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I don’t look back to see who he hit nor do I care.
My girl has my whole attention.
“What’s your name, princess?” I ask her gently, wanting her to tell me so I can use it. It’s not like I can admit I’ve been stalking her for weeks . . . and know her name and so much more already. “I’m Michael,” I add with a nudge under her chin.
“Lara, but I kind of prefer princess,” she answers with a watery smile. Her eyes shine, big and wide. Her cheeks are red from the cold.
“Me too.” I wink with a grin. My heart pounds as she blinks innocently up at me. “Okay, princess . . .” I pause, letting the name sink in. I really do prefer it. “I’m going to carry you to the car now.”
“No, no. I can walk,” Lara insists.
Sliding one arm around her waist and the otherunder her bent legs, I stand, lifting her. “I wasn’t asking, princess.” I press a kiss to the crown of her head to soften the blow, but this is how I am and something she’ll get used to.
No.
I need to remind myself why this isn’t for me and why she isn’t for me.
Daniel did it.
Just as a kernel of hope unfurls, I feel her hand brush my stomach and become aware of the way her shoulder presses into my chest.
Panic fills me, and my heart pounds. I need to put her down, but I can’t let her go, not even for a second.
Pain rips through me at our contact. I hate myself more with every step.
I take us past my truck because if she goes in, I’m not sure I’ll let her back out.
Annoyed, I kick the door to Kaleb’s car, nodding for Sam to open it.
Gently, I place Lara on the back seat as Sam shuffles over.
“One more person kicks my fucking car, I swear to God,” Kaleb bitches.
Sam and I roll our eyes as I crouch in the open doorway.
“Okay, princess, let me see,” I say, reaching for her right leg.
“No,” she declines. Seeing my raised brow, Lara adds, “No . . . thank you.” A cheeky grin plays on her lips.
“I won’t ask again, princess. Your foot.” Holding my hand out, I wait.
“Or?” she challenges.
“Or he’ll give you a sore ass,” Kaleb murmurs from behind me, pushing his way between me and the car door.
Sam shuffles in her seat behind Lara. “And you’d know all about that,” she mumbles.
Kaleb gives our sister a dark look. “Not that kind of sore ass.” Turning back to my girl, he gives a surprised look. “Well shit, if I’d have known it was you, Fawn, I would have carried you over here myself.”
The fuck you would.
“Fawn?” I ask. What the fuck is he talking about? He knows Lara’s name. I’ve talked of nothing and no one else since the day we met.
Sam glares at Kaleb from inside the car, just as annoyed as I am.
My younger brother turns to me with a grin that tells me he’s about to piss me off more. “We run together most mornings.”
What the fuck is he up to?
