Page 26 of Prince Charming

“Have…have what out? What does that mean?”

“It means you’re gonna trust me. We’re gonna be friends. No more of this backing off shit or avoiding me. We’re gonna be friends, hang out, we’ll talk. You’ll come to club parties.”

His tirade wasn’t loud, but it was firm and the only thing she could think of to say was, “you are my boss.”

The smirk lessened some fierceness, then morphed back into that handsome biker everyone fell over themselves to be around.

Don’t think about licking that smirk to see how it tastes.

“I am. But I can be your friend too, you just keep pushing me away. Trust I’ll never fucking hurt you, Anna. Anyone who messes with you, man, woman or dog, I’ll hurt them, you can believe that.”

Ugh, he gave her heart flutters.

What a sweet man.

Did men like him exist? She didn’t know for certain. Her limited experience was tainted. But here he stood, offering kindness again. She knew she didn’t deserve it, that was for sure.

“You would hurt a dog, Tag?”

A chuckle came from his lips and she watched as he messed up his already messy hair as he pulled a hand over it. “I wouldn’t want to, get me? But if one hurt you, I’d hurt it. Probably have fucking nightmares afterward. I’m a dog man.”

“Oh, do you have dogs?” It might be a game changer if he were a dog owner.

“Nah, I’m not home long enough. It would be cruel to keep him caged.”

“You should have dogs. Life is short.”

She could see him with dogs. Little ones. Big ones. Being adored by him.

It would be cute.

Walking around the kitchen, he put dishes into the sink. She watched the domesticity, and he grinned when he caught her. “See how we do this thing, darlin’? Friends is gonna work.”

There was no plan to do what she did next.

Marianna hadn’t been thinking about it.

But the way he looked at her. So trusting.

She crumbled, feeling the guilt gnaw at her insides. She was a horrible,horribleperson.

“I’ve been stealing from you.” She blurted and saw his smile drop. “That is why we can’t be friends, Tag. I’m a dreadful person. You’ve been so kind to me. So generous. I don’t deserve a friend like you.” The self-lambasting continued, switching to Russian when her distraught brain couldn’t translate fast enough.

It was only when Tag laid a hand on her shoulder that her words dried up.

“Darlin’, take a breath before you pass out.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I stole!”

“I heard you fine. Explain it to me.”

NINE

“A half-truth is still a lie.” – Marianna

It was uncanny what looking into this man’s cobalt eyes made her want to share with him.

Marianna felt the words in her throat, wanting to confess her sins. And there were many.

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