Page 165 of Passion at the Lake

“Are you going to make me get the vinegar?”

I sighed. “I had to let him hit me for this to work, and Pris didn’t like it.”

“You’re totally nuts. He could have killed you.”

I took her hand and twined our fingers together. “I told you I’d keep you safe. I had Anna record it, and I made a trade with him. Either he withdrew the car-theft claim and left you alone or I’d press charges and he’d be the one facing jail tonight. I might have also mentioned that the judge was my uncle.”

“Your uncle?”

“That part’s not true, but the threat that he’d get charged with assault and battery, along with assaulting a police officer, was legit.”

* * *

Angela

Tears threatened.“You did all that for me?” The full force of what he’d told me sunk in. The girls were right. Boone had purposely taken a wicked punch from Kevin to get the leverage to free me forever. Kevin really wasn’t coming back. He wouldn’t risk jail time. Debbie had been wrong. Boone truly was my knight in shining armor, my Lancelot. And I knew what step three had to be.

He nodded. “I told you—”

“Hold it.” I silenced him with a finger to his lips. “I’m not done.” I had to get this out. Grace said it would be like being the master string-puller. “I’ve been a pretty shitty girlfriend, and I’m sorry about that.”

He looked like he was about to speak again. I changed from a finger against his lips to a hand over his mouth. “Let me finish.”

“Is this you toning down the bossy?” he mumbled through my hand.

“Quiet. I have to say this. You’re incredibly kind and ridiculously generous and sweet beyond belief, and I’m so sorry I haven’t appreciated you the way I should have. I want to put the past behind us and be a better girlfriend going forward—the kind you deserve.”

He took in a deep breath but stayed quiet.

“I promise to be more patient, to talk things through with you, and find the middle ground. And I expect you to hold me to that. If I go off track, all you have to say ischarcoal. That’ll be our secret word to remind me of this promise.”

He pulled my hand off his mouth. “Charcoal?”

“That’s to remind me to not be so black and white. I promise to not take you for granted, if you’ll take me back.”

He pulled my head down slowly, desire burning behind his eyes. “You’ve always been the one for me, Angel.” Our lips met in the kiss that answered my request.

“I do have one requirement.”

“Making demands already?”

“Call it a request. I want you to rehire Grace.”

“I’d love to. I’ve offered, but she keeps saying no. Something about me being mean to her sister.”

“I’ll talk to her, and she’ll say yes if you promise to cover IVF in your medical plan.”

His eyes narrowed. “Are she and Dirk…?”

I nodded. “Will you?”

“Absolutely.”

I shifted my hips down to find him already hard, and I ground against his length. We kissed again, our tongues tangling, and hot lava raced through my veins with the anticipation of the make-up sex to come. I’d been stupid to push him away, and tonight I was going to show him exactly how much I missed him.

He broke the kiss. “Get up. We have a dance to finish.”

“But—”

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