His eyes sparkled at my words. "It's quite all right. I'm sure I'd be the same way with my baby sister if some out-of-towner came strolling in from God knows where and hit on her. You weren't too hard on them, huh?"

I giggled at his question.

Oh, my God, I'm fucking giggling.

"I'm nothing but hard on them. It still doesn't change them being meat-headed assholes and keep them from butting into my life." I sighed. "But that's for another night. I don't want to talk about my overbearing older brothers."

I placed my elbows on the table and clasped my hands under my chin. "You have any siblings? What about your parents?"

He mirrored my position. "Only child." His eyes skated left and back to mine. "Mom and Dad are happily married for forty-five years. Good ol' Country boy from Texas."

"So what brings you here?" I added.

“I was passing through when I had to stop and have my truck looked at for new tires. I just happened to be lucky enough to see you that day. After that, I decided since I had nowhere else to be right now, I’d stick around.” His answer evoked a tingling in my body; one I hadn’t felt in quite some time.

“Sweet talker. I bet you say that to all the girls.” My tone light and completely out of character for me.

He looked almost sheepish. “Nah, I’m not typically that forward. There’s just something about you, Haven. I saw your face that day and it was an expression I have seen in my own mirror a few times.” His hands went through his hair again. “It made me want to meet the woman behind the mask. And don’t even act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. That guy—you know the one who thinks he owns you?—I’m willing to bet my right arm he has something to do with it.”

Fuck, he’s observant. I foolishly thought I had the upper hand. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably and hoped he dropped it—or at least our food would arrive. Too many more shots and I was done for.

“Yeah, well, we aren’t anything, and I’m here with you.” I plastered on a smile. Sitting up a little straighter, I reached across the table to rest my hand on his. “Okay, so we’ve established you are pretty much perfect,” I said on a smirk. “You drive a badass truck, you wear boots and a cowboy hat, and you stuck around just to get to know little ol’ me. Well, cowboy, I’d say you are just what I’ve been looking for.” His eyes widen with surprise and he turns his palm up to interlace his fingers with mine.

“No, Haven, I think you are just what I’ve been looking for.”

Jude

“Boys!” I yelled from the bottom of the staircase. “Move your backsides or we’ll be late for Mima’s” Grabbing the bags of food and stepping over their backpacks, I made my way to the front door only to be bombarded with noise and little feet.

“Dad?” Jordan piped up while he slipped his bag on his back. “Will Haven be there?”

I groaned internally. The boys hadn’t seen Haven in almost two months. Hell, I hadn’t had seen much of her in the last four weeks. Not since that douchebag came into the parlor and pulled the moves on her. I promised she was off limits and I would stick to my word. It had been rough on them but they didn’t need to be confused any more than they already were. I needed to think about what was best for everyone and that meant letting her go. It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done. I had kids to worry about. My feelings and hers come second to that and the situation wasn’t going to be helpful to anyone. I hated that they missed her though. She was such a big part of their lives for so long.

My fists clenched—bastard. Because of him, she finally seemed happy. I had seen her a few times in town on his arm. She was smiling; she looked light. I wondered if she was fucking him yet. I wouldn’t put it past the asshole to push her for sex…I just hoped she was smart enough to say no.

Goddamn it.

Who was I kidding? He was everything I wasn’t. And he was available. He wasn’t hiding their relationship. He damn well had better be treating her like the angel she was or I’d—

Oh, for fuck’s sake!

I needed to push Haven out of my mind. For good.

I looked at my boy, “I dunno, buddy. I don’t think so,” I told him as he shoved his feet into his sneakers. Haven used to babysit for the boys. From the time they were about six, she would come in once or twice a week and watch them while I went out with the guys or to run errands. She was young… just a kid. Until that one night I saw her for who she really was. She had big secrets the family didn’t know about. Nobody but the two of us were aware of her past, but I would still never let it be known just how Haven and I became close. They were her demons to hold.

“Haven.” I groaned low in my throat. “You’re playing with fire, honey.”

“I know,” she replied huskily, causing my half-hard dick to jump up to full attention. Her voice and the way her tongue darted out to touch the middle of her top lip was driving me crazy. All I could think about was what she’d taste like. What it’d feel like for my cock to pass between her soft, red pouty lips. Her tongue slid back into her mouth and she bit down on her bottom lip. That was about all I could take. It was as if a rubber band snapped and I lunged forward, grabbing her tiny frame in my large hands. Pulling her as close to my body as possible, I brought my head down and kissed her like I was a starving man.