Page 145 of Deadly Sweet

It’s almost identical to what I’ve seen country bars look like on TV.

Okay, so there’s not much of a difference between this place and a regular bar, apart from some of the decor and the fact people are wearing country themed clothes.

By the looks of it, Leroy and I are the only ones wearing hats, but a good dozen or so are wearing the boots, so I call that a win.

“Let’s get a drink,” I tell him when I see him looking like a deer in the headlights.

“Yeah. A drink.” He nods.

We head to the bar and I ask for a non-alcoholic drink and a whiskey for Leroy. I know he likes it because he drinks a glass on occasion when the baby is in bed and we’re all relaxing for the night.

“You don’t wanna drink?” he asks me as we take a seat on the stools.

I shrug. “I’ve never drank before. But I’ve never really wanted to. Alcohol affects your mental state and your ability to think straight. I don’t want to put myself in a position where I’m vulnerable and someone can take advantage of me.”

His eyes soften as he shifts his body so that my legs are between his. He puts his hands on my waist and leans in. “You know I’d never let anything happen to you, right? You're safe with me. Always.”

“I know.” I smile up at him. “I got myself my own personal bodyguard."

He chuckles. “As if you need anyone to protect you.”

“Need, no.” I shake my head. “I don’tneedanyone to protect me. I’ve made it so that I don’t have to rely on anyone to save me. But you wanna know something that I never thought I’d say?”

“What’s that?” he asks, rubbing his hands up and down my thighs in a comforting touch.

“When it comes to you and the guys, I might not need it, but Iwantit. To know that my pack has my back, that I can let my guard down and know I’m safe because you guys would never let anything happen to me.”

“You do have that, you know?” His voice is low and gruff. “With us.”

“I know,” I agree.

“Would you be open to having a drink? Let me be by your side and trust me that I won’t let anything bad happen to you?”

Life is good. I’m not looking over my shoulder, wondering if Corbin is going to come back for me.

Duchess has been keeping tabs on him, and from what she knows, he believes the story of my death and isn’t looking for me.

I have a pack of men who love me, a daughter I’ve claimed as my own and Thor. I have two best friends who have been by my side from the moment they met me, and I’m working my way down my revenge list.

Life is good. Almost too good. In the back of my mind, I’m screaming that this isn’t going to last. That something bad’s going to happen.

This is me we’re talking about. How can I go from being held captive for years, being assaulted and abused, to literally living my fairytale fantasy?

But as I look into Leroy's blue eyes, I know I’m safe.

One night of fun isn’t going to hurt, right?

“Okay.” I smile up at him. “Let’s get drunk and dance the night away!”

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