This Much is True - Tia Louise Page 0,68
in the bed. “I ran into this guy’s room to hide, and we got to talking, and I told him about Pancake Paradise, and he offered to give me money so I could reopen. Only he wants me to move to Monterey…” JR’s brow lowers, and his eyes go from glowing and loving to super pissed. I exhale a little laugh. “What’s wrong?”
“Some guy you don’t know offered you money?”
Biting my bottom lip, more warmth flares in my chest. Is he jealous? “No, no. It’s not like that. He’s an investor. He said to update my business plan and send it to his secretary.”
“How do you know?”
“I Googled him.” It’s my turn to slide the hair off his forehead. Such pretty hair. “Yars already knew who he was. She says he’s the richest man in Manhattan.”
I realize that sort of rhymes, but JR is not buying it. “I don’t like it. He wants in your pants.”
“John Roth Dunne, he does not.” I shake my head and laugh. “Stephen Hastings is a happily married man with two children—”
“And you’re a beautiful young girl who turns into this beam of sunlight whenever you talk about your restaurant. You’re fucking irresistible.”
This time I can’t resist. My eyes warm, and I press my lips together before pushing my arms around his neck and kissing him firmly on the mouth. Our lips part, and our tongues slide together as he rolls me onto my back, deepening the kiss, taking my breath away.
He lifts his head, and when our eyes meet, it’s hot and demanding. “I don’t want some strange guy giving you money.”
My insides are sparkling, and I’m sure it’s showing in the grin I can’t hide. “That’s kind of how investors work.”
“Then I want to meet him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Make sure he knows this is strictly a business transaction.”
I kind of super-love this possessive side of him. “I’m pretty sure he already knows that.”
“I want to know that he knows that.”
“Tell you what.” Lifting my head, I kiss him again briefly. “If I even see him again in person, I’ll be sure you’re there with me.”
“Good.” He leans down and kisses me again, slower, heating my core. “Although I still don’t like it.”
My forehead crinkles. “Why not?”
“I want to give you everything you need.”
“Oh.” I shake my head, hugging myself closer to him, pressing my bare chest to his and loving the feel of our bodies together. “You already do.”
Jr
Hope in my arms is like coming home.
Her body molds to mine like we were made to be together, perfect and beautiful. I bury my nose in her hair and breathe deeply… Vanilla and something different. Caramel?
Her talking about some guy making her dream come true has me angry and hot. I want to fuck her again. I want to wrap her body around mine and make love. I want to be the man who gives her everything she wants. I want to make her life mine. We’ve never had a chance to say the words, but I think she feels the same.
When I realized I had Clyde’s confession, my first thought was I’m free. My second thought was Find Hope. Nothing stands in our way now. I can come to her with clean hands.
I can ask her if she wants to try.
I can make a promise…
I can tell her the truth. She fills a part of me I didn’t know was lacking. The sunshine in her hair, the sparkle in her eyes, all of it turns the anger in my chest to peace. She changed me. Hell, she kept me from punching my dad in the face. She made me have faith again. She’s my hope.
Her soft cheek is against my chest. Her finger traces the lines along my stomach, and it feels so good. She’s in my arms, and I’m on the right path again. It’s all coming back to me now, and I’ll do whatever it takes to hold onto her.
“That 911 operator sure got an earful.” She lifts her head. Our eyes meet, and she’s so adorable.
Threading my fingers in her hair, I chuckle. “You called the cops on me.”
“I thought you were a burglar.” Slim fingers lightly trace the lines of ink above my pec. “This much is true… What does it mean?”
I take her fingers in my hand and kiss the tips. “People lied to me, and because of their lies, I lost everything, my son, my freedom, my reputation… I decided the only thing I can