I paused in the entryway of the dining room and immediately located Chloe as she stood near her mother and aunt. Each of them watched her close, and a part of me wondered if she’d finally decided to let them all in on what had been taking place with her.
When Ben saw me from across the room and I guessed noticed the way I was watching his daughter, he decided to join me.
I felt him at my side before he even spoke.
“Do you love her?” It was a question he’d asked me once before, but the difference was this time I did not hesitate to reply.
“More than I could ever explain.” It was true; every day I was with her, even when I wasn’t, I felt myself growing more attached and falling harder and faster than I could stop, even if I’d wanted to. Chloe was not the kind of girl you could stop yourself from falling in love with. Everything about her was pure and alluring. She was perfect. In my eyes, there was no one that held a candle to her. I understood in that moment that loving her meant I had to help her, even if she didn’t want that help.
“Do you mind stepping outside with me for a minute?” Looking away from Chloe, I found her father watching me close. “I need to tell you something.” His jaw tightened, and he offered nothing more than a quick nod before I turned around and walked back out the door I’d just entered. I could practically feel the heat boiling off her father, and all I kept thinking to myself was I knew exactly how he felt. I was a ticking time bomb, and he was about to join me.
“I’m not gonna like what you’re about to tell me, am I?”
“I’m afraid not.” I assumed he thought that in some way I was about to hurt his little girl, and he was gearing up for a battle. I knew he had no idea that instead of fighting me, he was about to stand beside me and fight the same war instead.
For the next ten minutes, I filled him in on everything I knew about what had taken place from the start of Chloe’s and my relationship. I had a feeling that she hadn’t shared everything with me, because during our talks she had a hard time looking me in the eye. But I shared all I knew, and by the look on her father’s face, I understood what he was feeling without even having to ask.
“What are we gonna do about this?” I was surprised by the question, though I could sense instantly that denying his impulse to storm off and take care of it on his own was a struggle. Ben Rigdon didn’t ask for help, especially when it came to his daughter and wife, or any family member, actually. He was an act now and think later kind of guy. You just didn’t mess with the people he loved, or any sane person should refrain from doing so if they wanted to maintain function of their legs. But there he stood, holding back, waiting for me. I had to respect that; I knew without a doubt it was killing him to not jump in his truck right now and go make someone pay for his daughter’s heartache.
“I’m gonna make this right,” I assured him. “I know there’s more she’s not telling me, and all I’m asking is for you to give me a little more time to figure out the rest.” His chest heaved as he did his best to hold himself together. “I won’t let anyone hurt her. I just knew you needed to know what was going on. She’s stubborn and she’s been keeping this all in, holding onto it for herself. Not anymore.” I didn’t look away from him. I needed more than anything for him to understand how serious I was about his daughter. I was in love with her. I had to make him see that.
“All I can give is a little.” I understood exactly what he meant. “I won’t allow anyone to hurt my girl.”
“Neither will I.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chloe
My back arched, my breasts rising to meet his lips. I loved how attentive Landon was in bed. It was always like a sensory overload. He never focused on one central area; he was everywhere. All hands, mouth, and mmm, just everything.
Shifting his hips ever so slowly as he continued to move inside of me, the soft whispers in my ear as he kissed along the side of my neck. I was close, so close, my toes curling, my fingernails digging into his back.
“Let go, Kitten,” he encouraged, pushing in deeper and lifting my leg at just the right angle. “Give in to it.” Another thrust before slowly pulling back. “I’m close.” His movements picked up, grinding against the one place I needed him most with each entry. My core tightened, I fisted the sheet at my side, and all at once I ignited. Hearing his deep groan, the gratified growl as he too released was empowering. Nothing was more satisfying than knowing I was the one that made him feel this way.
Landon Layne was mine; it was about time that someone else figured that out, too. I was finished with the nice girl act. I was over allowing her to walk all over me.
“What are you thinking about?” Regaining
