Page 103 of Lost Lyrebird

“Ask me,” I repeat in a softer, pleading tone.“Please.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

I don’t know why—it’s unexpected and comes so swiftly I’m not prepared for it—but anger and annoyance slam into me with such force, because yes, it fucking matters.Whatever it was, I can tell it matters a whole hell of a lot to her.She’s hiding her feelings, lying straight to my face, and she knows I hate it.If it was anyone else, I’d say fuck off.Have a nice life.I don’t need people who can’t be real with me in my life.But this isn’t anyone.This is Lily.

“Goddamn it, woman.I said fuckin’ ask me.”

This is one of those moments Dozer mentioned, and this time I’m not going to let it slip through my fingers.

Seeing my resolve, something sparks in her eyes.She comes back just as fierce and tries to push me away.I force her back and brace my arms against the wall beside her head.

“We’re not leaving this spot until you do,” I growl at her.Her eyes blaze with fury, but I couldn’t give a fuck, until she looks away and won’t look me directly in the eye.I grab her chin and force her to.

“Open that pretty mouth and ask what’s on your mind.”

“It’s not my business,” she says through gritted teeth.

“Make it your business.Come on, you’ve got me.Right here.Right now.My full attention and my permission, even.”

“Fine.”It takes a moment for the words to spill from her pretty, petal-pink lips.“Is his mom… what was… what is she to you?You know, with what we’ve done together, I guess I wanted to know if I took advantage of the situation and put you in a difficult position.”It’s spit with some venom.The heat in her gaze spreads warmth through my chest.

“You think I’d cheat on my woman if I had one?”

She shrugs.Fucking shrugs.

“What do the words say on my body, Lily?The ones you can see?”I hold my arm out and twist it so she can easily read the words inked there.

Her eyes trail over my biceps and forearms.I can feel it as if it’s a physical touch.

“Could mean shit.”

Ohhh, ho, ho.This fucking woman.The gravel coating my tone leaves nothing to the imagination.“Not to me.These are the fucking words I live by.That I’ll die by.”I brush my hand through her hair and push some strands away from her eyes, then cup her cheek.“You’d know more about that if you didn’t avoid me every fucking day.”

“How long were you with her?”The tone she uses, the clipped words, finally give me some insight.She’s jealous.The green monster that has been ever-present inside me since she showed up is right there, shining out of the glare she’s leveling on me.

My cock likes this very much.

I lean closer.“We were never together.Not like that.”

“Was she some past fling or something—a one-night stand?”

I shake my head.Wrong again.

I think of Mateo’s mom and feel so much regret for not doing more when I could have.Joey’s wife, or widow now, has been through a lot.My best friend’s death was hard on her, on them both.He was killed in the line of duty, but I’ve suspected for a long time that Veno had something to do with it.Joey arrested him all those years ago, and Veno promised he would make him pay.

I have no proof.It’s just a gut instinct.

I took over being the father figure in Mateo’s life when Joey died, and I’ve never disputed being his father when people ask.So yeah, I can see how she’d get the wrong idea from the women at the club.

“No.She’s a friend’s wife.”My thumb rubs over her jaw.I’m taken in by the beauty mixed with pain that I see in her irises.She glares up at me as she tries to understand.Even the ridge above her lip leading to her nose is cute—all the small things about her get to me.I swear I could stare at this woman for hours on end and never get enough.Which makes me want to punch myself for not telling her the day I hired her that I’d find her something else, another job, so we could figure out this attraction.“He’s not my son, Lily.”

Her eyes widen.“What?”

“Exactly what I said.”

The warmth of her body seeps into mine.I don’t miss how fucking phenomenal it feels to have her warm body and curves pressed against me.“He’s not mine.But for all intents and purposes, I’m the father figure in his life.When his dad, Joey, my best friend, died, I stepped up to help his wife and Mateo, his son.When she met her new man, and Mateo and the guy weren’t getting along, he moved in as a temporary fix.He needed a place to stay, and I had the room.”I shrug.“I owed it to his dad to step up, because he did the same for me many times over when I needed it the most.”

She studies my face.“You’re serious?”