Bittersweet (Redemption #3) - Jessica Prince Page 0,89

you to leave.”

I hated hurting my brother, it felt like shoving a hot poker into my chest, but when I told Jensen it was just me, him, and our son, that nothing else mattered, I meant it.

“Shaney,” Stone whispered, looking and sounding wrecked.

“I think you should go. I need time to cool off because right now, I’m so mad at you I can’t see straight. I need you to give me that, Stone. And I need you to take some time and really think about whether or not this is something you can get on board with. But just for the record, I hope like hell you can, because I’ve really loved having my big bro back.”

He looked like he was about to say something but thought better of it. Then, with a resolute nod, he turned on the heel of his motorcycle boot and walked out the door. I stared at it in silence for several seconds before pulling in a stuttered inhale. Jensen was there a moment later, turning me around and pulling me to him so I could faceplant in his chest and let everything I was feeling just then wash over me.

His arms wrapped around me instantly, the hold so strong and comforting, so familiar, it was like I’d never lost it. “You okay?”

“No,” I answered honestly. “But I will be. Just might take me a little while to get there.”

He gave me a squeeze, bending his neck and pressing his lips to the top of my head. “He’ll get there, honey. Just give him a little time. He loves you something fierce, so he’ll get there.”

I pulled my arms from between our bodies and wrapped them around his waist. “Thanks, baby.”

“What do you need from me?”

God. How did I think I could ever stop loving this man?

“Just this,” I answered honestly. “What you’re doing right now, just holding me, it’s all I need. But as much as it pains me to say this, I’m beat. That took too much out of me. I think we may need to take a raincheck on the late-night ride.”

Jensen pulled back just enough to place his fingers beneath my chin and tip my head back so he could see my eyes. He searched them for a second, and when he saw for himself that I was well and truly okay, he said, “Bike’s not going anywhere, sunshine. We got all the time in the world.”

At that, I smiled huge, because he was right. We had all the time in the world.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jensen

The phone on my desk buzzed right before Willow’s nervous voice came through the intercom. “Mr. Rose, you have a Mr. Hendrix here to see you.”

I paused with my hand halfway to the button. It had been three days since I got Shane back, since my family became whole, and while those three days had been incredible, I knew my woman was still stressing over the fight she’d had with her brother. She put on a brave face, acting like everything was perfect, but I could see the worry that lingered deep in her expressive honey-brown eyes.

“You can send him back, Willow. And for the millionth time, will you please call me Jensen?”

“Yes, Mr. Rose,” she replied, then the line went dead and I let out a beleaguered sigh.

Stone rapped his knuckles on my open door a few seconds later. “Am I interruptin’?”

“Depends,” I answered, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms over my chest. “If you’re here looking for a fight or to tell me to stay away from Shane, I’m busy. You’re here for another reason, my schedule’s open.”

The corner of his mouth trembled as he fought back a smirk. “Not lookin’ for a fight,” he answered. “I’m here to make shit right.”

“Then, like I said, my schedule’s open. Have a seat.”

He moved into the office and took a seat across from my desk, kicking his long legs out and crossing his booted feet at the ankle. “So, your receptionist’s brutally shy, huh?”

I let out a short chuckle. “To the point it’s almost painful to witness.”

“Figured that much. Girl took one look at me and turned so white I thought she was gonna keel over outta fright.”

“We take her as she is ’cause she’s smart as hell and damn good at her job.” Done with the small talk, I shifted my position, leaning forward in my chair and bracing my forearms on the desk. “So, you said you wanted to make shit right. Why’re