Page 13 of Game Over
“No.” Bryan wasn’t the only lover she’d had since Deke. “Senior year of college, there was this guy…” He was the sweetest, kindest, gentlest person she’d ever met. He blushed the first time he told her he loved her and made love to her like she was the most beautiful woman on earth. The two years she’d spent with him had been amazing, but when she realized he wasn’t ‘the one’ and broke up with him, he spent several months trying to maintain their friendship, hoping she would change her mind. He fought for her, was invested in her and their relationship, the way no other man ever had been. Certainly not Deke, who’d cast her aside at the first sign of trouble.
“Tell me.”
He’d asked. And he damned well deserved to hear about Peter. Maybe it would inspire him to be a better man. “He was so in love with me.” She looked him in the eye and could tell it was taking everything in him to keep his mouth shut. “He put me first. Always. He loved me like no other man has ever loved me—”
“Bull. Shit.” He was seething now, spitting words through his clenched teeth. “No one has ever loved you the way I did, and they never will. Do you hear me? Never.”
“Talk is cheap, Deke.” She crossed her arms. “You claim you loved me, but it never occurred to you to fight for what we had. You gave up. Like I meant nothing to you. That doesn’t sound like a man in love. In fact, it sounds like someone who doesn’t even know what the hell love is!”
He took a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth, before tipping his head back and closing his eyes. “We’re not going to resolve this tonight. But believe me, we will resolve it, because I’m not gonna let you go on believing some other guy could ever have felt about you the way I did.”
He was so intense. So sexy. So believable. But believing in him again would mean setting herself up for another hard fall. And after the last one she’d taken, she didn’t think she’d survive another.
“You’re right about one thing. We’re not getting anywhere tonight. Go to bed, Deke. I intend to do the same. If it’s cool with you, I’ll come over and make breakfast for Drew in the morning. Seven o’clock, okay?”
He seemed relieved she’d decided not to leave. “Perfect, thanks.”
“Goodnight.”
He raised his hand, barely touching her cheek. “Good night, gorgeous. For the record, I’m really glad you’re back.”
Chapter Five
Deke lay on his back in a bed too big, too empty for one person. He heard her voice drifting through the half-open door. She and Drew were singing the theme song to some kids’ show he recognized.
His heart ached when he thought about what could have been. Waking up to her as his wife. Hearing her sing with their kids. Making breakfast together. Reading bedtime stories. Falling into bed after a long day and making love like they’d never get enough of each other. That’s the life he’d always wanted. With this woman. Only with her.
His thoughts drifted to last night and the man she’d told him about. Her college boyfriend. The one who’d fought for her, who’d made her feel special. He closed his eyes as he imagined her making love to some nameless, faceless bastard who made her feel like his princess.
His princess. She was his. And he’d been stupid enough to let her go because he was scared and insecure.
She may have fallen in love in college, but that was only because he’d given her the freedom she’d never asked for. The freedom she’d never wanted. If he’d been half the man then that he was today, he never would have thought twice about whether he was man enough to keep her. He knew he was. Today. Tomorrow. For the rest of their lives. But he had a hell of a long journey ahead if he intended to make up for his past mistakes. And he did. Harper’s trust didn’t come free or easy, but it was damn sure worth the price. And he intended to earn it. One day at a time.
Drew poked his head in the door. “Hey, Uncle Deke. Harper made pancakes and they’re yummy! You comin’?”
Deke smiled, his heart twisting at the sight of this kid. He loved him so much. Drew gave him the best gift, whether he knew it or not. He gave him clarity. He wanted to be a dad. And a husband. Had it not been for Drew, he may never have realized that.
“Yeah, I’m comin’, buddy. Just need to grab a quick shower. Save me some of those, okay?”
“Okay!”
Deke got up and when Drew ran back to the kitchen. He stood in the doorway, watching the most beautiful woman in the world standing at his kitchen island, being entertained by tales from the zoo.
Her gaze drifted over him, widening when they dropped below his waist. He was wearing black boxer briefs and nothing else.
Drew had his back turned and was totally oblivious, but Deke was pretty sure Harper could see his arousal even from that distance. He wanted her. Bad. Had it not been for his nephew he would have found a way to lure her into his bedroom and remind her that he was, hands down, the best lover she’d ever had. No one would ever compare. He’d make sure of it. Not only did he intend to cement his position as her best, but as her last.
This woman was it for him. Always had been. Always would be. Fate may have brought her back into his life, but it was his job to keep her there.
“Um, you keep working on those pancakes, Drew,” she said, ruffling his hair as she walked past. “I just need to have a quick word with your uncle.”
He smirked when she pushed him back a step before closing the door. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She gestured to his state of undress. “You can’t walk around like that!”
“Why not?” He loved seeing her all riled up. Her cheeks pink with embarrassment, trying not to let her eyes drift below his waist, though they both knew she wanted to. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me in a lot less.”
“But you were my boyfriend then,” she whispered. “Now you’re my… boss. And my landlord. Maybe.” She bit her lip. “I still have to talk to Jude about that part. Anyway, you’re not my boyfriend anymore, that’s the point. And if this little arrangement of ours is going to work we need to have some rules.”
He opened his arms and her eyes traced the ink decorating his shoulders and biceps. He spent a lot of time in the gym, lifting weights, working abs, and he knew it showed. He’d spend every damn day for the rest of his life on a weight bench if she’d keep looking at him at him like she wanted to jump him.
