“I see. I really tried to keep the darker side of my life away from you and Jazzy. You have to know that.” Peanut heard her little snort as she placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself as she climbed on the back of his bike. It wasn’t the first time he’d had her there, but it felt like it. His pulse shot up and he felt his dick thicken in his pants. Fuck, this was going to be a long ride.
“Peanut, I’m not gullible anymore. I was once, before Johnny—but after everything I went through as his wife, I will never be that silly girl again. I knew you weren’t going to a picnic every time you left with your friends. Half the time you leave the house you’re armed and wearing that lethal looking knife of yours. I really should be worried about that but somehow it doesn’t matter. I’ve lived in hell for years and living with you and Jasmine has been heaven. I will take your sort of sketchy job over that abusive asshole with a normal job any day.” Phoebe pressed a kiss to the back of his neck and he felt happiness surge through him like lightening.
“I still thought I did a better job protecting you from what I do,” Peanut muttered as he started the bike.
“Don’t worry so much, Mark. You’ll get ulcers,” Phoebe warned, making him smile.
Damn, he loved this woman!
He noticed Viking standing outside the motel room as he slowly made his way out of the parking lot. Viking was grinning as he waved them off. Peanut felt Phoebe’s arms around his stomach and her weight against his back as he headed home. This was the life he’d never known he was searching for. His baby kicked against his back and Phoebe laughed with glee as the miles between them and home melted away.
Chapter Twenty-one
Peanut cut the engine on the bike and waited for Phoebe to climb off. He was so damned hard and ready for her. She was just climbing off the bike when he spotted Brenna in the yard glaring at them. He put down the kick stand and climbed off after her. He wasn’t looking forward the bitch fit Brenna was about to have. He’d known that fucking her was going to come back to bite him in the ass.
“Hi, Peanut. I haven’t seen you in a while and I thought maybe now that you have a live-in nanny we could go on a real date,” Brenna said, sweetly. Her breast nearly fell out of her top as she leaned over the fence between their two town houses. Oh boy, this was going to end badly if he didn’t get Phoebe inside quickly.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s happening,” Phoebe growled, and he noticed her hands were fisted at her sides. He couldn’t help the grin that split his face as he realized she was jealous. He was glad Phoebe wasn’t watching him or he’d be up a creek without a paddle for enjoying her possessiveness. He had to admit that he really liked Phoebe being jealous of him. Not that she had anything to worry about. Since the moment she’d entered his life no other woman could compare. He already had her patch in his room just waiting for the perfect time to give it to her.
“Who are you to say what he does? You’re just the help,” Brenna snarled.
Peanut couldn’t help wincing as he realized that he better stop relishing this little scene and explain things to Brenna before Phoebe chained her to a bed and beat the crap out of her. He knew that was unlikely to happen, but he smiled at the thought. His woman was fierce and if Brenna pushed it, she would end up with a hell of a lot more than she bargained for. Needing to get this little show over with, he looked Brenna in the eye making sure she saw his absolute sincerity.
“Actually, Brenna, Phoebe’s correct. I won’t be going out with you or any other woman besides Phoebe ever again. Sorry,” he said, before taking Phoebe’s arm and leading her through the gate and into the house. He tugged her towards his bedroom and she resisted slightly before letting him pull her into the room. He let her arm go and headed to the dresser, pulling out the property patch he’d had made for her. It was wrapped in the white paper that he’d brought it home in and as he walked toward her with it, she frowned.
Her eyes were on the package and she was likely wondering what he was up to. Peanut couldn’t help but smile at the confusion written on her face as she took the package from him. She frowned as she held it and looked up at him.
“Open it, Lovely,” Peanut urged.
“Fine, but don’t think that little issue with Brenna is just going away because you said that to her. She’s the type of woman to try and seduce you. I won’t have that if you and I are together. I will never again be a doormat for any man. You want to be with me, then I insist that you be with only me.” Phoebe looked so serious when she spoke that Peanut couldn’t help the little chuckle that left him. She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. He didn’t let it bother him and tapped the package in her hands.
“I’m okay with that, Lovely. Now, open it,” he repeated.
Phoebe growled a little and ripped open
