Page 238 of The Bluffing Game
“Are you out of your mind? I will not let you be alone right now. The man is stalking you. He’s a sociopath.”
“Just my luck,” I joke, but he doesn’t laugh. “Will I at least get my own bedroom?”
He starts laughing then, like I’m crazy. “No, my dear. You will be in my bedroom in my bed. That’s the only way I can ensure I can look after you.”
“I don’t need you to look after me.”
“I’m your protector whether you like it or not.” He grabs me and pulls me toward him and kisses me hard. “You hear me, Sage?”
“Just now you were practically begging me to …”
“Hey.” He grins. “Don’t worry. We’ll finish when we get back to my place.”
“That’s not what I was talking about, Dalton.”
“Uh-huh,” he says as he grabs his shorts and pulls them up. “Man, I’ve got such blue balls right now,” he says, shaking his head. “That man sure knows how to turn up at the most inopportune of moments.”
“What are you going to do to him?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “It’s for me to know and him to find out.”
“You’re not going to kill him, are you?”
He eyes me and shakes his head. “I’m not about that life anymore. I would never take another person out. I’ve actually never taken a life before. I need you to know that.”
“Okay, I believe you,” I say softly.
“But Parker is going to realize that he messed with the wrong woman and the wrong man. I am going to ensure we get that man imprisoned.”
“Oh.”
He smiles at me. “Brett isn’t just a pretty face, you know?”
“Don’t tell Rosie that.” I sigh.
“He’s not such a bad guy, you know? Maybe, just maybe, he’d be good for her.”
“No, she needs someone who doesn’t have issues. I want my sister to have the best guy, a lighthearted guy, and Brett does not seem like he’s that sort of man.”
“Touché,” he says, “but maybe the lighthearted guys aren’t the honest ones. Maybe the lighthearted guys aren’t the ones who would give up their life for you.”
“I don’t know if I want him to give up his life for her.”
“I know,” he says, “but sometimes, what we want isn’t what we get.” He pauses for a second and then touches the side of my face. “Are we good, Sage? Like, really good?”
“About the earlier stuff, yes. I’m not very happy about having to come and stay with you, but I will admit that Parker does seem like a little bit of a psycho, so for now, I will acquiesce.” I cross my arms and glare at him. “But I’m not happy about this. Don’t think it means more sex. In fact, it may mean none.”
“You trying to hurt my feelings, Sage? Or are you just attempting to lie? You can’t resist all this.”
He flexes his muscles, and all I can do is laugh.
“Just watch me.” I shake my head. “Two strikes, Dalton. You lied about being Bradley, and now you’re making me live with you. Don’t take my kindness for weakness. I like you, but I still don’t know if I trust you.”
Chapter 28
DALTON
“The sun is shining, and we’re singing, Toby and me, and we’re having fun,” Sage sings and dances with Toby in the living room, and I can tell he is having the time of his life. “It’s time for breakfast. Let’s hope it’s not smelly.” Sage giggles and waves her fingers in the air and sticks her tongue out at Toby.
