Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
BAYLOR
The sight of that fucking bitch of a mother sitting there smirking up at Emily pisses me off. Not just a little, but a whole hell of a lot. I wish she were a man so I could show her exactly how I feel about her.
I don’t even know why I came here tonight. After a long, hot day, the last thing I wanted to do was drive down here when I could have cracked a cold beer at home. But I wanted to see my woman.
Maybe selfishly, I wanted to make sure she was still good to move next week.
She’s leaving an actual apartment to share a whole house under renovation with three men.
I wouldn’t blame her for being a little on the fence about it.
Even though I’m not even slightly on the fence.
I am ready for her to be under my roof and in my bed nightly.
But standing in front of her bitch mother, I realize that my instincts on coming here tonight were spot fucking on. Crossing my arms over my chest, I dip my chin as I look down at the bitch and into her eyes.
Cold, dead eyes.
“I thought I told you to stay away,” I say, drawing out my words and trying to hide how damn pissed off I am that this woman is in Emily’s space.
She narrows her eyes at me, then slowly smirks before she speaks. “I met a friend. She wanted to come to town. Hasn’t been back in years. Just wanted to see how everyone was doing. That’s the only reason I’m here.”
My gaze flicks over to the woman sitting beside her. She’s got her back arched and her tits pressed up and out. I briefly looked at her when I walked into the bar, but I didn’t see her. I do now.
Sabrina fucking Deen.
My lips curve up into a smirk. It’s not like I’m ever going to let Emily’s mother get the best of us. I’m in love with Emily, and although I never really paid much attention to relationship stuff in the past, I do know one thing my father always did, and that was protect my mother.
And I’m always going to protect Emily.
Always.
“Good to see you again, Sabrina.”
My words come out nice but not flirty, and my tone is flat because I don’t give a shit. It is good to see her, but honestly, I haven’t thought about her in years. I look down at Emily’s mother again, then lean over slightly, never breaking eye contact with her.
“If I see you bothering Emily again, I’ll be calling the sheriff and filing a harassment report. If you keep coming, I’ll make damn fucking sure there’s a restraining order against you. Stay away. I won’t be saying it again.”
She narrows her eyes at me, then stands to her feet before slamming her palms down on the wooden pub tabletop. There is a moment of silence, which is really a stare-down between Emily’s mother and me. She won’t win. I have three brothers. I could play this game all damn day long.
“Pay me,” she demands.
“Pay you?” I tilt my head to the side.
Straightening my back, I cross my arms over my chest and stare at her. Pay her? Yeah, right. I do that, and she’ll do exactly what Emily says she’s always done. Once the money is gone, she’ll be back for more.
“Never,” Emily hisses. “Not ever. I’m not giving you a dime, and neither is Baylor. You’ll leave, you won’t come back, and if you do, I’m going with Baylor to make my own report.”
I’ve never been into voyeurism, but I could fuck Emily right here on this pub table in front of everyone right now. Her standing up to her mother is hot as hell. But her mother doesn’t think so. I watch as she lifts her hand, and I can tell the intent of that open palm.
Reaching out, I wrap my fingers around her wrist and squeeze, not hard enough to hurt her but firmly enough that she knows I’m not fucking around. My words come out through gritted teeth. I hope she sees just how serious I am when I speak.
“Leave. Now. Never come back to Granite Falls ever again.”
“I… I think I’m going to go now,” Sabrina announces.
I forgot she was even there. I don’t know why she agreed to whatever Emily’s mother had planned, and I don’t care. Emily’s mother yanks her arm back, rubs her wrist, narrows her gaze on me again, and speaks.
“You haven’t seen the last of me,” she hisses.
“Yes, I fucking have,” I grind out.
Turning to face Emily, I wrap my arms around her, pick her up, and drag her out of the bar.
I can feel the patrons’ eyes on me, on us, but I don’t give a shit.
The bartender jerks his chin toward me as I pass by him but doesn’t say anything else.
He’s busy slinging beers and doesn’t give a shit about what I’m doing.
I only stop walking when we’re away from everyone and alone. I lower Emily but keep my arms around her even after her feet are stabilized on the floor. I take a step forward, and she moves backward until her back is pressed against the wall.
Releasing one of my arms from around her, I place my palm against the wall beside her head, my gaze searching hers. Then I lean forward and slide my nose alongside hers as I close my eyes slowly. I hear her trembling breath escape her mouth.
“You’re brave, Emily. I love you.”
“Thank you, Baylor,” she whispers.
I press my mouth against hers but don’t deepen the kiss—not yet. I open my mouth to say something, though I’m not quite sure yet what I will say. I don’t have to say anything because she speaks.
“You are everything to me. Everything I never expected. I didn’t imagine that this could be my life, that I could feel this way, that I could love this hard and deep.”
My lips twitch against her lips at the mention of hard and deep. She’s going to feel hard and deep soon.
“So thank you, Baylor. Thank you for standing up for me, for protecting me, for loving me, and for being you.”
I don’t know how to respond to that, so I don’t, at least not with words. Slamming my mouth against hers, I kiss her hard, slipping my tongue inside her mouth, tasting her. She tastes like mine.
Because she is just that.
And she will always be that.
Mine.