Jensen makes like she’s going to leave and I tighten my grip on her waist, keeping her there. “But then I lied to you too,” I admit, my voice soft. “And I felt terrible. Guilty. I didn’t know how to tell you my uncle was the one who tried to attack you. And the longer I kept the secret, the harder it became for me to tell you the truth. Secrets are like a disease, Jens. The longer you hold on to them, the deeper they rip into your soul and churn your guts.”
She wrinkles her nose. “That’s sort of gross, Rhett.”
“You get what I’m saying, though, right?”
“Yeah, I get it.” She loops her arms around my neck, her hands sliding into the hair at my nape. “No more secrets.”
“No more secrets,” I agree.
“I’m sorry.” She blinks up at me. “For everything.”
“I’m sorry too.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “For everything.”
“There’s more I need to tell you,” she starts, and I almost want to place my hand over her mouth to shut her up. “But it’s nothing major. Just, bits and pieces from my past, you know? All the big stuff has been revealed, though, so don’t worry.”
I actually laugh. “Okay, good. I don’t think I could take one more big secret.”
“Me either.” Her expression turns serious. “That’s all you have to tell me, right? Just about your uncle?”
“Yeah, though they were all working together behind our backs. Diane and Craig, maybe even Park. They had some sort of sick and twisted little relationship going on. One I will never be able to understand,” I say.
“How’s your dad taking this?”
“Not well. He knew about everything but Park and Diane.” I pull her closer, my arms wrapped tight around her slender waist. She feels damn good sitting here. Like she belongs. “He’s hurt. But he told me I needed to talk to you. Make sure you were all right.”
“He didn’t think I was after the Montgomery fortune?” She bites her lip before she continues. “At one point, I was. I can admit it.”
“I appreciate the honesty.” I brush the hair away from her forehead. “And no, he doesn’t think you’re after the Montgomery fortune. Not anymore.”
She frowns.
“Trust me,” I say gently. “He likes you. He was worried about you.”
“Really?” The hope that lights up her face makes her extra beautiful.
“Really.” I lean in and brush her mouth with mine, kissing her nice and slow, not too pushy. “I’ve missed you,” I murmur against her lips.
“We’ve only been apart approximately twenty-four hours.” She smiles.
“The longest twenty-four hours of my life.” And that is the absolute truth.
Her smile fades. “Mine too.”
I kiss her again, longer this time, though I don’t take it deeper. Not yet. I still need to approach her carefully. “Come home with me,” I say once I break the kiss.
“You want your car back?” she teases.
“I want you back,” I tell her.
Her eyes widen and she pulls away from me to look into my eyes. “You’ve got me.”
That’s all I needed to hear.
“Are we accepting each other too easily?” Jensen asks once we return to my house. I drove the BMW home with Jensen, and Chad had a friend take him to City Lights to pick up his car. I have a feeling they’re staying there for a while, which means we have the house all to ourselves.
“What do you mean?” We’re in the kitchen and I’m grabbing us both cold bottles of water. I hand her one and crack mine open, chugging half of it in one swallow.
“Maybe we’re being too forgiving of each other too soon.” She sets the water bottle on the counter, bracing her hands on the edge of the granite.