Page 14 of The Burdens We Share (Satan’s Angels #3)

I lean forward on the table, creating less distance between us, “You do realize that if anything, your motivation and your passion should be what your brother takes inspiration from, not your partying days?”

Her lips part slightly and her eyes look brighter. “Holy shit,” she whispers.

“What?” I look behind us to see if she notices something behind me that I didn’t. Suddenly, I’m on alert.

She laughs and I turn back around to face her with a questioning look. “You were just nice to me!” She points at me and I shake my head at her.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I retort, taking a sip of my water.

She laughs, “No, you were just nice to me. I didn’t know you had that in you. I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone right now.”

“Forgive me for trying to lighten your mood,” I say sarcastically, a stony expression on my face.

She teases, “Aw, don’t do that now, Dallas. You’re always so serious. It’s good to know you have a personality in there somewhere.”

I give her a hard look, “You know nothing about me.”

She rolls her eyes, “So then tell me something.”

“No.”

She groans, “Come on. I just told you all my family business. It’s your turn.” I want to correct her in my head and say, not all your family business because there’s more that I know that she didn’t share. Especially the parts about her father.

I deny her, “No.”

She puffs out her lip and frowns at me, “Why are you so boring?”

“If wanting to keep things about my life private is boring, then I apologize for being boring.”

She gazes at me a moment longer before she tears her eyes off of me and leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. I glance down at her bowl, “You really should eat more of that. You hardly ate anything today.”

“I’m fine,” she says dismissively and looks away from me.

She doesn’t say another word, nor does she eat anything else.

I pay the bill and usher us both out of the restaurant, away from the paps, and into my car.

When I pull away from the curb I turn to find her with her head pressed against the window and her body curled into itself.

She looks so fragile, like she could break at any moment.

I want her to speak to me the way she did in the restaurant.

Before I ruined it with my dismissal and refusal to open up to her about myself.

I don’t talk about myself or my family with anyone.

The only person who knows my business is my brother, Travis, and Harvey.

I’m sure Brody knows a thing or two about me from either Harvey or me on the phone with Harvey, but she hasn’t shared any of my business with her friends.

When we pull into Ivory’s driveway, I shut off the car and make a move to get out.

I notice her door doesn’t open and she makes no move to exit.

She’s very still and I lean forward to get a better look at her face only to find that she’s sound asleep.

Her breaths are steady and I don’t want to wake her.

After the emotional stress she endured today, she deserves some sleep.

I quietly get out of my car and close my door behind myself before I walk to the passenger side and open her door.

I lean forward and unbuckle her and as I do so, I get a whiff of her perfume.

She smells heavenly and I wonder what the scent is.

It’s floral in a way, but there’s also a trace of musk. It’s captivating, just like she is.

I carefully and very gently reach one arm behind her back to support her shoulders and the other under her knees.

I lift her off the seat easily and settle her into my arms. I notice immediately how perfectly her body molds against mine.

She fits in my arms like she was made to be there.

Her head rolls against my chest and I pause to make sure I didn’t wake her.

I can feel her small breaths on my neck and I continue moving with her in my arms as I close the car door quietly with my hip so as not to wake her before I walk up the gray stone walkway that leads to her front door.

I use the hand under her knees to carefully set her down, still supporting her weight while I dig inside my pocket for my phone.

I use it to unlock her door and open it before I put my phone away and pick her up once more.

I carry her through the entryway and all the way up the stairs and to her bedroom.

I know part of her may panic tomorrow when she wakes up in her room, her anxiety from the break-in is still severe.

I’ll wake up early enough to ensure I’m close by when she wakes.

I’ll be there just in case she has a panic attack of some kind.

I gently lay her down on her bed and sweep those fiery pink strands away, like clearing the storm off her face.

I pull a blanket over her and take a step away.

I know I should go back to the guest room I’m residing in and that I should leave her be, but I can’t help this burning desire I have to take in her perfect face, her peace.

She looks so peaceful in sleep, yet also so exhausted like she’s fighting battles even in her dreams.

This stalker of hers is the cause and I want nothing more than to catch him and make him regret ever laying eyes on her, but part of me also wants him out there on the prowl so I can stick around her for longer. Like I said, I never claimed to be a good man.