos. They could be scary to little ones who haven’t seen them before.”

We both know tattoos aren’t why the girl called me a monster.

“She would have said I looked like an escaped prisoner or something then,” I say.

“Who knows what kids are thinking or why they say things?” Belle asks. “But I just want to reinforce that you’re sexy AF, and you really don’t need to hide from me every time you’re feeling extra vulnerable.”

She’s trying to make me feel better, and I appreciate the effort. But I won’t feel better until I look like myself again, or at least as close as possible to myself.

And Briggs doesn’t even think that will be enough.

Without waiting for me to respond, Belle lifts to her tiptoes and presses her mouth to mine. She’s as tentative as I am eager, probably wondering if I’m mentally ready to take this step with her. Physically, there’s no question.

It’s been a wreck-me month, but there isn’t anything that sounds better than losing myself inside her. And I am very tired of waiting.

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