Page 70 of Bad Boy in Her Bed

“I think you being there will remind him why he did it.”

*

Jocelyn rounded thetrack, the freshly sprayed white lines fading with the setting sun.Birch’s pace matched her own, the cord of his earbuds slapping lightly against his throat as they approached the finish line.

Neither of them had spoken much since they sat Grey down earlier that evening with River on speakerphone and explained the events of the last few months.The brothers were understandably worried and frustrated, their concern over Birch both sweet and mildly frightening when they united to turn their anger on him instead of Ryder.

Grey wanted to know why Birch didn’t trust them enough to tell him earlier.

River wanted to know why Birch didn’t ask them for help.

Neither were pleased with their older brother’s flippant shrug in response.

His speed picked up in the last stretch, but not enough to cross over before she did, her competitive edge pushing her two steps ahead.

He collapsed onto the grass while she slowed and laughed, walking wide circles around him.“You’re going to get a cramp if you keep dropping like that.”

“I’m willing to take that risk,” he groaned, covering his eyes with his arm.“I think you need to carry me to the car.”

Pacing at his side, she nudged him with her foot.“Why on earth do you insist on doing this?”

“Because of this.”He grinned, spread his arms across the grass, and caressed it.“You can keep your runner’s high.I love my post-run collapse.Every time I lay down, it’s my reward for surviving.”

Kneeling down, she straddled him.“We need to work on your definition of ‘reward’.”

His hips shifted beneath her and he splayed his hands along her thighs.“When can we start?”

*

Birch could seeJocelyn’s nervousness in every movement of her hands, her fingers gently twisting the hem of her shirt as he drove them up to the gates of the penitentiary.

Reaching over to give her knee a light squeeze, he turned off the engine.“You don’t have to go in.”

She exhaled loudly and ran her hands through her hair.“No, I want to.Just…what if he doesn’t like me?I mean, meeting your older brother is kind of a big step.”

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying how freaked out you are,” he replied, kissing her cheek before he got out of the truck.Crossing over to her side, he opened her door.“I survived meeting your dad seconds after he caught me with my tongue down your throat and my hand on your ass, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

She elbowed him in the ribs and wrinkled her nose, but he knew he won that one.

Although he never wanted to see her unhappy or worried for him ever again, he was loving this because it was clear that Winter’s opinion of her mattered to her.

And no one ever cared what his brother thought of them.

No one except him, Grey, and River.

The thought made him almost giddy, knowing she cared about impressing his convict brother because she understood the sacrifice Winter had made, and she wanted Birch’s family to accept her.

After they’d checked in and jumped through the required hoops, they walked into the waiting room and she turned to him with earnest eyes.“Do I look okay?”

“First,” he said with a smile as he tucked her hair behind her ear, “you’re stunning now.Second, you’re always stunning.And third, Winter hasn’t seen a woman who wasn’t a guard or nurse in eleven years.If anything, you look too okay and he’ll try and steal you away from me.”

Apparently satisfied with his answer, she hooked her pinky finger with his and let him lead her into the large area where Winter would meet them.Guiding her to a table, he eased her chair in under her and sat, his knee bouncing in anticipation.

“This will probably be short and sweet,” he warned her quietly, watching the heavy steel doors.“Winter isn’t much of a talker.”

She nodded and followed his gaze, taking long, deep breaths when the doors opened and men began filtering in, their orange jumpsuits splashing color through the drab grey.

Winter was last to enter, flanked by two guards.Shrugging out of their loose hold, he strode over to them and sat without a word, his hard eyes looking Jocelyn over for a moment before something shifted in his gaze and his brows lifted a fraction.“Well, shit, Birch,” he said, shaking his head.“I thought that picture looked familiar.Tell me, Jocelyn Carter, how the fuck does a quality woman like you end up with an ugly fuckup like this?”

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