Gus #2
My stomach sank as I thought about Chloe’s sweet sister. “She okay?”
“No, she’s not. She’s married to a fucking asshole I wish I could strap to the end of a feller. But that’s old news.”
“Shit. You weren’t kidding about having specific murder plans.”
She leaned forward and hit me with a terrifying smile. “Don’t cross me, Hebert. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
The threat didn’t hit the way she probably thought it would. I still liked her like this, feisty and passionate.
“My nephew, Julian, was diagnosed with autism a few months ago. It’s been hard on their family. It’s a good thing. Getting to a diagnosis takes a lot of work, but he’s finally getting services at school, which should help a lot.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“But her husband has been a real dick about it. She’s been navigating all of this alone. Taking care of her three kids and doing all this research and being an advocate for her son without any support for herself. I want to help, but I can’t actually help her.”
I slid my hand across the table and covered hers. “Don’t say that.”
“I mean it.” She ducked her head. “I’m not a mother. I’m not a doctor or a therapist. But I can show up.”
“And showing up is really fucking important.” I gave her hand a squeeze, loving the feel of her soft skin against mine.
“I think my nieces have been sidelined a little by all this. My sister is stretched thin. The whole situation has been rough on everyone. So I wanted to be here, for all of them.”
“Because you want to help,” I said.
This woman had always been so caring, so compassionate. Maybe I’d just forgotten that. Or maybe the wine had gotten to me. “And fix everything for everyone.”
She nodded. “You get it.”
“I do.”
She withdrew her hand slowly. I ached to grab it again but managed to control the urge.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and shifted in her chair. “If my siblings could just accept that I know best and do everything I tell them to, their lives would be so much easier.”
I laughed. “The scary part is that I feel the same way about my brothers. I’m older. I’ve already made all the mistakes and can navigate them through without doing the same.”
“Right? I know my need to control everything is a problem, but I just want to wrap the people I love up in bubble wrap and make their lives as easy as possible.”
I clapped, startling Clem, who was lying by the back door. “Yes. But.” I tilted my head, taking in the stars sparkling above the mountains. “To be fair, I may not always know best. I told my brother Owen to stay far away from Lila, and now they’re madly in love.”
She waved her hand. “Nah, at the time, with the information you had, it was probably the right call. You were only looking to protect them.”
I nodded.
“You said she dated Cole for a long time, right? So an ex-boyfriend’s older brother scenario? That seems messy. Has angsty romance novel written all over it.”
I leaned in and raised a teasing brow. Fuck, I loved how relaxed she was. “What about divorced exes?”
With a scowl, she dropped back in her chair. “Stop right there. No flirting.”
I picked up my wineglass and gave her a shrug. “I like flirting with you. Even though I don’t like you, pushing your buttons is a lot of fun.”
Her only response was a silent glower.
Why was riling her up so damn exciting? “It’s fine,” I said, my blood heating at her fierce expression. “If you want to ice me out, I’ll do all the work here.” I punctuated that last part with a wink.
The scoff that escaped her only made this more fun.
Pushing my chair back, I stood slowly, definitely feeling the wine. Carefully, I shuffled to the love seat and flipped on the tabletop gas fire. Once it was roaring, I reclined against the cushion. It was a beautiful night. The breeze was cool and the sky was full of stars.
All my defenses were fading away, thanks to the wine. Or maybe it was the company. I’d never admit it, but having her here, in my space, lit a spark inside me. I felt liberated, like I could be anyone and do anything.
After a few moments, she joined me. The wicker love seat was small, but she kept a healthy distance. I could have fixated on that space between us, but the thrill of her being so close overwhelmed me.
I turned to face her. “You are so beautiful. I want to say something witty, but that’s all I can think about right now.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you drunk?”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “A bit tipsy, maybe, but not even close to drunk.”
“Did you sustain a head injury?”
“Not that I know of.”
Her cheeks were tinged pink, and her eyes were just a little hazy, but her voice was clear. “You’re not frowning or growling or complaining. You’re relaxed and flirty. What the hell has gotten into you?”
