Page 74 of Bourbon Truths
Her long hair was curled in light waves that hung over her shoulders. She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans that were cuffed right above her ankle boots. But it was her top that was really grabbing my attention. She was wearing a loose-fitting tank top that opened at the sides and dipped low in the front, giving me an eyeful of her navy blue bra that showcased her breasts to perfection. Her skin glittered under the lights, and I wondered if she thought of me often like I did of her.
I was weak around her; my brain scrambled whenever she was near. She crippled me, mind, body, and fucking soul.
“Thanks,” I replied, really not knowing what else to say. I shed my boxing gloves and tossed them to the ground. I grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from my forehead. “You’re looking good yourself.” I nodded at her outfit.
Good didn’t even come close to describing how she actually looked.
“Thanks.” Her hands rested in her pockets and she looked around the room. When she was done scanning the room, she took a deep breath and took it upon herself to step closer to me.
“What are you doing, Lyla?” I asked, wondering why she kept coming back to me even though I treated her terribly every time we were together.
“It’s hard to get you out of my system, Kace. It’s hard to just let go.”
“It would be best if you did.”
“I know,” she replied, grabbing one of my belt loops. The heat pouring off her was instantly absorbed by my body, turning me on to an uncomfortable state. “I wish I could stay away, Kace. I told myself I didn’t need you, that I should move on, but I see the trouble in your eyes, the hurt, the need for someone to save you, and for the life of me, I can’t walk away from that.”
Did she know I secretly wanted her to save me? Could she see how much I needed her? Begged for her at night? Could she really see the desperation in my eyes, the heart-stopping ache I had in my chest to live a normal life?
“I know you don’t want me, Kace. I know you want to sequester yourself from the outside world. I get that, I’ve been there, but I just want you to know, no matter how many times you push me away, no matter how many times you’re awful to me, I will always be there for you. I want you to be happy, even if that means you’re not with me.”
My pulse raced in my chest. I pulled Lyla into my space by her hips. Her hand ran up my chest to my jaw where her fingers traced my rough scruff. Her fingernails ran across the bristly hair as her soft green eyes bored into my soul.
“You’re my addiction, Lyla.”
Distraught and confused, I pulled her head toward mine and gently glided my lips along hers. I was an addict, a junkie, a self-mutilator. This woman in my arms was all I’d ever wanted but everything I couldn’t have.
Blood pounded through me from the contact, and I wished in that moment God would decide to take me, because I would die a happy man. I could die feeling like the luckiest son of a bitch to grace this fucked up world.
But life wasn’t fair.
I pulled away and stared at her swollen lips. Gorgeous, so fucking gorgeous.
“It’s best if you move on, Lyla. I want you to move on.”
“How can you say that when your eyes speak another truth?”
“Because I know what’s best for you. You think you know me, you think you can handle my past, but you can’t. It’s not like there is some easy solution.”
“Excuse me?” A tall woman with brown hair walked into the room, looking a little confused. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was now past nine thirty. Shit.
I turned to Lyla and said, “Thank you for accepting me, but there is no future with me, babe. Best you move on.”
The pained look in her face gutted me once again, but I ignored the searing agony and switched my attention to the woman who’d interrupted us. Anguish ran up my spine as I tried to place the familiarity in the woman’s features.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“I’m looking for Kace Haywood.”
“That’s me. How can I help you, ma’am?”
“Mom, this place is awesome,” came a small voice. Running into the room and hugging her mom, a young girl looked up at her with adoring eyes.
My breathing stopped, my lungs seized, and my vision went dark.
It was Madeline and Linda, the family I’d destroyed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
