Reaper mentally shook his head at himself. He’d paid for that burst of temper with nearly ten years of captivity, as well as what was left of his sorry life. The only thing that kept him sane was the desire for revenge on his tormentors.
“I can’t imagine you giving anyone a hard time, Ginny” Winter said, breaking the stilted silence from the two men.
Ginny rose from the couch, tugging her top down as she gave a self-effacing grimace. “Unfortunately, I used to be pretty obnoxious when I was younger. Thankfully, I grew out of it. I learned that you have to wait for something worth having.”
As Ginny approached him, she looked up at him. Reaper tried to ignore the silent message she was sending. Clenching his hand in his pocket, he stood still as a stone, despite the muscles in his legs shaking.
“I learned that something you had to wait for wasn’t worth having.” Reaper didn’t lift his eyes away from Ginny’s despite Winter’s gasp at his harsh rebuttal. If he hadn’t been afraid of the feelings rising inside him before, the resolute expression on her face terrified him now.
“Then you must have wanted the wrong thing. That’ll give you the wrong expectations every time. Maybe if you’re willing to change your point of view, you’d be able to see that you pinned your expectations on the wrong thing. But when you place them on the right one, you’ll get what you wanted all along, just in a different package.”
Was Ginny talking about Taylor? Or was he reading more into what she was saying? No one talked about Taylor in front of him, not even Calder, since he’d been there the day Taylor came to the rehabilitation center to see him.
“Or, in my viewpoint, I don’t want it anymore ... whatever package appears.”
Their eyes dueled, his flashing in anger that Ginny believed herself capable of fulfilling the hopes and dreams he had built in his mind with Taylor. He didn’t give a fuck if he was taking what she was saying out of context; he needed to make it plain that whatever momentary connection they made yesterday was just that and nothing else.
Her resolute gaze became tender, shining an inner strength into him, letting him know she wouldn’t back away, despite his refusal to acknowledge the instant attraction between them.
“Life is always everchanging; that’s what Viper, Winter, and I were discussing when you came in.” Diverting her gaze from him to Viper, she said, “I’ll think over what you said and let you know my decision.”
“Don’t do anything rash, Ginny,” Viper warned.
“I’m not going to make any promises I can’t keep. It was nice seeing everyone again.” Turning toward him, she held her hand out. “Gavin, meeting you was a bright spot in my trip home. Take care and try not to give Rider too hard a time.”
Her eyes dared him to take her hand. Unable to resist the challenge, his automatically raised. The palm of her hand against his had goosebumps traveling up his arm, reminding him of that long-ago afternoon on the beach when he was in high school. Turning their hands to the side until the back of her hand was upward, he removed his hand to stare down at the scarred flesh on Ginny’s hand.
“What happened to your hand?” he asked thickly.
“I got it being too impatient to wait.” She dropped her hand to hide it against the side of her pants. “That’s one of the benefits of getting older, like I told you. I’ll never make that mistake again. I can wait for what I want. You all have a great day.”
Reaper watched her leave, wanting to go after her.
As soon as she was out of eyesight, it was as if the bright sun outside had dimmed, even though the sunlight shining in the window was just as bright.
“God, I miss her so badly.”
Reaper jerked his head toward Winter when she spoke the thought that he wouldn’t allow himself to say, even in his own mind.
“She had the whole club organized. I still haven’t been able to find my favorite coffee cup lid after she quit.”
“I miss her every Monday when I post the club jobs and have to listen to everyone complain,” Viper muttered.
“What was the decision Ginny said she would think over?”
Viper’s expression turned grim. “I had to tell her that neither Rider nor Shade were going to be able to fly back with her tomorrow, and I would be taking their