The Broody Brit for Christmas (Holiday Springs #1) - M.J. Fields Page 0,79
someone trying to own her.”
“She’s not yours, you twat!” Raff roars.
“Please just take me home.” I put my hands on his chest and push him back. He’s nearly unmovable. “Please, Raff. I want to—”
“You’re already living off of another man?” Townes' menacing laugh echoes through the air, and Raff steps forward. I turn around facing Townes, using my back to attempt to push Raff back. “Perhaps Mother was right about you, Nikki.”
Before I even have time to think, I slap him across the face so hard my hand stings.
“You fucking hit me?” Townes gasps.
“Bloody brilliant he is.” Raff hoists me up, grabbing the bag full of my things, and walks toward his motorcycle.
“Why are you driving a motorcycle in November?” I ask.
“My fucking vehicle was blocked. Get on, Nikki Winterfield. Now.”
Hands shaking, I put on my jacket, stuffing my purse in the saddlebag. I’ve only been on the bike once in my life, and I didn’t like it at all. But this time, it feels even worse. He’s angry, and I know I messed up. I should have called him, or at the very least, sent him a text. I get behind him, my hands digging into his muscular chest as he takes off. I hold him so tightly, just needing this. I know once we get off, there will be hell to pay.
I bury my face against his back, my body as snug against his as it can possibly be, and still, I’m not close enough.
I wonder if this is what it feels like when your heart slowly breaks.
Back in Holiday Springs, it only takes moments to get into the building using the back entrance. I have to run up the stairs to keep up with him.
The front door barely closes behind us when he says, “Explain.” His dark hair sticks up in all directions. I want to put my hands through it. But more than that, I want to talk to him.
I know that’s weird, but Raff has become my best friend. And I need that friend right now to hear me out. Everything with Townes is done. Dead. I want to jump for joy that the chapter is closed. Instead, my entire body is vibrating in fear. Am I about to lose Raff?
“I didn’t tell you I was meeting with him because I did not want to upset you, hurt you.” I swallow hard, but he’s staring at me, waiting for more.
“I gave him back the stupid ring that’s been in the stupid Jeep.”
“Why the hell do you still have it?” he snaps.
“I didn’t even think about it until today when he called. I swear I hadn’t talked to him, hadn’t even looked at social media since you and I.” I stop when I realize I’m crying and bat away tears. “You wanna know the truth, Raff?”
“Of course, I want the damn truth!”
“I’ve been so busy falling in love with you that I didn’t—”
“Shut up, Nikki, just shut up.” He steps toward me, and I jump back.
“No. I love you, Raff. And only you. You’ve been the best thing to ever happen to me. You make me the best version of myself. I didn’t expect what we have to fall into my lap. Sometimes I imagine God must really be watching out for me because he brought me to you. I wanted to fight it, but honestly, you didn’t let me.”
“God damn it, Red,” his hand grabs the back of my head, and he grips my hair, “shut up.”
His mouth crashes against mine, and we kiss like it’s our first, our middle, and our end, but the direction unclear.
I force myself to pull back and look into his eyes in search of the answer.
He takes my face in his hands and wipes my tears away. “I didn’t let you fight me. From the moment we met, I couldn’t let you go. I didn’t then, and I won’t now. Red, I love you. Nathaniel loves you. We have since the word go. We want you with us, the three of us as a team. But you can’t do shit like that to us. You can’t without it damaging something in here.”
He pulls one of his hands off my face and places it on his chest.
“I’ll kiss it better, Rafferty Graham. I promise I’ll—”
“You’ll do better than that.”
I grip his shirt and pull him toward me. “Anything.”
“You’ll start work Tuesday because tomorrow we’re car shopping and moving you in.”