Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(52)

“Tell me why your ex-girlfriend isn’t welcome at your parents’ house.”

“It’s so you to go from explosive sex to questioning me about my tattoos and then to something you heard over a week ago.”

“Well, I’m a curious person. I make no apologies for that. But I can’t imagine anyone being banned from your home unless they hurt you. And I also can’t imagine anyone hurting you. You seem so…”

“Sexy? Strong?” I teased.

“Impenetrable.”

The word sat between us because, in a way, I was impenetrable after my years in battle. I’d set up my life that way, not because of what had happened with Kressa, but because it worked for my lifestyle, and I’d grown comfortable keeping my relationships at a distance.

We were both quiet for a few minutes before I finally spoke. “She fucked my best friend a few months after I left for the Naval Academy.”

“That bitch,” she hissed, and I barked out a laugh.

“She wasn’t all bad. We left things… unclear. I was the one who didn’t want to stay in a committed relationship when I was going to be so far away. My ultimate goal was to become a SEAL. So, I wasn’t going to give her what she wanted, and we both knew it.”

“So, she went and slept with your bestie? That’s freaking low. And this is coming from a woman who has no problem pulling a knife on a man, so it’s not like I’m not supportive of strong women. But she could have chosen anyone; why him?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure he went after her pretty hard. I don’t hold any ill will toward her. I left her. She was hurt. She did what she did. He’d always wanted whatever I had, and I’m sure he made a move the minute I was gone.”

“Do you guys speak anymore?”

“No. Kressa let me know that she’d slept with him and that she’d gotten pregnant. And that was basically it. He called me and apologized, and I told them both to lose my number.”

Dylan sprung up to sit with her mouth gaping open. “She got pregnant? Are they together now?”

“Yes. They have a son. Apparently, they didn’t stay together long. She’s reached out many times to make amends. I forgive her. I just don’t necessarily want to hang out with either of them.” I chuckled.

“I hate shady fuckers.” She shook her head, and I tugged her back down, her cheek resting on my chest.

“We were teenagers. People fuck up. My relationship with Kressa had run its course. If she’d gotten pregnant by anyone else, I would have been a friend to her, you know? It might surprise you to know that I’m not a complete dick. But the fact that it was with Josh, the dude I’d been best friends with my entire life—I couldn’t get past it at the time.”

“I get it. I’m sure this might surprise you… but I’m not a very forgiving person. It’s something I’m working on.”

I chuckled. “You don’t say?”

“Yeah. Once someone crosses me, it’s hard to forget it.”

“I understand that. Tell me what Anthony Glouse did to you.” There was a PI that worked for our family, as we’d had threats against us over the years, and I’d asked him to do a background check on the dude. He’d checked out, minus one sexual harassment case that had been filed against him at work that had miraculously been excused. Money had a way of making things go away. I knew he was an asshole the minute I laid eyes on him, but I needed to know if he tried to hurt her.

She sat back up. “You sure recalled that name quickly.”

“What can I say? I’m good with names.”

“You don’t call me by mine, so you can’t be that good.” She smirked.

“Tell me what he did, Minx.”

“If he did anything bad, I would have pressed charges. He didn’t. He just got handsy, and when I said no, he pushed me back onto the couch and took his shot. I kneed him in the balls and shoved him off me before grabbing my knife and kicking his ass out of my house.”

“Why’d you block him? Was he harassing you?” My fingers traced between her breasts and down her stomach.

“He had stalker tendencies. I didn’t give him time to try after he blew my phone up the next day. And we didn’t live in the same town, so I haven’t seen him in a few months.”

“If he contacts you, will you let me know?”

Her head cocked to the side. “What are you going to do? Are you going to be the big, bad Wolf and scare him off?”

“I’m going to kick his fucking ass and make sure he never comes near you again.” My tone was harsh, and I’d make no apologies for that. Men who didn’t take no for an answer had no place in this world. The fact that he’d pushed her to the point that she’d felt the need to pull a knife—that told me that he’d gotten forceful, and that shit did not sit well with me.

“Tell me about being a SEAL. You always say that I’m belittling your career by saying you can hold your breath for a long time,” she said over a laugh. “Tell me what you did on your missions.”

“I’m not allowed to share any specifics. What do you want to know?” I tugged her back down. I didn’t like her looking at me when she was asking these questions because it felt like she could see through me. And being vulnerable wasn’t something I was ever comfortable with.