Page 111 of Billionaire Unbroken - Asher
“I’m sorry I lost it,” he added. “Things are tense for me, and I hate everything that Sierra has gone through. I want to see her happy. It would kill me to see her hurt again. Hell, she deserves a carefree life after all of the shit she’s been through.”
“I plan on making damn sure that she’s never hurt again,” I replied. “That’s my biggest goal in life right now.”
Gideon folded his arms over his massive chest and leaned against the wall. “You two are probably good for each other. I’d like to see her with you, Asher. I’d rather she move back to Texas where I can keep an eye on her, but maybe that isn’t the best thing for her. How is Martha dealing with your relationship?”
I grinned at him. “She likes me. I’m handy with tools.”
I had a feeling that Gideon didn’t know how badly Martha’s house needed repair, either.
If he did, the repairs would probably already be done.
I was fairly certain that Sierra’s momdidlike me, but there was a part of her that was still wary.
I understood that.
She’d watched her daughter go through hell and back because of a man.
It made sense that she was going to be watching any man who got involved with her daughter.
Gideon held out his hand. “Take care of her. I let her down, and I haven’t forgiven myself for that yet. If I’d known what was happening to her, I wouldn’t have just let it happen.”
I believed that. Gideon wasn’t the kind of guy who wouldn’t have rescued a friend who needed him.
I shook his hand and he pulled me in for a brief hug.
He slapped me on the back and pulled back, his expression suddenly apologetic.
“Fuck!” he cursed. “I completely forgot about the whole touching thing. I’m sorry, man.”
I shrugged. “I’m good.”
Strangely, Iwasgood.
Maybe because Gideon was a friend and no threat to me.
I might not love rubbing shoulders with strangers, but I seemed to have no problem touching people I trusted now.
“When are you headed back to Montana?” Gideon asked.
“Tomorrow,” I informed him. “We’ve been here for two weeks.”
“Damn!” he grumbled. “I guess we won’t have time to grab dinner or something to catch up.”
“Next time,” I told him, knowing that he was swamped with family responsibilities at the moment. “We’ll be back. Sierra’s mom is here. They’re close.”
He nodded. “Next time. Give me a call and keep me posted on what’s happening. Sierra and I might not be as close as we were when we were kids, but I give a shit about what happens to her. I’ve been worried about you, too.”
“We’re fine,” I assured him. “Just worry about taking care of your family right now.”
I knew that things were complicated for Gideon here, and one thing he didn’t have to worry about was Sierra.
She already had a man who would do anything to protect her.
As far as I was concerned, her hard and difficult times were over.
I wasn’t going to let her future turn out any other way.
Asher
