Page 26 of Jake

“She’s attracted to me, Connor.”

“Ya think? I saw that the night we all went to dinner. You’re attracted to her too, so what’s the problem?”

“You know the problem. It’s better I stop things now than find out I’m useless as a man and we both get hurt.”

Connor dragged his hand over his head, releasing his man bun.

“I can’t believe you are so goddamn stupid.”

“What?”

“You heard what Barry said. There is NO fucking reason you won’t be able to perform unless you let your mind convince you of that. Get out of your head, Jake. You won’t find another woman like Natalie who accepts the business without question and is trustworthy. On top of that, she likes you, even if I have no idea why.”

“Haven’t you been listening to me? I have a broken dick; the arseholes mutilated the fucking thing. No one knows if everything will be okay, when, or if it heals. NO ONE, Connor. I won’t risk breaking Natalie’s heart.”

“Are you listening to yourself? Natalie is probably the one person who could put your mind at ease. You have feelings for her. If your broken dick is gonna recover, she’s the one who’ll help make it happen.”

“You have a broken dick?”

Fuck. I cringed on hearing Natalie’s voice from the doorway. How much of our conversation had she heard? Too much if she knew I was broken.

CHAPTER EIGHT

JAKE

Connor swung to face Natalie, who stood at the bedroom doorway with Tania by her side. They both had shocked expressions on their faces. I had no doubt they’d heard most of what had been said, or rather… shouted.

My brother crossed the room and gathered Tania’s hand. “Let’s leave these two alone.”

I didn’t want to be alone with Natalie but it didn’t appear I had much of a choice since the newly engaged couple left in a hurry.

Natalie approached with fire in her eyes, hands on her shapely hips. “Is it true? You pushed me away because you think your dick won’t work?”

“Natalie, you don’t understand.”

“Well fucking enlighten me because, at the moment, I’m confused. Has the doctor said you definitely won’t be able to engage in sexual relations?”

“Not exactly…”

Natalie dropped into the chair beside the bed.

“Jake, how are you…”

“Not now, Mum. I need privacy.”

Her eyes darted between Natalie and me before she excused herself, saying there was something she’d forgotten. On her way out, she closed the door.

“Not exactly? Then why are you carrying on like it’s a done deal?”

I took her hand in my uninjured one.

“I don’t know what will happen, no one does, and I don’t want to hurt you. I like you, Nat—a hell of a lot, but you can’t live your life with a man who has a limp dick.”

“You get to make that decision without asking me first?”

“Nat…”

“Don’t Nat me; I make the decisions on my life, Jake, not you. Not anyone else.”