36. 36
36
B o
Y ou just offered him a job?” Hettie asks with disbelief. Then, “You offered him a job?” in a quieter voice.
“I did.” Bo turns to Reggie. “But we’re not talking about it here. It’s too cold and I need to get your sister inside before she freezes.”
“Go inside then,” he says to Hettie with a wide sweep of his arm. “No business of hers.”
“If you think I’m going to waste one minute with her talking to you, you’re not as smart as I gave you credit for,” I tell Reggie.
He snorts. “Nobody gives me credit for being smart.”
“Maybe they’d start if you went home. Sleep it off instead of threatening to bust the place up.”
“I said I wouldn’t.” Hettie shakes her head because her brother whines like a child. Hopefully Tema never sounds like that. “Don’t do that no more.”
“Good. Come see me tomorrow and we’ll talk about finding you a place with the wildlife reserve up north.”
“Really?” I can tell Reggie doesn’t believe me, and I don’t blame him. I don’t believe me. But Hettie stepped in to help her brother and I’ll do anything for Hettie .
“I said so, didn’t I? I mean what I say.” I turn to Hettie. “Always. Eventually.”
That smile. Those eyes looking at me with respect and gratitude and…
Even if it isn’t love I see in her eyes, I know that I am totally in love with her all over again.
Not that I ever stopped.
I reach out for her hand. “Go home,” I instruct Reggie. “And stay clear of Fenella’s place when you’re drinking, especially if there’s a McKibbon there. I seem to recall they’re not very fond of you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Reggie grumbles, but he starts down the street with a bit of a rolling gait.
“Think he’ll make it home okay?” I wonder.
“I really don’t care right now.” Hettie turns to me and clutches the front of my shirt with both hands. “You just offered my brother a job.”
“I did. I should have done it a long time ago. I wish I’d done it a long time ago.”
“You didn’t have a job to offer him.”
I give her a look. “I’m a prince, in case you didn’t notice,” I say drily. “I could have found him a job. Might have made it easier for you.”
“Bo…” She burrows her hands into more of my shirt and I’m sure it’s only because she’s cold. There’s not enough material in that dress to keep her warm, since it’s basically a tiny shirt that covers her bum .
I like the way it covers her bum. I like everything about it. So instead of bundling her back inside the club, I wrap my arms around her to share my heat.
Hettie tips her head back to look at me, her hands folded against my chest. “Why?”
There’s no other answer. “Because I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
She bites her lips to keep from smiling, but her hazel eyes are shining. “Okay.”
“Even if you don’t want to be with me—”
“I ended things with Timothy.”
All the air rushes out of my lungs. I actually feel light-headed. “Are you sure?” I mutter.
She looks incredulous and I get the hint that it wasn’t the reaction she was hoping for. “Pretty sure.”
“But why? I thought Tema was happy in Victoria.” I don’t know why I’m arguing, why I’m trying to get her to justify anything when all I want to do is pick her up and swing her around and then kiss her so thoroughly, like she’s never been kissed before.
“I think she’ll be happier here. I know I will.” I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, Hettie gives me a mock glare. “And don’t you dare ask why again. You should know why—I love you, Bo Erickson, and I never stopped. Never could and I think—”
I stop her then, and give Hettie the reaction I really hope she wanted.
Pressing my lips against hers, I give everything I’ve got into kissing her. I kiss her as her lips warm and part under mine. I kiss her as her body molds against mine and her arms wind around my waist and the people in line for the club start to cheer. I kiss her with eight years of pent up want and need and love.
And then I lift Hettie off her feet in those sexy shoes and spin her around until she laughs.
Then I kiss her again, slowly this time, like we’ve got all the time in the world. Because, maybe, we do.
There’s no way Timothy has ever kissed her like that.