Page 81 of That Kind of Guy

“It went out of business, of course, because he didn’t know what the fuck he was doing, but by the time he figured that out, he was gone.”

My eyebrows rose in alarm. “Gone? He left?”

She shrugged. “Yep. He said it wasn’t his dream, it was my mom’s dream, and that he had to pursue his own passions.”

Rage. White-hot rage. Furious, unbridled rage rattled through my body.

What kind of person did that? What kind of father and husband left his family like that, especially after he had dug their grave of debt?

“He’s not coming to the wedding,” I growled.

“I can’tnotinvite him.” She didn’t sound like she believed that.

I shook my head. “He’s not coming.”

She was quiet a moment before she nodded and relaxed against me. “Okay. He’s not coming.”

We were quiet again, staring at the setting sun, the splashes of color across the sky.

A thought struck me and I frowned. “You know I’d never do that to you, right? Not that you need me for anything. You’re so fiercely independent and I can see why, now.” I swallowed. “But you need to know I would never do something like that.”

She nodded. “I know,” she whispered. She turned her head and caught my gaze before nodding again. “I know.”

“Good.”

We sat there for a long time, listening to the waves and watching the water crash against the shore, watching the sun fall lower and lower. Something had changed between us with that conversation. It finally felt like all the cards were out on the table. This was why Avery didn’t like me for so long. It was because I reminded her of her dad.

Rage spiked my bloodstream again. That fucking asshole. I’d never met the guy but I hated him for what he did to Avery, how he made her feel uncertain and confused. Fathers should be like Will, devoted and consistent and adoring.

I would never let Avery down like her dad had. Maybe I wasn’t a family guy like Will—I didn’t know what kind of guy I was anymore—but I sure as hell was going to live up to Avery’s expectations.

20

Emmett

We stayed at the beach,Avery sitting between my legs, locked against me until the sun set and the sky darkened and she shivered against my chest. We made our way back to the car by the light of our phone flashlights and drove home in content silence with my hand resting on her leg. After a few moments, her hand settled over mine, and she shot me a soft smile.

My heart flipped over in my chest. “You’re beautiful.”

She gave me a rueful smile and looked out the window.

“You don’t believe me?” I glanced between her and the road. “I’m going to keep saying it until you do. You’re beautiful.”

She rolled her eyes with a grin. “Okay, okay. I believe you.”

I squeezed her leg. “Good.”

We got home, and when she paused in front of the door, waiting for me to unlock it, I tilted my chin at her. “Use the keys I gave you.”

I watched as she fished her keyring out of her bag and unlocked the door. It was so satisfying to see her do that, but I couldn’t figure out why.

It’s because she’s mine. It’s because her living here feels right.

Desire unfurled in me, desire that I had kept in check all night. I didn’t want to contain it anymore, though. I wanted to show Avery how fucking flawless she was. I was going to show her that she was mine.

We stepped into the dark house, and the moment she set her bag down, my hands were on her shoulders, turning her to me. I tilted her chin up, and she let out a soft gasp a split second before my mouth covered hers.

She relaxed against me, her perfect tits pressing into my chest as my arms wrapped around her, and my mouth brushed her soft, full lips.

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