A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3)(33)

“Wait, what? That doesn’t even make sense.”

“If you were a Davies, you would have our lawyers, our reputation, our connections... You would be more protected.”

“I am not going to marry you for witness protection. And if I’d gotten a crowbar to the head, Davies or no Davies, I would be just as dead.”

Shouldn’t have said that.

William looked sick, jumped out of his chair and smashed me into his chest. I loved his muscles, but they weren’t as soft as a teddy bear.

“I just think it’s time.” I heard the words rumble out of his chest, which my ear was uncomfortably pressed against.

“Not yet.”

“When Jessica? You said eventually. Eventually is nondescript. Marry me.”

“I hate to be the obvious one all the time, but this isn’t exactly the most romantic proposal in the world. I will move in with you. I am agreeing to that. But I will not be forced into marrying you because I keep ending up in bad situations that mess with everyone’s life.”

I heard William sigh. “Look, I’ll fly you out to Paris and propose if you want. I’ll give you a huge wedding in Rome. Whatever you want. Just marry me.”

I tried to disengage myself from William’s stone chest and arms. It didn’t work. I pinched his nipple instead.

That worked like a charm.

“Ow!” he said as he let me go and rubbed his offended nipple.

“Not yet, William. Okay? You can push most people around, but you can’t push me. Not yet. I am not ready. Closer, but not yet. I’ll just have to take my chances for a little while longer.”

“You are no spring chicken anymore, Jess. You are nearly thirty years old. You are plenty old to get married.”

“This conversation just ended.”

“It’s true, though. If you want children—“

I started walking to the door. He caught up with me and hugged me again. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m just—“

“Stop!” I yelled. Tensions were still way out of control from last night. William and I barely had a handle on ourselves; we weren’t doing well with each other. “I will not stand here while you tell me my eggs are old and I better get married soon or else it’ll be too late. I will decide when I marry. I will not be pushed into it by you, or anyone else. Is that clear?”

“Jess—“

“Is it? If you want to keep on with this, I will walk out of this house, into the world, and ignore you for tomorrow and the entire week you are gone. Is that what you want? I am not kidding about this. What you are saying is insulting and degrading.”

William sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Please just… think about it?”

“Look, I’ll move in first, then, if that works, we’ll figure it out, okay?”

He nodded and herded me toward the bed. Back to more cuddling and sleep. We both needed it.

I was told, in no uncertain terms, that I was to stay with Adam until William got back. I refused.

I was commanded. That worked about as well as when I was told.

Then he asked nicely. Nope. The burglars aren’t going to track me down, so there was absolutely no point in staying with Adam. I would stay at William’s, or in the Big House with Gladis.

Finally he gave me one hell of a guilt trip. He couldn’t be the man he wanted to be with all his obligations; it was why he didn’t want to get involved with someone in the beginning. He didn’t feel like a man at all, lately, because I said no at every turn, I made him beg for the simplest of things, and now, when it mattered so greatly to him, I wouldn’t even bend a fraction in compromise. That wasn’t how relationships worked! On and on until finally I gave in.

Oh, and I was given another Doberman, named Ginger, while Fred was staying in the swankiest animal hospital in the state.

Poor Fred—they told me later that he almost died. He was kicked and punched and bit by those trying to get a big dog off them. He was bruised and battered from weapons. And stabbed. Twice. Once by the first guy in, which was nothing more than a gash. The second time when it saved my life. Pictures of him bleeding, red blood on a brilliant white table, flooded the stories. My picture showed up as well; of the girl he saved.

It could have gone the other way. There were some that thought he was a danger to society. A dog that could rip someone’s throat out should be terminated. That’s what they said: terminated. Thankfully, Dr. Phil Blankley was the best vet in the area, some said the state. He also loved attention. He ensured that Fred stayed a hero, and was absolutely no threat to anyone besides evil-doers. He literally used the term evil-doers. If I wasn’t so thankful he saved Fred’s life, I would’ve rolled my eyes.

And here I was, walking out of Adam’s guest shower in my robe, trying not to be late to meet Lump in half an hour. She hadn’t stayed over last night—Adam felt weird about it. He had his buddy’s girlfriend staying in his house, who was friends with his girlfriend, but he felt weird about having said girlfriend sleep over.

I was so, so thankful Lump trusted Adam.

Speak of the devil, I ran smack into him, shirtless. The guy liked to air dry, apparently, so I saw him in boxers and nothing else quite often. Since I no longer had any sexual hang-ups, it wasn’t a big deal, except for the fact that if he fell out of his boxers it would really gross me out.