Page 74 of One Kind Soul

Nicole let out a growl. “Or Lynda got them involved.”

“Lynda?”

“Yeah, she probably paid them to come on to you, had pictures taken, then left them for me so I’d do exactly what I did—come here and chew you out. She was hoping to destroy us like she destroyed the store.” Nicole reached into the pocket of her sweatshirt and held a piece of paper out to Christian. “This was with the photos.”

“He needs more than you, Princess Uggers,” Christian read.

“Princess Uggers was Lynda’s horrible nickname for me when she wasn’t calling me Nicki.” Nicole tapped her temple. “She’s fucking with me and trying to sabotage us.”

Christian dropped the note on top of the photos then grabbed Nicole’s wrists, tugging her. She resisted at first, but with a little coaxing, her front pressed against his.

“She won’t succeed, Nixen. Not if you trust me.”

Nicole lowered her head to his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Chrissy.” She heaved in a deep breath and Christian rubbed circles on her back. “It’s easy to believe you need more than me.”

He tightened his hold on her. “Listen, these past two weeks with you have been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. You are the first woman who has wanted to see me as more than a buddy. You are the first woman who I have wanted to be more than buddies with. I’m not settling for you, Nixen. You’re what I’ve been looking for this whole time. I know it.” He pointed to the photos on the porch. “If you weren’t enough for me, I would have said yes to them.” He tipped her head up. “But I had absolutely no desire to say yes to them. None. Zero.”

“But they’re gorgeous.”

“They’re not you.” He brushed his lips against her forehead and when she didn’t pull away, he caught her mouth with his. He hoped to God she felt everything he poured into that kiss. If she wouldn’t believe his words, she had to believe his actions.

And this Lynda chick had to be stopped.

They kissed for a few moments and when it ended, Nicole looked up at him, her eyes glossy.

“I’m sorry I came over here like a huge bitch.”

“I’m sorry your sister is fucking with you. With both of us.” He stepped away and picked up the photos. “We should get these to Donovan. They’re technically evidence.”

“She’s watching us, Christian. She found me at the studio and managed to leave that on your truck though a cop car was parked right in the parking lot.”

“Maybe she’s got other people working for her like the twins here.” He tapped the pictures. “Anyone could have left these at her bidding.”

“True.” Nicole sifted out a slow breath. “She needs to go back to jail.”

“And she will. I have complete faith in Maplehaven PD.”

“That’s good to hear.” Donovan walked from the driveway with Landon, both of them toting materials.

Christian brought his brother up to speed and handed over the pictures.

“He did turn those twins down,” Landon said. “We saw it with our own eyes, right, Donovan?”

“We did,” Donovan said. “He talked to them for a few minutes then came back to our table.”

“Where we’d devoured the brownie sundae the twins had sent him,” Landon added.

“Great brownie.” Donovan rubbed his stomach. “Then Ben and Jared went over to the twins. Do we know how they made out?”

“Or more specifically, if they made out?” Landon asked, chuckling.

“They didn’t say,” Christian said. “But I haven’t heard from them all day today.”

“You should check on them,” Nicole said. “If those twins are involved with Lynda, they could be dangerous.”

“Good point.” Christian pulled out his phone and sent Ben and Jared a quick group text. He waited for replies while Donovan asked Nicole a few more questions about today’s events at the studio.

Ben replied first. Twins asked a bunch of questions about you, which Jared and I didn’t answer. Then they took off.