Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
And he’d been determined to have her.
So he’d had her, having no clue that he’d grow so possessive; having no clue that the possessiveness wouldn’t fade when their fling ended and she walked away.
And having no clue that they’d one day honor their fallback marriage pact.
Though he’d been serious when agreeing to the pact all those years ago, he hadn’t expected to ever consider acting on it; hadn’t thought it would come to that. He’d believed they’d both have attained their personal life goals well before she reached the age of thirty. Still, it hadn’t been until he’d lost hope of making a deep, true, long-term relationship work that he’d given the pact any real serious consideration.
“You love her,” said Jag.
“Yeah,” Dax readily admitted.
“Not surprised. You two fit.” Jag’s gaze cut to Addison. “I like her. Don’t like many people. But I like her.”
“There’s nothing not to like.”
His mouth kicking up, Jag gave him a taunting look. “Man, she’s dug in deep, hasn’t she?”
“Like a tick.” As a rule, Dax didn’t get close to people—it wasn’t purposeful, just instinctual. So he hadn’t expected to come to care for her. He’d thought maybe he’d grow to feel a sort of warm regard for her in time, but that was all.
However, when she’d lied for him to Lowe—no hesitation, no uneasiness, no guilt—he’d known he was in trouble. Because in doing that, and in saying the things to Dax she’d said afterwards, she’d made him feel something that few people outside his family had: Accepted.
It was such a simple thing, but it wasn’t something he’d encountered much in his life. So many people had disapproved of him, judged him, distrusted him, misunderstood him, attempted to change him, expected the worst of him. The very day she gave him the false alibi, the realization had hit him hard that none of those things applied to Addison.
No matter what, she’d stuck by him. She’d given him her loyalty even when he hadn’t yet earned it. She’d never discounted his version of a story, or trusted the version of another over his. She had so much faith in him—in not only his willingness and ability to keep her safe, but in the extent of his loyalty and solidity of his integrity.
More, she’d never asked that he be anything other than who and what he was.
“Happy for you,” Jag went on. “Wasn’t sure you’d let yourself have this. Thought you might fight Addison’s pull out of loyalty to Gracie. Glad you didn’t. She’d be pleased for you, and I reckon she’d like Addison. Like her for you.”
“She would.” All warmth and softness for the most part, Gracie would want him to have what he had with Addison. It was something he hadn’t had with any other, not even Gracie herself, if he was honest.
Falling for Addison made him face that, though Gracie had loved him, she hadn’t been so accepting of him. Though she hadn’t condemned or tried to change him, she’d often nagged at him to make all his businesses legitimate, telling him he could “be more.”
She’d meant well—he knew that. He’d understood she meant it as a compliment. But, after fucking years of people expecting more and different from him, it hadn’t felt good.
Nonetheless, he’d loved Gracie. He would have been happy with her, if life hadn’t torn them apart. But in truth, he didn’t believe he would have found the same level of contentment with her as he had with Addison.
“You heard from Mimi?” asked Jag.
Dax gave his head a slow shake. “And I don’t expect to. I finally got through to her last month at that party. She hated what she heard. She might even now hate me.”
“It’s a shit situation. But if hating you is the only way she’ll let go and move on, maybe it’s best.” Jag paused. “I noticed a ‘For Sale’ sign up in Felicity and Grayden’s front yard.”
“I heard about that.” Caelan had mentioned it.
Jag’s lips curved again. “Bet you’re not whatsoever heartbroken to hear they’ll be relocating.”
Not one bit. “The sooner they’re gone, the better. I won’t have to worry they’ll have a relapse and start giving my wife problems again.”
Jag nodded. “Blaise seems to be keeping his head down in general, so whatever you … said … had an impact. Speaking of people you’ve had an impact on, Drey told me that Thaddeus is in rehab. I take it that’s your, shall we say, influence.”
Dax grunted. “I strongly urged him to seek help.”
“He needs it, or he could get someone else hurt—maybe worse.”
Dax had thought that Lowe might push Thaddeus into pressing charges, but the sheriff hadn’t bothered. In fact, neither Dax nor—more importantly—Addison had heard anything more from Lowe. According to Dax’s contacts, the sheriff had chosen to backoff. He was a prick, but Lowe wasn’t a prick in the habit of biting off more than he could chew or interested in having his wife divorce him.