“I’m having fun, Dragonfly. You’re pretty, and it’s a nice night. And my brain keeps thinking about how I never got to call you Mrs. Hebert and how much I would have liked that.”
She straightened and lifted her chin. “I will never change my name.”
“Great,” I breathed out. “Then I’ll take yours.
The Hebert name’s been trashed anyway. It’s the kind of thing my dad would lose his shit over, but he’s in prison, so the joke’s on him.
” I meant it. The family name, which had once been such a source of pride, didn’t matter much anymore.
In fact, most of the things I’d previously cared about didn’t matter anymore.
“You’ve officially lost it.”
“Nah.” I leaned back against the cushion again and peered up at the stars. “I forgot how much I like spending time with you. How real and free I feel when you’re close by.”
For a long moment, we were silent, my words hanging in the air between us.
“God, you’re not letting up, are you?” she said, trying to brush off my confession.
Shifting so I was facing her, I took her hands in mine.
“I couldn’t if I tried. Just being here with you, even if you’re insulting me and reminding me that I’m unworthy of your presence, is still better than 100 percent of the nights I’ve had since you left. You could kick me in the balls right now, and I’d still be thrilled you came over.”
She let out a harrumph. “That’s a tempting offer.”
We regarded one another for a few moments, our hands linked, in total silence.
She looked beautiful in the firelight, and I knew in my bones I needed to kiss her.
It had been so long, but I’d never wanted anything more.
The warmth of her skin against mine was making me reckless.
It made me want something that I did not deserve.
Before I could give in, she stood and stomped her foot, breaking the trance. “God, you are so infuriating. Why do you have to be so charming and grumpy and handsome? Why can’t you just be shitty and stay in my past?”
Okay, so I guessed kissing was off the table.
“It’s not fucking fair, Gus,” she ranted.
“I’m not shitty,” I said, sitting up. “And neither are you.”
“Yes, we are. We’re shitty to each other. Hence why I shouldn’t even be here.”
I stood. “Yet you came running when I invited you.” I didn’t want to yell. I wanted to sit back down, pull her into my lap, and kiss her until she calmed down. Yet, here I was, giving as good as I got.
She threw her hands up and stomped into the house. “You are an impossible, pig-headed ass.”
“Takes one to know one,” I shouted, following as she rushed through the kitchen and into the living room.
She spun, her chest heaving and her face flushed. It would have been sexy as hell if I hadn’t been on the receiving end of a verbal assault.
With a finger in my face and a shaking hand, she continued her tirade. “You broke me, asshole. You tossed me aside for your true love. Your fucking trees.”
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. What the fuck kind of nonsense was she spouting? “You think I’ve been thriving over here?” I growled. “Take a look around, Dragonfly. I never recovered from losing you.”
We stood, staring each other down like angry bulls. Blood surged through my veins. My brain was in overdrive, and my body was ready to jump out of a plane or climb a mountain. That’s what this woman did to me. She wasn’t just a danger to my heart; she was a danger to my central nervous system.
I kept my focus locked on her, unblinking. I wouldn’t concede in my own house. We’d been having a pleasant evening until she’d escalated to name-calling. I could compartmentalize. I was a fucking adult, after all.
But my resolve slowly slipped away as I got lost in those molten brown eyes.
“It would have been better if you had just hit me with your truck—”
She cuffed the back of my neck hard, cutting me off, and said, “Fuck it.” Then she was pulling my lips down to hers.
Her kiss was angry and demanding and full of every emotion coursing through me. So I kissed her back, making sure she knew who was in charge.
She gripped my hair with both hands and in an instant, all my anger morphed into pure lust.
Our tongues tangled, and our hands squeezed and grasped as we kissed with wild urgency. God, her mouth was pure perfection. There was nothing timid or inexperienced about this woman. She was showing me exactly what she wanted, and I was more than happy to give it to her.
She pulled back, panting.
“You’re a really fucking good kisser,” she growled. “Makes up for your shitty personality.”
“I like you better when your mouth is busy,” I countered, pushing her back against the wall and pressing my lips to hers again.