Page 78 of Finding Redemption

I laugh. “For my ladies?”

“Yeah, your list of conquests.” She takes a drink, scrutinizing my response.

“You’re the first.”

“The first here or the first for pasta?” She narrows her eyes.

I turn to her, squaring my shoulders. “The first I’ve cooked for, so I suppose both.”

“Oh, I wasn’t expecting that answer.” Her eyes flicker between me and the boiling water.

“No worries. I wasn’t either.” She breaks into a smile, making my stomach flip. “So, Reese Morgan, you have a middle name?”

“Reese is my middle name, Destiny is my first name.” She glances at me.

“Can I call you Desi?”

“Not if you want me to answer. Do you have a middle name?” She leans her hip against the counter, her curves screaming at me to touch them.

“I do. It’s Ian.” She giggles. “It’s my father’s name.”

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” A line creases her forehead.

“Don’t, please.” I wave her off. “I’m not the favorite son, so I’m okay.” I toss in the pasta after giving the sauce a stir.

“I can’t believe that. You’re close to perfect.” She chews on her lip.

“You must be talking about my baby brother, Reese. I’m far from having it all together.”

“Why do you say that?” She straightens her back, listening intently.

“I was engaged once.” My mouth goes dry, my pulse beating faster with every word. She stands, her eyes wide. “Did I shock you?”

“Well, yes. Why aren’t you married?”

“Long story, bad memories, huge mistake.”

“The girl? She batshit crazy? Cause ya know you’re here with me.” She crosses her eyes, and we both laugh.

“No, not her.” I eye her out of the corner of my eye. “Me. I was… am the problem.”

“Huh? Oh, wait a minute. This is all a part of you don’t understand and you have no clue what you’re asking thing, right? Walker, we’ve all fucked up. We all have our issues and what one person may find a flaw,” she waves her hands down her body, “another person might not see it that way.”

“I can’t believe I’m about to do this.” I swallow past the growing knot in my throat. “Full disclosure?” I study her. “She left me. Truth be told, she should have.”

“Why should she have left you?” Her brows furrow.

“I lied to her, kept secrets from her about the man she’s now married to. When she called me out on it, Reese, I lost my shit. I tried to physically keep her from leaving me.” Bile rises in my throat. I’m afraid to look at her, to see the disgust written on her face.

“Can you clarify physically for me?”

My palms begin to sweat. I know this is where she’s going to run.

“I didn’t hit her but I put my hands on her. No excuses. It’s the same thing in my opinion. I held her, trying to keep her from leaving. When she broke free, we fell to the ground, me on top of her. I hated myself, still do. Probably the worst moment of my life.”

“Why would you do something like that? It’s not who you are.” I look at her, staring. “I mean, you’re controlling, most attorneys are.” She grabs a plate, holding it for me to add our food. “Hell, I like taking control every now and again.”

“Really? I never would’ve known.” She smiles at me, wrinkling her nose. “I wanted her and I knew, deep down, she didn’t love me. Hell, I didn’t really love her.”