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There’s a hint of shame in her voice, and I don’t like it at all.

“Why would I stop you from being yourself?”

She chews her lip and stares at the piece of bread on her plate. “It’s not that. I mean”—she shrugs—“I used to be told that I was too loud or too emotional sometimes. So I sometimes warn people beforehand, but it’s a habit I’ve been trying to break.”

Emotions flood through me. Rage at whoever made her feel that way, frustration that I can’t fix it, and sorrow that she would ever second-guess her worth.

“I know this is our first date,” I say slowly, and she looks at me curiously, “but I wouldstronglyrecommend that you never,everapologize for who you are or give a disclaimer about yourself.”

Devyn’s eyes sparkle, and she nods. “Ben has said the same thing,” she says. “And I try not to, but…old habits, you know?” She gives me a reassuring smile. “Does that mean I can be as loud as I want now? What if I scream so loud that the restaurant kicks us out?”

I shrug. “Then I guess we’ll have to find a new restaurant. Also, it wouldn’t be the first time.”

She gives me a curious look. “What?”

“Ace has gotten us kicked out of plenty of bars and restaurants in the past. You may think you’re a lot, but Ace is something else, and I love him just the same.”

Devyn gives me a full grin, uncertainty no longer marring her features. “He sounds fun.”

I raise an eyebrow. “If by fun, you mean legitimately crazy, sure.”

But I’m grinning, too. I can’t stop smiling around Devyn, and when we discuss Ace together, it makes my chest ache.

“I met him a few days ago. I think he liked me,” she says softly.

I nod. “He did.”

I don’t bother to add that once he got home that day, he begged me to fuck him, rock hard from meeting her. I don’t tell her that he sank his teeth into a pillow when he came all over the couch, moaning out her name while I pounded into him.

“I think you’ll like Ben,” she adds. “I know you only talked for a few moments, but I think when we all get together, you’ll get along really well.”

“It’s obvious how much he cares for you. I already do,” I admit. “I have a good feeling about him, just like I have one about you.”

There is one thing I haven’t mentioned to her, though. I know her boyfriend is a detective, but he’s only worked within the Isleton police department from what I’ve researched.

Hopefully, Ben doesn’t know Ace by his legal name.

His life of crime is behind him, and as far as I know, he was never in any trouble in Isleton.

If he was, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Our first course arrives, and her eyes widen when she sees the soup bowl. She takes a bite and turns bright red, covering her mouth with her hand.

“That good?” I murmur, amused.

“I need the reciperight now,” she growls, and once again, I grin like an idiot.

I haven’t smiled this much since my first date with Ace, and after that night, I was already half in love with him.

I am so fucked.

* * *

“You really grewup in Stone County?!” Her bright eyes are as wide as saucers, and she pauses mid bite on her lobster tail. Butter drips from her fork down to the plate as she gapes at me.

Dinner has gone fantastic so far. Devyn is easy company, and I find I keep wanting to talk with her.

When she looks at me, there’s genuine interest in what I have to say.