Page 27 of Damaged Vows (The Crowley Mafia Family)

Keely glares at me. “Nolan was leaving.”

“No, I wasn’t.” I gesture at the forgotten coffee. “Would you like a drink, Jamila? Keely refused my gesture.”

Jamila shrugs and takes one markedblack. “I feel like I just caught two teenagers about to dry hump each other.”

“Jams,” Keely says, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “It’s not like that.”

“It was definitely like that,” I say as I head toward the door. Jamila moves away, giving me space. “But I won’t keep. I suppose you two have some things to discuss.”

“Not at all,” Keely says sharply.

Jamila only stares at me. “She’s not going to do it, you know,” she says.

I pause. Keely told her about the marriage? I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like we could hide it. “She will.”

“This isn’t important enough. Be reasonable, make a better offer, but don’t think you can do whatever you want to my friend and get away with it.” All lighthearted teasing is gone from Jamila’s tone. I’m almost impressed.

I glance back at Keely. She’s standing there, cheeks red with embarrassment and fury. I smile at her, wishing I could’ve kissed her and given her a taste of what we might have together.

Instead, I nod to them both. “Ladies.” And I leave before Jamila can lay into me again.

But that negotiation, that near-kiss, it told me everything I needed to know.

Keely will be mine. All she needs is the right nudge.

Chapter11

Keely

Ialmost kissed him.

It was stupid, like shoving my face up against a pissed-off viper and thinking it’ll be fine. Getting anywhere near that guy is suicide.

I nearly did it anyway.

It’s like when he’s around, my brain goes haywire.

I know he’s bad for me. Nolan’s a Crowley, which means Nolan’s a gangster. I don’t want anything to do with that life. Ash deals with it, but I can tell her husband’s profession stresses her out. That’s not what I want.

But I also remember what being with him was like. That night was magic—he’s right, even though I hate to admit it. What we had was transcendent, special, the sort of connection and spice that only happens once in a lifetime.

When he offers it to me again, I’m tempted.

I’m also tempted for somewhat less selfish reasons.

Like the baby growing inside of me.

That’s going to be a problem, which is a total understatement. I haven’t really thought about how I’m going to afford to raise a child, much less how I’ll have the time to deal with a baby while also running a new business. The whole idea seems absurd, and the longer I put off figuring out what I’m going to do, the harder it’ll be.

Mostly because I know it’s not possible, and I want to avoid making that decision.

Nolan’s offer would solve my dilemma. He’d help take care of the baby, hire a squadron of nannies, babysitters, whatever.

But that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid.

Putting myself in his debt.

Worse than that, forcing my child to grow up with a gangster father that might end up gunned down in the street at any moment.

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