Page 47 of Broken

“Oh yeah, baby. They are and every single time I see them like that, I ache.”

Her body stiffens slightly, but her hand squeezes mine, right before she relaxes, giving me her weight. “What are you doing to me?”

“Do you like it?”

“Maybe.”

I grin. “C’mon, I’m taking my girl shopping.”

“What?” she says, looking around, a blush coming to her face.

“I’m taking my girl shopping and then I’m taking her out to eat. There’s a great Mexican place here in the casino. We’ll shop, then go get ready. After I make sure you and jellybean are fed and happy, the two of us are going to see if the slots and dice are lucky for us.”

“King I can’t afford to?—”

“This is my treat, Sunshine. I have the money, and I want to have a weekend where it’s just us and jellybean and none of the bullshit that surrounds you. Let me give that to you.”

“It’s too much,” she argues, shaking her head.

“I’m ten years older than you, Gabby. I’ve been in a club a fuck of a long time. A very successful club and I was one of the higher up officers. Despite the divorce where I ended up having to pay off a loan and some credit cards I didn’t know about, I still have most of my money. Enough of it I didn’t feel a damn thing when I bought the stuff at the store, or those televisions you’re still worried about. So, I’m going to take you shopping. I’m goingto spoil you. Then I’m taking you out to dinner. Finally, the two of us are going to enjoy ourselves in the casino before retiring upstairs to our suite and enjoy lying in our huge king size bed and look out over the city lights and just enjoy being together. Are you with me?”

“Who are you? Men like you shouldn’t exist.”

“Gabby,” I chuckle, shaking my head.

“I’m serious, King. I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone like you in my life.”

“I tell you what. It’s not a pretty story, but if you give me tonight, I’ll give you pieces of who I am that I’ve never shared with anyone.”

I see the indecision on her face, but again she squeezes our joined hand and nods. “I’d like that.”

“Then we have a deal.”

“I’d be okay with retiring to our room and just talking so that you can save most of your money.”

“Nope. I want what I want. Plus, you already agreed,” I argue at once, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

I pull her into the store, smiling. I have a great feeling about this weekend. I’m going to make sure that Gabby experiences at least one complete night of being normal and not waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Chapter 23

Gabby

You knowthat moment when your world shifts completely, and you realize the things you thought you knew were just bullshit? That’s exactly what is happening to me right now. I grew up my entire life watching my parents, knowing they were so deeply wrapped up in one another that it was the stuff movies were made about.I just knew it.I wanted that. From the time I remember looking at cute guys, I knew I wanted someone just like my dad. He’d be tall, with dark eyes. He’d be covered in tattoos and rough around the edges. He’d also be bossy and controlling in a way that showed me I’d always be taken care of. I’d never want for nothing. I knew my dad was like this because he babied me. He treated me like the most precious thing in the world. Mom used to get after him, warning him that treating me like fine China wasn’t doing me any favors. Dad laughed at her. Dad loved Mom. It was romantic, it was sweet, and it was cool.

Yet right now, walking into El Fuego Azul wearing the gorgeous, green-textured baby-doll maternity dress King purchased, I feel special. It also means more because the dress is from King. It really is beautiful too. The dress has bumbled three-quarter sleeves, and a square collar that I loved. Before the rape, I wore clothes that were expensive and designed tohighlight my body. I made sure to show skin, cleavage, and legs. This is because Dom liked it when I wore those kinds of things. It’s also because as time went on, it got harder and harder for me to get his attention, so I wore clothes that reminded him of all the things he liked about my body. Then when that failed, I wore them to get attention from other men so I could feel like I was still desirable.

Which maybe I was, but I was also just plain stupid.

I push those thoughts away and look down at my dress. The square collar allowed me to look pretty, but no cleavage was found, and my arms were covered. King was actually the one that showed me the dress and chose the beautiful green color because he said he liked the way it looked against my skin. If you had asked me if I couldn’t have imagined King shopping for clothes, I would have laughed you out of the store. The dress cinched under my breasts, but not so close I was uncomfortable—or drew attention to them. Then, it flares out in true babydoll fashion, falling to just above my knee. It’s pretty and the matching shoes I found—apparently, King draws the line at shoe shopping—are comfortable, but pretty. I left my hair down but scrunched it up, so the natural curls were on display. I topped it all off with very light makeup.

I felt pretty, and I the last time I felt like that was probably before Dom and I had sex. This is a soul-shattering discovery I file away for a later time. Only because King tilts my world off its axis, and he honestly has no idea he did it.

He puts his hand on my lower back and guides me as we follow the hostess to our private high-backed booth. I sit down, moving to slide over. He stops me by bending down and kissing my forehead. Then, he sits opposite of me.Opposite of me.

Okay, I know it’s weird. Most girls would probably like the guy with them to want to be close. Dad always did with Mom. Dom did, on the few occasions he’d take me out-of-town togo out—he didn’t want his brothers from the club, his parents, his sister, or T to see us together.Yes, I know this was a red flag. I ignored it then, because again, I thought he was working through hurting T. ThenIhurt T and made it worse by lying to Dom by pretending I was dealing with T so he wouldn’t have to.

Yep. I’m just plain stupid.

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