Page 104 of Love Me Forever

"Are you fucking threatening me?"

"No, I just want money. You have lots of it, and you can give me some. Bonnie doesn't even have to know."

I looked her straight in the eyes. "You don't want to take that route with me. You don’t come here into my office, talk shit about Bonnie, and threaten me."

"I can do whatever I want."

I stepped closer. Her eyes widened a bit, and she took a step back. I wanted her to have no doubt that I would protect Bonnie no matter what. Even from her own flesh and blood if need be.

"You have never cared about your daughter. You've never given her stability, or affection, or any support in life. And even so, she still wants to help you."

"She's not helping me. She never gives me money."

"She knows you'd gamble it all away."

She stumbled back. "She told you about that?"

"Yes, everything. I know every damn thing, so here's what we’ll do. You're going to get the hell out of my hotel. You will not pester Bonnie anymore about money, and you will never,evertalk shit to her. Do you understand me?"

"You don't tell me what to do, pretty boy. I'll do whatever I want. There's nothing you can do."

"Try me. There are two things you have to know about me. One, I don't allow anyone to hurt the people I love. And second, I love Bonnie. She's a priority for me and at the very top of the list of people I'm protecting, so get the hell out."

Bonnie’s mom was full of hate, and I wasn’t going to let my woman near her ever again. Not until she straightened herself up.

“Don’t ever expect to see your grandchild or your daughter after slinging those idle threats. You better figure out what's important in life before you attempt to reach out to either of us ever again.”

She narrowed her eyes but left my office without another word.

Marjorie immediately peeked her head inside.

“Travis, all good?”

I was steaming, trying to figure out how her mother even knew about us. Bonnie told me they hadn't been in touch for a long while.

Then it dawned on me. “Are there any pictures online of Bonnie and me?”

I’d asked her to set an alert for my name on all the search engines and monitor it.

“Only the one Sam posted from Lena’s birthday. He tagged her.”

“Thanks.”

I was fuming for the rest of the day. The way she’d spoken about raising Bonnie got on my very last nerve—as if she’d been a burden.

I was determined to keep this from Bonnie. At least, I was initially. But then as the week went by, my resolution faltered. I was no expert in relationships, but I didn’t like secrets.

On Saturday morning, she was lying on the couch, covered with a pink blanket, reading on her Kindle. I sat next to her at the edge of the couch. She’d spent the night at my apartment and woke up early to read. It was a common occurrence on weekends. She insisted that it was way too early to be moving in, but I was glad that she seemed to feel more comfortable here.

Funny how, in the past, I’d guarded my space fiercely, but now I couldn’t imagine Saturdays without Bonnie.

I played with her necklace, the simple pendant I gave her in Oceanwell Bay. She wore it all the time, and I liked that.

She peeked up from her Kindle. "Did you come to distract me?"

"Hell yes."

She glanced at her Kindle again and then back at me, clearly having a hard time deciding between the two of us.

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