Mr. Heartbreaker Jordan Marie Page 0,56

back of my neck and his thumb brushing against my jawline.

“What do you want from me, Violet?” he asks.

“Nothing, Mike. I just… I want to help you,” I admit, feeling like I’m doing anything but.

“You do help me. Right now, you’re the only thing that feels real in this crazy world. If this had happened and you weren’t part of my life, I hate to think how fucked up I’d be right now. You’re the light in the darkness for me.”

“I love you,” I tell him, tears stinging my eyes.

“I don’t know why. I’ve been an asshole from day one. Hell, I’ve been an asshole my whole life. I sure as hell didn’t do anything to make you want to stay with me.”

“Obviously that’s not true, because I’m right here,” I smile.

“I love you, Violet. I don’t deserve you, but I love you.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself. You’re not responsible for the failures of people in your life who were supposed to look out for you.”

“I’m not, am I?” he asks, sounding resigned…and bitter.

“Definitely not. You aren’t responsible for their actions and inactions,” I tell him, emphatically. He needs to understand that… if nothing else.

“You’re sounding like an expert there, Angel.”

“With the family I had?” I laugh, shaking my head. “You can’t help but to come to those conclusions, Mike. It’s going to all work out, you know? You and me? That’s the only thing either one of us need.

“I do know that,” he says, pulling me in so he can kiss me. “I just don’t know why you put up with me. You could do so much better,” he adds, our foreheads resting against one another.

“Stop that, you’re talking about the man that I love,” I murmur, smiling.

“If finding out the truth about who my father was, and leaving them behind led me to you, Violet, I’d do it over and over. I would have wanted it even sooner, I need you to know that.”

I stare into his eyes. I have to admit, I was worried that all of this was my fault but hearing that from Mike and knowing he’s telling me the truth—because I can see it on his face, alleviates my fears.

“If someone had told me that first day I saw you that you would turn into the answer to every dream I never knew I had, I would have laughed my ass off,” I mutter.

“I’ll give you one better than that, Angel,” he says and the sweetness in his voice makes my heart squeeze in my chest.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“If someone had told me that you would come into my life, I would go back and never look at another woman. I’d wait for you.”

“Mike—”

“You’re everything to me, Violet.”

“Shut up,” I cry.

“Violet—”

Tears sting my eyes, and a few slide out from the corners. I can’t stop them, because there’s too much emotion surging through me. My whole life I’ve always felt unworthy. To hear him say that, knowing he truly feels like that…

“You’re making me cry, you big goober,” I mutter, using the back of my hand to wipe my face.

Mike lets out a startled laugh.

“You’re not supposed to laugh at me!” she complains.

“I was being honest and maybe a little romantic,” he explains, still laughing.

“You were!” I huff and that just makes him laugh louder. “Shut up and make love to me, Mike,” I grumble.

He holds me close and proceeds to do exactly that.

34

Mike

One Week Later

“Shit,” I mutter when I open up the door.

Standing there looking at Parker and Ida Sue. There’s a third guy with them, and I frown, wondering what on earth is in my brother’s head.

“Hello to you too, brother,” Parker laughs.

“Do you have any idea what time it is, Parker?”

“It’s ten in the morning,” he says calmly.

“It’s about twenty after now, Parker dear,” Ida Sue interrupts.

“It’s Saturday. Anyone in their right mind should be in bed.”

“Only if you’re sick, or venturing in a little dragon slaying,” Ida Sue supplies helpfully.

Parker holds his head down and pinches the bridge of his nose, but I can see the smile on his lips. Pretty sure I’d be smiling too—if I didn’t have to fool with them this morning. I’m not ready. I should have known that he wouldn’t give me the luxury of time. The way I’ve been avoiding his calls, I’m surprised he waited this long.

“You going to invite us in little brother? Or are we going to stand outside and have this shit out?”

“I don’t see that we have to