"Remember, you aren't gonna let her have him tonight. You're back."
I nodded. Right. I was going to take back what was mine. Even if it wasn't mine anymore, I was gonna fight like hell.
"Okay. Hurry before I change my mind again."
"Two more minutes," Tripp said with a smile.
Those two minutes felt like hours. When Tripp finally pulled into Woods's driveway I almost wept with relief to see that his truck and my car were the only two vehicles there. That didn't mean he was alone, though. He could have brought someone there. The "she" in my mind still existed.
Tripp squeezed my hand. "Go get him," he said.
I couldn't talk. I was too nervous. I just nodded and opened the car door and stepped out. I hadn't even asked Tripp if he was staying and waiting on me or if he was going back to Macon to get his motorcycle. I couldn't think about that now.
I closed the door behind me and moved toward the stairs.
Then he drove away. I turned back to see Tripp pulling back onto the street. He stuck his hand out of the window and waved good-bye before speeding off. He'd just left me there.
I looked back to the front door and took a deep breath. Woods was in there. I was going to plead with him for a second chance if I had to. I was going to make sure I was the woman in his bed tonight.
The lights in the house were off. All I could see was a dim light in the bedroom. It almost looked like candlelight. Please, God, don't let it be candlelight. I gripped the railing as I walked up the stairs to the front door. He was never in bed this early. Maybe he isn't here. Maybe he's with Jace.
I reached the top step and stood there staring at his bedroom window. I was pretty sure that it was candlelight I was seeing there. It was flickering light. This was a bad idea.
No.
It wasn't.
He was mine, and I'd be damned if I was going to let some other woman have him. I would shove the candlelight up her ass.
I closed the distance between me and the door and knocked several times, then stood back and waited. If it took a while, that meant he had to get his clothes on.
The door swung open and there he stood. He had on a pair of khaki shorts and a white button-up shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. I loved it when he wore white. His dark skin was startling in white. I sucked in a deep, fast breath at the sight of him.
He didn't move. We just stood there, staring at each other. It had been almost three weeks since I'd left. It felt like forever since I'd seen his face.
"Hi," I managed to croak out.
"Hi," he replied, still standing in the doorway, looking like a beautiful fallen angel. Who had he gotten dressed up for? My nose caught a scent from inside and I stiffened. Someone was cooking. In the dark?
"Can I come in?" I asked.
He stepped back so I could enter the house. I didn't see her yet. But I smelled the food. Maybe she isn't here yet.
"Are you expecting someone?" I asked without looking back at him.
"Yes," he replied. His voice was low. He didn't want to tell me that. At least he was honest.
"Oh, I'll---" I stopped myself. I almost told him I'd be quick. I almost apologized. I wasn't going to do that. I was here to fight for him. Not lie down and let her have him.
"You should probably call her and tell her that your plans have changed," I said, turning around and facing him.
Something flashed in his eyes but the stupid lights were off and I couldn't see him well enough.
"Why's that, Della?" he asked as he took a step toward me.
I stood my ground. He was hurt. I had hurt him but I was back. Dammit. I was back. "Because if she steps foot in this house I will have to kick her ass." I snapped my mouth shut. I couldn't believe I'd said that.
A grin tugged at the corner of Woods's mouth as he took another step toward me. I didn't move away. I wanted him close. I wasn't going to run. "Hmm, someone's jealous," he said as he reached out and ran a finger along my jawline. I shivered.