Page 49 of Tactical Lies

“That’s it?” she asked skeptically. “Because I can't make any promises about the future right now.”

“I’m not asking you to, I swear. Just please, can I stay here with you?”

Saying yes was a bad idea. It opened the door to letting him back in and she wasn't sure she wanted to do that. Right now, it was a battle between her head, desperate to protect the rest of her from more pain, and her soul which couldn’t stand to be apart from its soulmate a single second longer.

Praying she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life, Becca nodded and hopped backward, opening the door wider to let him in.

She just had to hope she was strong enough to keep the door to her heart firmly closed.

Chapter

Twelve

August 21st

7:09 A.M.

His game had to be on point if he wanted to even stand a chance.

Which was why he was going all out for the breakfast he was preparing for Becca.

Connor knew he was lucky Becca had agreed to let him stay. Especially after he’d scared her when she’d spotted his car approaching. If he’d been thinking clearly, he would have stopped at the gate and texted to let her know he was there, but by the time he’d reached the ten-acre plot where Cade’s cabin sat he was so eager to see Becca that he couldn’t focus on anything else.

As bad as he’d felt knowing he’d scared her, there was also relief that he’d managed to make her laugh. The plush penis gift was a stupid one, but after his call to Cassandra, when he’d realized she was right and he had to fight for what he wanted, fight for his girl, instead of waiting for her to tell him he could jump into the game, he knew he couldn’t come empty-handed.

So, he’d grabbed her favorite chocolates and flowers, then dug into a box buried at the back of his closet of things he’d packed up from their shared apartment after he realized Becca wasn't going to come back. One of those things had been a seven-inch penis plushie he’d intended to give her the day she’d gone for her first prosthetic fitting. Unfortunately, he’d been out of her life by then but kept the toy.

Something he was grateful for.

Because seeing Becca laugh like she had when he’d given her the toy reminded him of the woman he used to know. They’d both changed a lot over the years, grown up, matured, and been shaped by everything that had happened, but underneath they were still the same boy and girl who had grown up and known well before they were old enough to understand that they were two halves of the same whole.

Now all he had to do was remind Becca of that.

Prove to her that he could earn back her trust, and hopefully her heart, and get back to what they’d shared when they were young.

If nothing else, he wanted to be her friend again and be there to support her after what they went through in Cambodia. Support her as she worried about her friend and whether Prey would be able to find Isabella before she was lost to the human trafficking network forever.

Step one was coming to the cabin so she wouldn't be alone.

Step two was to get to work on wooing her.

Everything was perfect, the table was set, the flowers he’d brought her that she’d put in a bright ceramic vase sat at the center of the table, and he’d added some candles. Not subtle but he wasn't going for subtle. He’d cooked way more food than two people could eat, but he’d made everything Becca loved. There was fresh fruit salad, pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, piles of toast, and oatmeal. Personally, he hated oatmeal, but Becca loved it with cinnamon and a drizzle of honey, so he’d made it for her, and it was sitting in a pot on the stove, steam pouring off it.

All that was missing now was Becca herself.

She always used to start her day with a steamy hot shower regardless of the weather. If she still got up at the same time she should be finishing up, braiding her long black locks, and getting dressed right about now.

Like she’d read his mind, the soft pad of footsteps on the stairs had him wiping his hands on his apron and turning around. Although he’d offered to let her stay in the bigger downstairs bedroom, she’d insisted he could have it and she’d stay upstairs. When Becca came into sight, his heart about beat its way right out of his chest. Denim cut-offs left almost all of her long, toned legs visible, and she wore a loose T-shirt that still managed to hint at the soft curves he knew were hidden underneath. She’d twisted her hair into two braids, and freshly scrubbed from the shower she looked young, sweet, and innocent.

Well, all except for the penis plushie she still held in her hands.

A groan rumbled through his chest at the sight of it, pulling Becca’s attention. All night while they’d watched TV, sitting on separate sofas because he hadn't wanted to push too hard too fast and make her uncomfortable, she’d held the toy in her lap, fiddling with it. There was no way he could watch her nimble fingers stroke along the soft fabric and not feel the echo of that touch in his own penis.

A small smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth, and he wondered if she’d brought the plushie down with her this morning just to taunt him. If she had, he wasn't angry with her about it. If anything, it filled him with hope because the old Becca, the one he’d grown up with, loved to tease him.

Things had always been so simple between them, so natural, they’d just clicked from the moment they were toddlers, and their connection had only grown over time. Even if he could win back Becca’s heart and her love, he would never forgive himself for letting her down.

She’d needed him and he hadn't been there.

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