Breaking Bro Code (The Line Up #4) - Misti Murphy Page 0,71
a man who chooses you over anybody else. Who looks at you and tells you to your face that you are worth dropping everything else for. That’s who you are. You put your heart into everything. The least you deserve is someone who opens up his.”
“What happened anyway?” Lewis asks. “Most people recover from broken hearts. This guy has held onto his like it’s a fucking trophy.”
“I…” My shoulders slump and I twist my glass in the wet ring from the condensation trickling down the sides. I don’t really know what happened, do I? Only that his ex is marrying his brother and Cap’N Crunch said his life story belonged on the Maury Povich show. It’s almost as though he’s opened up to me more easily as the Captain despite all our years in each other’s lives. So maybe—
“Sorry it took me so long.” Vale joins us. His arm goes around my waist and tugs me to him.
“Hey, lover boy.” Kiki wiggles her fingers at him as she goes back to sipping her drink.
“Hey.” Lewis lifts his beer.
The warmth of Vale’s body seeps through the material of my dress. His lips caress my temple. The way he holds me stops the butterflies in my belly from making me queasy. His fingers splay across my hip possessively. “I’m so sorry if you thought I was flirting with someone else. I don’t want to be that guy with you. I’ll do better. Try harder.”
I twist in his grasp and draw him into a lingering kiss. My friends don’t know Vale like I do. They don’t see that he’s sweet and so freaking steadfast it breaks my heart that he went through some kind of hell to become this person. So if he needs to take his time letting me in the least I can do is let him. “I was a little jealous.”
“I really didn’t flirt with her,” he says.
“I jumped to conclusions.” I rest my forehead against his, my hands on the nape of his neck. “It’s just I really like you.”
He smiles as his fingers stroke the spot below my ear. “I like you too, Violet Queen. A lot.”
“You knew?” I step back so I can peer into his eyes.
“I figured it out while you were flipping out over the cereal back there.” He points a thumb at the bar where Lake is still serving the masses. “That was you figuring it out too, wasn’t it?”
“How did we not see it?” I ask.
“I think perhaps I did know,” he says cautiously. “On some level. I think I just didn’t want to lose that communication at the start when you weren’t talking to me, so I ignored it.”
“I still don’t understand how I missed it.”
“Does it matter?” he asks. “Does it change anything?”
“No.”
“I remember you in that Sailor Mars costume.” He smirks. “You were so damn cute.”
“I still have it,” I say. “Perhaps I could break it out when we’re home for an extra special evening of fun and sex.”
“Damn, Lil.” His blue orbs turn sultry. His fingers flex on my hips and a puddle of warmth settles in my core. “You’re so just…my ideal girl.”
I lift up on tiptoe and smile against his ear. He might not be ready to tell me how he feels, but that’s okay. I can wait. “Oh captain, my captain.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Vale
Violet Queen: And we’re done. The Gladstone Group loved our work. We’re coming home a day early. Do not let Hud know. I just want to see you tonight.
Cap’N Crunch: Oh thank fuck for that. I didn’t think I could handle another night without seeing you. What time do you get in? Shall I pick up dinner? And wine?
Cap’N Crunch: Your brother is a real pain in the ass. He keeps trying to read over my shoulder.
Violet Queen: Oh no.
Cap’N Crunch: Don’t worry, pretty girl. I’ve got him handled.
Violet Queen: I’ll be at your door at eight. Pizza and wine sounds like a winner. You have no idea how horny I am right now.
I hiss between my teeth as I covertly adjust Goliath who has hulked out inside my jeans while I’m standing here behind the bar. I’m damn lucky he hasn’t torn through my fly.
It’s been a week since that night in the bar in L.A. I almost asked Lily to be my girlfriend. I wanted to… I just… I’m not there yet. And it’s not because I can’t imagine her being my whole world. Every day it becomes more apparent that my feelings