by Dakota Gray
I take a steadying breath. “Why are you here, Nina?”
“Duke called my sister about a month ago, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that.”
That hits me right in the chest. “He did what?”
Her eyes widen for a second. “You didn’t know?”
I pull out my phone to ream him, but she leans forward and puts her hand over the phone. “Don’t you want to know what he said before you yell at him?”
“Not really but you look like you’re going to tell me anyway.”
“He simply wanted to know what happened so he could help you get through it.”
I glance at the floor. “He meddles, the fucker.”
She drops her hand from mine, and I hold every muscle in place because I just might grab her wrist so some part of us is touching. It hurts to be this close to her. Everything has been hurting for weeks. “So, I ask again, why are you here?”
Instead of answering, she climbs down from the treadmill. “When do you get off work?”
“Depends.”
She’s back to picking lint and I can only smile. “Nina?”
“There’s a little bar around the corner from here. A sports bar, actually. Maybe we could meet for drinks.”
“Drinks?”
“I promise I won’t ask you to take me on a hike on such short notice.”
“Why? I’ve been…” I scrub a hand down my face. “Don’t you hate me?”
She drops her gaze. “I never hated you. I was hurt. I was scared. I told myself whatever I felt for you would pass eventually, and not for one second have my emotions waned. But,” she looks up, “we fucked up the first time around. I don’t like living without you. So I was thinking if I could ask you out for drinks?”
I try to process her words and I can’t. “Drinks?”
“Yeah.”
I want so much more than that, and I’m not fool enough to keep that to myself. She should know my intentions. “You deserve to know the truth before I can accept.”
She licks her lips. “Tell me.”
“I love you.” Her sharp intake of breath makes me smile. “I love every dimple, every snarky reply, every dirty word or action. I love you, Nina. We can go out for drinks, but you need to know my heart is already yours.”
She drops her gaze then sniffs. I cup the back of her neck until she meets my gaze again. “How about this? I’ll be free in about an hour. We can go to the sports bar, or I can take you on a real date.”
When she smiles, her dimples makes me dizzy. “If we’re going on a date, I’m going to need more than an hour to get ready.”
So fucking prissy. I love it. “Then I’ll wait. I’ll wait for you forever.”
There’s a twinkle in her eyes. “Then you should know something.”
I lift her chin with my thumb and forefinger. “I think I know.”
She crosses her arms. “You’re insufferable.”
“Yep.”
“A know-it all.”
“Definitely.”
She bites her lip to try and contain the smile. “Well I’m not going to say it now.”
“You don’t have to. I can see it in your eyes.”
The smile wins. “What can you see?”
“You have plans, for the foreseeable future, to keep me on a steady diet of cornbread and—”
Nina kisses me, a laugh bubbling up. “I love you.”
The hole is still there. Maybe it will always be. The world is a shit show. I just know I will never let it have her…or me. “So, Nina Williams…”
She whistles low. “I like it when you say my full name, Mr. Hunter.”
“Say that again.”
“Mr. Hunter,” she purrs it.
“I can’t remember what I was about to say now.”
She pulls away her gaze smoldering. All I can do is just watch and yearn as she turns to walk away.
Until she throws over her shoulder. “Wear those sweatpants. They show off your Adonis line.”
I am stupid in love with her. “Wait. Come here.”
When she turns, her brows are up. “We’re back to that?”
“Never left it, but you should also know, one day I’m going to ask you a question, because I do want what my parents have.”
She walks back to me and puts her hand over my heart then balls her hand in my shirt. “I wouldn’t have asked you out for drinks if I didn’t know that. How could I not? Now watch me walk away, and die a little from wanting me.”
“The game you just hit me with.”
She laughs then pushes me back and struts across my part of the gym. Of course I watch, riveted. All I can think is this time I’m going to do the all the right things. We deserve it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dakota Gray is the author of the Filth series. She’s a longtime romance reader and she’s not ashamed to fangirl over heroes with dirty mouths, dirtier minds and a soft heart.
Gray writes the heroes you shouldn’t take home to mom, sassy heroines and sigh-worthy happily ever afters.
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AFTERWORD
This book would not exist without Romancelandia. Our community is both ugly and beautiful. Recently, you swooped in to help my sister. There really isn’t words.
Special thanks to Robin, Sasha and Ames. Y’all heifers know why.
Thank you to Bree and Donna.
Beks and Janet, MWAH
Suleikha, may we always be petty and bitchy friends
Not enough thanks in the world for Dayna. You’re the real MVP.
Readers and fans, thank you for your patience and being the best damn reminders for why I do what I do.
I’m sure I’m forgetting folks, but know I am grateful.
Last but not least, thank you to every woman who came forward with their stories the past year. You’re not alone.
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For those who need it: https://www.thehotline.org/
Love,
D
