When You're Mine (MINE #3)(20)

A lone tear rolled down her cheek, stopping at the corner of her mouth. My lips to hers, I kissed away her doubts and fears. Tabitha opened the door to her heart once more.

A little wider this time.





Truth is like the sun.

You can shut it out for a time,

but it ain’t goin’ away.

~ Elvis Presley





The cobalt dress fit me perfectly. I smoothed out the invisible wrinkles for the hundredth time, butterflies fluttering furiously in my belly. Barrett and I had spent every free moment together over the last three weeks. Our nights ending tangled in each other’s arms. There was nothing I could do to stop it. Even if I had ended it, nothing could have prevented the inevitable impact this man would have on me. With every beautiful promise spoken and every stroke of his hand across my skin, he shoved aside another piece of debris, slowly making his way to the shattered remains of my heart.

This was our last night together. He had no idea and I still hadn’t come up with a way to tell him, but I had no choice, I was running out of time. The knock at the door sent my heart racing faster than my high heeled feet could carry me.

Breathtaking.

From the tips of his shiny black shoes, to his sharp blue tie that made his eyes sparkle, Barrett filled any suit he wore with such raw beauty. I’d mentioned how much I loved his five o’clock shadow a few days ago and he’d yet to shave it. A shiver raced down my spine, reminding me of the burn left behind by those rough whiskers when he ate me for dessert last night. He took two steps inside, shutting the door behind him. “I changed my mind,” Snaking his arm around my waist, he hauled me against chest. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Resting my hands on his strong arms, I looked up at his handsome face. “If you promise not to mess up my hair and makeup, I’ll let you grab a quickie.”

“Quickie?” Barrett worried his bottom lip, slipping his hands beneath the hem of my dress. Greedy fingers slid across the backs of my thighs, dipping to the thin lace of my panties. My breath shortened to hungry pants. “There’s nothing quick about the things I want to do to you right now.” He rubbed back and forth, the fabric sticking to the wetness he’d created in less than a minute. “We’re already late. This will have to wait.” I exhaled a frustrated breath. “I have a gift for you.” He spun me to face the mirror behind me, warm breath tickling my ear. “Close your eyes. Don’t open them until I say.” I felt something land in the center of my chest just above my breast. “Open.”

My jaw fell to the floor and my fingers immediately reached for the teardrop sapphire. It was stunning. I was speechless. Tears pricked my eyes. I had no idea what to say. I knew I shouldn’t accept this precious gift, but I couldn’t tell him that yet. Sadness attempted to creep in, but I immediately shut it out.

Barrett dropped a chin to my shoulder, wearing a proud grin. “Gifts shut her up. Good to know.”

Spinning around, I threw my arms around his shoulders, fighting back the tears of joy trying to escape. I lifted my eyes to his “It’s beautiful.”

“You make it even more beautiful,” he said, kissing my nose.

My God, I love it when he does that.

“Ready?”

“Yeah, just let me grab my bag.”

When I returned a few seconds later, I found Barrett with puzzled look on his face, one hand stroking his scruffy chin. “What’s with all the boxes?”

Shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

SHIT!!!

“Oh, Maddie left some things and she wanted me to ship them back to her.”

Thankfully, the lie rolled easily off my tongue. It was a shitty lie, but it was all I had. Why hadn’t I thought about the damn boxes?

Because you’ve been living in a fantasy world that’s why.

“We’re going to be late,” I said shutting off the light, hiding like a coward from his trusting eyes.

We pulled up to the Mandarin and I thanked my lucky stars that I splurged on a new dress. Barrett buttoned his coat as he walked around the car, handing off the keys and a tip to the valet. Threading his fingers tight with mine, he led me inside.

Walking into the Oriental ballroom, I was blown away. For the first time I wondered who this party was actually for, and why I hadn’t thought to ask before now. Soft lighting and beautiful white and red roses coated every surface while a stunning woman crooned Lovesong next to a piano.

“If I forget to tell you later, because I’ll be too busy using my mouth for other things, thanks for coming. My family is going to love you,”

His family?

I choked on my words before I finally found them. “Your family?” I collected a step back. “Barrett, whose party is this?”

I’m such an idiot.

“My sister Mia’s engagement party. I thought I told you.”

“No jackass, you didn’t say anything about an engagement party, let alone it being your sister. You just said you needed a date to a party. What the hell is wrong with you?!”

He hadn’t mentioned his family much. I knew he had two sisters that drove him crazy, and a nephew named Dylan whom he adored. He’d told me his father was a brilliant man that he admired more than anyone in the world. Oh, and his mother was a saint. That’s all I knew. “That’s right… I had my tongue in your throat. Sorry, guess I forgot to mention that minor detail.” I slapped his arm with the back of my hand.