The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men #7)(127)

I shrank inside myself a little, soaking in what he’d just said. I really had hurt him, and on top of that, I’d left him so gun-shy he wasn’t sure if he could trust again. I knew exactly how that felt. When Fisher had left me hurt and deceived, he’d broken my trust and trampled all over my feelings, making it so I didn’t want anything to do with any man again...until Asher had come along.

And yet here I was, doing the very same thing to the one person who’d helped me heal from a similar wound.

Feeling the full weight of my shame, I bowed my head. “You’re right. I’ll go.”

When I turned away, he growled a curse, then called, “Remy...” But I was already rushing up the steps to escape him.

To escape myself.

But no matter how fast I ran, or where I went, I was still there, with me...the bitch who’d wounded Asher Hart.





The urge to race after Remy and drag her back into my apartment festered. Damn it, she was probably crying right now, and I didn’t want that. I’d just wanted my head to stop pounding and a few minutes without questions and lifelong commitments to think clearly again.

Didn’t she understand I’d never been presented with the opportunity to love and be loved before? Not like this. It was scary-ass shit. And to know it had all started with a lie and broken trust...what guy in his right mind would give that another chance?

I guess a crazy, messed-up guy who just wanted his woman any way he could get her. Because a second later, I flung off my sheets and grabbed the first pair of pants I found—the dress pants from last night’s wedding. Fastening them, I raced for the steps. By the time I shoved my way into the alley, she was gone. All I caught sight of was the back bumper of her car as she turned out of the alley.

“Damn it!” I clutched my aching head, and shifted my bare feet over the dirty asphalt to keep broken glass from digging into my heels.

I was going to have to hunt her down now, and I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. Guess I could start with confessing that I wasn’t regretful about last night at all. Last night had been...awesome. But I’d been pissed that she’d tried to sneak out on me again, and I was still finding it difficult to let go of all her lies.

Pick had been right, though. I was going to have to forgive her, because I knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life without her. Last night had opened my eyes to the fact that I did know her. She might’ve deceived me about a couple big things, but inside, she was still that person who’d befriended me, and I wasn’t ready to lose that friend...or lover.

Blowing out a breath, I ran my hands through my hair and turned to re-enter the apartment. I needed to put more clothes on, maybe take a few painkillers and drink about a gallon of water before I chased her down. But before I could step back inside a strange, animal-like chatter from a nearby dumpster made me pause and glance over.

I expected to see a rat, so when a bedraggled-looking squirrel with hair matted so badly even its tail wasn’t bushy darted out from under the dumpster, I nearly pissed myself.

“Wha...Mozart?”

It must’ve been him because he raced straight for the opened door and sprang inside, leaping down the steps to disappear into my apartment.

“Holy shit,” I gasped. My pet had come home.

Emotion swamped me, and I raked a shaky hand over my face before I hurried downstairs to get him something to eat. Life on the outside must not have treated him kindly because he shook as if cold or scared. I wanted to grab him and cuddle him close, but I knew he wouldn’t like that. So I rushed to my kitchen cabinets and emptied a whole bag of peanuts onto the floor. He didn’t even care that I remained right there next to the pile. He rushed forward and started filling his hands before breaking one open and eating it right there.

“Poor little guy,” I murmured, getting to my feet so I could get him some water. “It was tough out there, wasn’t it?”

A smile lit my face as I watched him for a minute before he decided this was enough bonding, and he disappeared under the bed. Then I blew out a shaky breath and glanced around my apartment before laughing in utter relief. “Welcome home, buddy,” I said aloud, but the place was still lonely enough that my voice echoed around me. It made the empty little hollow part in me pang with need.

The first person I wanted to call was Remy. Hell, she was the only person I wanted to call and tell.

And that told me everything, right there.

So, she’d lied. She’d had a reason and it had never been to hurt me. She’d apologized and was truly sorry. I could get over that. Because, f*ck, I loved her.

Accepting that almost instantly sparked this freeing sensation inside me. Joy rippled along my skin, and I tore off my pants to take a quick shower.

I was going to get her back.

After I cleaned myself up, I dressed, pulled on my shoes, and pocketed my phone. Making sure Mozart was still content and under the bed, I straightened from the floor and headed for the door.

Remy Elisa Curran, here I came.

Ten minutes later, I pulled up to her apartment building and killed the engine of my bike as I remained seated, just...staring at her place. I’d kind of run over here without a game plan. She’d gone all epic and put herself out there, singing songs to me in front of hundreds of people to get me back, and all I knew to say to her was, “I don’t regret it.”