Mr. Heartbreaker Jordan Marie Page 0,41

girls in your past, it’s no wonder.”

“You’re telling me that you wouldn’t try for my brother if the opportunity arose, or we didn’t work out?”

“First of all, what you’re suggesting is just gross. Secondly, you and I aren’t together to work out. Will you let me go, please? I need to—”

“You need to give me a second chance,” I tell her, holding her gaze with my own.

“A second chance to what? Blackmail me? You did great at that the first time. No reason to try a second time,” she gripes.

“Violet, let’s start over. Spend time with me. Give me a chance. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t regret it.”

“Mike—”

“Please, baby?” I beg, sensing her softening toward me, but also knowing that I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

I want her.

“I bet you’ve never begged a girl before,” she mumbles, with a drawn-out exhale of breath—that for some reason gives me hope.

“I’ve never begged anyone,” I respond, and I’m kind of lying, I have begged to my father, at least early on. She doesn’t need to know that. I want her to want me. I don’t want her pity. “It’s never been more important to me, though, Violet. Give me another chance.”

“Chance for what? What exactly are we doing here, Mike?”

“I think you know the answer to that. If you’re honest with yourself it’s the only reason you’ve put up with my bullshit to begin with. You like me Violet, as much as I like you,” I tell her, praying she’ll admit it. There’s no way in fuck she likes me the same. Hell, I’m obsessed with her. But, I can’t tell her that. It would probably scare the hell out of her.

It scares me.

“You haven’t given me a chance to like you, Mike.”

“That’s going to change. Starting today, if you agree.”

“You’re saying you’re going to keep my secret, not give me shit about dancing and do your best to be a decent human being?” she asks, and I can’t blame her for being skeptical.

“I still don’t really like you up there dancing,” I mutter, unable to lie. She immediately stiffens, but I don’t let her leave my arms. “But, I can deal. I just… I need you to give us another go, Vi. I promise you won’t regret it.”

“I already do,” she responds, resigned.

“That mean you’re staying?”

“I don’t know how I’ll explain the change to Mr. D and the board of the BMA, but I guess,” she mutters.

“I’m going to kiss you, Angel,” I tell her, feeling the weight on my shoulders begin to lift. Hell, I’m barely resisting the urge to yell out in victory.

“Don’t make me regret this, Mike. I may be attracted to you, but there’s no reason I should be. If you hurt me or play me for the fool again—”

“Not happening, Violet. You’re going to see a different Michael Huntington from here on out.”

“Do you even know who Michael Huntington is?” she asks, proving she’s smarter than anyone I’ve ever had in my life.

“Not yet, but I’m hoping we’ll find that out together, Angel.”

“Kiss me before I regret this decision even more,” she orders and I smile as I take her mouth, claiming it, but doing it with more tenderness than I’ve ever shown her—with more tenderness than I ever knew existed. I do it because it’s Violet and she matters.

She just might be all that matters period.

I’m claiming her and I’m never going to let her get away.

26

Violet

“Hey baby,” Mike says as I walk outside.

I’m still getting used to that. I’m not sure how to react. It’s been a week since Mike came by my place. I stopped my transfer papers, and came back to school and Mike. He’s been an attentive boyfriend ever since. Boyfriend. I laugh at the word. There’s nothing boyish about Mike in the least.

“What are you smiling about?” I ask him when I make it over to where he is sitting and talking to Ben and Davis.

“I saw you and knew I’d get to taste those lips of yours again,” he says with a goofy smile on his face.

See? What girl could stand against that?

It’s definitely not me, as evidenced by the way I let Mike kiss me, pull me against his body, his arms wrapping around me as he explores my mouth hungrily. I feel his hand move down my back, his touch warming my skin, even through my clothes. His hands flatten and slide against my