The Ex Files (Ocean View #1)(51)

“I know your job, Cass. Know it and think it’s great. Great you built it all by yourself, that people trust you.” As I’m speaking, she stops in her tracks, turning to face me. We’re blocking traffic on the sidewalk, but I don’t care as I pull her closer to me and keep talking. “I think it’s amazing you take the crappy part of dating and meeting people out of the equation for people who just want to find their person. I think you’re beautiful, inside and out, and the business you’ve built is a sign of that.” She blinks at me a few times, mouth parted, and she looks so sweet, so beautiful, all I want to do is kiss her, but she speaks before I can.

“But… you saw me tonight. On a date. And you… Luke, you lost your mind.”

“It wasn’t the date, Cass. Did I like randomly seeing my girl out on a date with another man?” She opens her mouth to protest, but I keep going. “Of course not. I was going to mess with you about it later, come up with a plan for how we can handle it in the future.” Another attempt at interrupting me. “But I’d already settled myself. This is your business. You do it great. I will never stop you. But regardless, you need to know I’m not that guy.”

“Not what guy?” The adorable crease between her eyebrows forms.

“I am not the kind of man to sit back and watch something like that happen. If you were some stranger, I’d have done the same thing. I might have had my head on a bit more straight, but it doesn’t matter. That man was fucked as soon as he touched you and you said no. There is never an excuse for that shit.”

“I had it handled! I—”

“No, Cassie. No. You need to know this about me now. I will protect what is mine until my last fuckin’ breath. If someone says something to hurt you, I’m talkin’ to them. Someone fuckin’ touches you, I’m sure as fuck making sure they never do it again. I know you’re proud, know you’re strong. I know you can handle yourself; you’ve done it for long enough. But now I’m here. Three weeks, three years, or a fuckin’ eternity, right now you’re mine. You got that? You being mine means I take care of you.”

“Luke—”

“And it’s not the date, Cass. Again, I get it. I will never get between you and the business you love. It’s that you didn’t fuckin’ tell me. We talked today, no mention of it. I get it. It’s your job. This lasts the way I want it to, I’ll learn to handle that. But you’ll need to give me patience. My head will get the better of me if you don’t. And I’ll need to know you’re safe. I’ll need to know shit like that—” My eyes avert to her wrist. “Won’t happen again.”

“Luke, I—”

“Like I said, you’re mine, that’s what we have to do. I need you to tell me where you’re goin’, who you’re with. I get a weird vibe, I’m coming. Won’t interrupt. You won’t know I’m there. It won’t be forever, just until I’m comfortable, especially after tonight. But if you want to be mine, you need to know I’m sticking up for you. I’m taking care of what’s mine.” We’re both quiet for as I let it sink in. “So are you mine? You say no, I drive you home right now, no problem. No hard feelings. But you say yes, just know that’s what I expect. You need to let me in, let me take care of you.” The thoughts flitting through her mind are nearly visible, and for a split second, I worry I went too far, if I should have tiptoed into this. If I should have stopped and called my sisters and figured out what the fuck I’m doing.

But then her small voice speaks, her tiny hand going to my cheek as she looks into my eyes. Fear is in hers, but also astonishment and a hint of joy.

“I’ll be yours, Luke.” And that’s all I need.





Twenty-Two





-Luke-





“Ma!” I shout down the hallway of my childhood home, Cassie walking in behind me. She’s white as a ghost, not because she woke up with an aching wrist, but because I’ve dragged her here to get it checked out.

Sure, I could have taken her to urgent care or the doctor, but my mom was a nurse for twenty years and has seen every ailment over the years. Plus, she’s my mom. There’s no one I trust more in the world than this woman to take care of my girl.

“In the kitchen, honey!” I grab Cassie’s good hand in mine, pulling her close to me and kissing her temple before we enter the kitchen.

“To what do I owe—oh!” she says as she sees us walk in. Turning off the water to the sink, she grabs a nearby towel and wipes off her hands. “Well, who’s this? Goodness, Lucas, you could have called! I look a mess!” Her cheeks blush in a way I know my dad finds cute, and now that I have Cass, I get it.

“Hey, Ma. This is Cassie, my girl. Told you about her last week.” Her eyes widen and then narrow in a ‘we’re going to talk about this later, sir’ look I’ve gotten nearly my entire life before she puts an arm out.

“Hi, Cassie! I’m Lucas’ mom, Kerry. So great to meet you!” And then she pulls my girl into her arms in a big motherly hug, rocking her left and right. Cassie’s arms stick out to her sides, unsure of what to do, and the look of shock in her eyes when they meet mine over my mom’s shoulder makes me chuckle under my breath. Finally, she rounds my mom with her arms, returning the hug before the middle finger of her good hand goes up, pulling a full-out laugh from me.