Page 25 of Unmasking You (Hidden Hearts #1)

Jamie

Six months later

I roll the liquid around inside the glass, wondering how long I have to stay so as not to look rude. Glancing around, I watch everyone engaged in conversations, all happy to be here.

I would be happy if it weren’t for the fact that Shane wasn’t next to me. He promised to spend time with me, so here I am, passing time before he shows up.

I let my mind wander to the last six months we’ve spent together. We still have our own places, but Shane spends most of his time at mine, unless he’s busy like today, and then it’s me following him around.

I would never have guessed that Shane was—is—as broken as I am. That horrible day robbed him of his life just as much as it did mine.

Can I say we are no longer broken?

No. I can’t.

There are days when I’m still angry at him because he chose to follow his father’s teachings and have an easy life.

There are other days that we support each other through the difficulties of life.

Then there are those days… the days I love the most, when everything but us seems unimportant. Those days when we love each other like we did ten years ago. No judgment, no fear, and no trauma.

I love those days. We take the bike and go out for a ride. A freedom I never had before fills me, and some of the pain goes away.

Our life is not a bed of roses, but I wouldn’t change any of it.

I love when I’m at my desk and Shane and Queeny come in to pull me out and remind me I have a life outside of work. Shane always brings a cup of hot chocolate because life is better with something sweet. Then he pulls me up and moves us around until I’m sitting on his lap. Once we’re settled, he does things to me that make Queeny run away.

Even my Queeny loves Shane. Sometimes I believe she loves him more than me, but I don’t complain. After all, he risked his life to save hers.

I take a sip of my drink and glance around the room again. I don’t want to be someone else anymore. I’m happy to be me.

Movement to my right pulls me away from my thoughts. I watch as his lips touch the glass, and then my face goes up in flames when he licks them, and my cock pushes against my slacks.

“That should be illegal,” I murmur to myself, but the laugh coming from him tells me I wasn’t low enough.

“Red really suits you,” he says, leaning so close that his breath washes over me, capturing all my attention.

My face gets even brighter, but his wink makes me laugh.

He smiles at me, leaning closer, leaving about an inch between our lips. “Have we met before?”

I shake my head, trying to bring the blood back. “Yes, we have. It’s John , isn’t it?”

His laugh fills the room, and every head turns around to look at us.

“Can I show you the gardens, Kitty ?”

Silly man, using those silly nicknames we gave each other at the charity event. It’s been a long time since I thought about the encounter that set us up to overcome the past and finally have a go at loving each other.

“You can show me everything, love,” I say, pulling him closer to kiss him.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m always okay when you’re with me, John .”

“Good,” he says, playing with my tie.

I don’t force him to tell me what’s on his mind because we’re past the time when he didn’t share with me.

We tell each other everything, the good, the bad, and what’s in between. No secrets and no hiding, only love and acceptance for the imperfect people we are.

“I love you,” he says, and my lips curve in a small smile.

I live for those moments when he tells me and I get the chance to say it back. “I love you too.”

“Enough to live with me twenty-four seven?”

I take his face in between my palms. “You. Shane. Campbell. Make. Me. Happy.” I stress each word with a kiss. I love how his lips tremble and how his arms pull me towards him to keep me close. “I want to live with you until we’re old and grey.”

“I want that too, Kitty.”

“Then take me home and make me happy,” I whisper against his ear, and I chuckle when he shivers and curses.

“Oh, damn,” he says, standing up and pulling me with him. “Forever, Kitty. I’ll make you happy forever.”

I still can’t believe he’s mine.

But there is one thing I trust.

I’ll fight everyone and everything to have him, to keep him, to love him.

Every minute.

Every day.

Forever .