Nightshift
Page 26
A soft smile curved Roni’s lips. “I have three brothers. I know about men being asses.” Looking back at Clint, she took the pistol out of her pocket and held it out to him. “Are you good with starting over?”
He nodded, took the pistol, slipped it back in his pocket. Turning to Jamieson, he lowered his head, placed one fist over his heart, and dropped to one knee. “Sire.”
Jamieson touched the top of Clint’s head. “Rise, Clint. We have a lot to celebrate. Our packs will soon become one.”
Clint rose to his feet, held out a hand to Jay. “I, uh, apologize for ... everything.”
“It’s over.” Jay accepted Clint’s hand. “Fresh start begins now.”
Clint nodded again, then drew Roni into his arms for a hug. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“I know.” She cradled his face in her hands. “I can feel the tension still in you. Why don’t you go take a walk or something and come back later for dinner?”
A grin lifted one corner of his mouth. “Trying to get rid of me?”
“Jay and I need to talk privately. Plus he owes me a big apology. I plan to take a very long time to accept it.”
Jamieson clasped Clint’s shoulder. “If you don’t mind hanging out with me, I’ll buy you breakfast.” He glanced at Roni, then Jay. “Maybe lunch, too.”
Jay followed his father and Clint to the front door. He closed it, turned the dead bolt. When he faced Roni again, his heart jumped up to lodge in his throat. She stood with her arms crossed beneath her breasts, her chin high. The soft smile she’d given him earlier had disappeared.
“Exactly how big is that apology supposed to be?”
“Pretty damn big.”
“Would chocolate help?”
He thought he saw her lips twitch. “It would help, but it isn’t enough.”
“Yeah, I figured that.” Jay walked toward her. She uncrossed her arms, let them hang at her sides. Taking her hands, he raised them to his mouth and kissed her palms. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for hurting you. I never should have doubted you.”
Her eyes softened, love shining from them. “It’s over. Clint agreed to a fresh start. It’ll be one for us, too.”
He kissed her with all the love, all the desire, he felt for her. “We have a lot to talk about, Roni. What happens now, where we’ll live, your family, my family—”
A fingertip to his lips stopped him. “I agree we have a lot to talk about, later. Right now, I want the rest of my apology.”
Jay struggled not to grin. He had a feeling he knew exactly what she meant, but pretended he didn’t. “Do you want more words, or should I take you to bed and show you how much you mean to me?”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
Jay couldn’t stop the grin now. “I do love the way you think.” He scooped her up in his arms and headed for the stairs.
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Compilation copyright © 2011 by Kensington Publishing Corp.
“Dream Catcher” © 2011 by Kate Douglas
“Taken Between” © 2011 by Crystal Jordan
“The Right Number” © 2011 by Lynn LaFleur
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