Share
BOOK 2
Related chapters
Being Yours BOOK 2
Then Justine blinked, and the hurt and mistrust came back in a flash.“Is it true?” she said to Devlin, her petite hands listed at her sides. “You sold the Daily News to him ?” She jerked her shoulder toward the “him” in question.“Well . . .”“Devlin!”“It’s true,” Mitch said. Gently, he took her bare elbow and turned her back to face him. Simply touching her made his hand shake. Her skin felt incredibly soft. She wore the same scent, that irresistible blend of innocence and sensuality that drove him wild. “The paper is mine. But I only bought it because—”“I asked my brother." Each word was grated out through clenched teeth. The glass at their feet crunched as she yanked her arm free and backed up a step. Her chest heaved with each breath, and the already plunging neckline of her dress sank even lower, making him wonder just how secure she was in that gown.“Ask me , Jussie,” he said, aching at the hurt on her face. “I’m standing right here. You can’t ignore me forever.”“Why not?”
Being Yours BOOK 2
“It has to be off the record.”“Why?” she demanded. “Still hate publicity? It’s a little late for that, after the entrance you made.”He couldn’t handle the hostility in her eyes. “I want to talk to you, not the entire population of Heather Bay.”“Then why did you show up like that? You knew everyone would be there, you knew we’d draw a crowd.”“I had to see you right away.”He didn’t add that he’d come to her as soon as he could. The threat to him was gone, and Hopkins had released him from both the Federal Witness Protection Program and his obligation as a special agent for the FBI. Reluctantly, but he’d done it. “I knew if I showed up at your house or at work, you’d refuse to listen.”“You have no idea how I’d react to anything. Not anvmore.”There was a hitch in her breathing he was afraid to analyze. “Jussie—”“No. We’re over.” Her voice wavered and he leaped on that.“I can explain—”“I know,” she said sadly. “And the worst thing is, I’d probably believe you, fool that I am. I u
Being Yours BOOK 2
More to continue touching her than anything else, Mitch held on and decided to bear the fury that flashed in her eyes. He’d worked through that temper plenty of times in the past, and he could only hope he still had the knack for soothing it. “You look good, Jussie.” With his other hand, he cupped her cheek. “Real good.”She blinked, clearly flustered. Then she slapped his hand away. “Don’t.”“Don’t what?” he asked pleasantly. “Don’t look at you? Or don’t say nice things?”“Either,” she said, scowling when he laughed. “And while you’re at it, go away. I’ve got work to do.” She paled a bit. “If I still have a job.”His good humor slipped. “You think I can know how much the paper means to you, and take away your job?”“I don’t know what to think,” she said quietly.Mitch looked at her carefully, seeing the faint purple circles beneath her eyes, the wariness etched in her eyes.Exhaustion, he thought with remorse. His fault. And Hopkins’s as well. His ex-superior had tried to placate Mit
Being Yours BOOK 2
He’d see about that. “And you’ll work with me?” Please , God.She dragged her lower lip across her teeth as she contemplated him, and Mitch’s gaze hungrily followed die movement. He’d wondered whether their unbelievable sexual sizzle would still be there when he saw her again. His painfully aroused body gave him his answer.“Yes, I’ll work with you.” The words were unrelentingly hard. “But only because I refuse to quit, and I can’t afford to buy this paper back from you. Yet”He smiled easily and felt like jumping for joy. It was a small victory, but he’d take it.* *“I won’t kiss you,” she promised, eyeing him as if he was planning on jumping her. “Not ever again.”“Maybe you should reserve judgment until after I’ve told you again where I’ve been.”“You’ve told me enough. The rest doesn’t matter to me one little bit.”“Don’t lie,” he said quietly.“Fine,” she exploded, raising her hands. Her chest heaved. “ Fine . It matters. Too much. But I just can’t—I don’t w r ant to—please. I n
Being Yours BOOK 2
“I’ve listened.”“But you don’t believe.”Surging to her feet, she paced the room. “Tell me.” She rounded on him so fast, he blinked. “You want me to know so badly, let’s hear it. All of it.”“I think Mitch should—”“You tell me,” she said emphatically, crossing her arms and glaring at him in the way she knew would make him squirm.He did. “Okay, but only a little, because I promised. “You know that he’d been planning to leave the SEALs, but that they weren’t thrilled with him going, that they were trying to keep him.”“Yes. Don’t you dare tell me some story about diem kidnapping him and keeping him these two years.”“What happened isn’t all that different, believe me.”“Dev.”“All right. You know he wanted to be a private investigator. He wanted to be home more, for you and the kids you’d have.”It’d been their dream. Mitch would leave the high-risk world for a calmer one, while still doing what he did best. Justine would do what she’d always wanted to do— run the paper. “Yes.” The f
Being Yours BOOK 2
Sleep hadn’t come as easily for him, but rage had. He’d spent most of those years filled with it, promising vengeance on the man he felt had destroyed his mother’s happiness.Mitch had vowed this, even as he continued to blame himself for what had happened to his happy little family. He knew damn well it would have killed his mother to know how much he believed the fault to be his. That he believed his father had left because of him.But by then she’d sunk so far into her own loneliness and depression, she didn’t, or couldn’t notice.Mitch had stayed angry and filled with the need for revenge for as long as he could, but the anger had eventually succumbed to sheer aloneness. He tried, desperately, to get his mother to crack the shell she’d put up around herself, to no avail.In the end he’d been left to fend for himself, but he’d learned quickly enough. He’d gotten good at being alone, had even liked it.Until Jussie had come into his life; sweet, caring, beautiful Jussie.She’d reope
Being Yours BOOK 2
Mitch thought of Jussie, and the life he hoped to have with her. "I’ve never been so sure of anything in all my life.”He’d finagled the parking spot right next to hers, Justine discovered a short time later. It came as a shock, seeing the convertible that looked so like his old one, only this car had been completely cherried out.It wasn’t the one from their youth, but it was close enough to have her squirming with the memories.Mitch had taught her to drive in that car, among other things. Heat flooded her face as she remembered some of those other things now, and despite the cold morning breeze, she felt hot. Unable to help herself, she glanced at the backseat, remembering more than a few dark nights. Long, drugging kisses. Steamy embraces that had led to fumbling for leg room. Muffled laughter, and then more fumbling . . . God.She closed her eyes and tried for calm, but it was nowhere to be found. Nowhere.Maybe it was someone else’s car, she thought hopefully, but she knew bette
Being Yours BOOK 2
“Okay?” Jack repeated with a surprised laugh. “Last time you lost you ranted and raved for an hour, and now just okay?” He shook his head and pretended to check her for a temperature. “You sick?”No, but she had a feeling Jack was going to be if he kept his hands on her. Mitch looked positively furious. Jack’s hands were smooth, practiced. They lingered.And she felt nothing, though she knew it was her lack, not Jack’s. Any woman with a set of eyes would be falling all over herself for his attentions. He was good-looking, kind, sophisticated. Romantic.But she couldn’t keep her eyes off Mitch.No one else said a word.“We’ve got to get together on those figures, sweetie,” Jack said. “Year end is only days away.”Slowly, Mitch quirked an eyebrow. “Sweetie?” he mouthed, his gaze boring right through her. He’d once been patient to a fault, and mild-tempered, despite his strenuous and demanding occupation. But bad attitude screamed from him now.“Yes, Jack,” she said quickly, wondering wh
Latest chapter
