Page 110 of No Apologies
“The money isn’t a big deal though…”
“It is to me and it always will be. Maybe because I’ve never had any. I don’t know. But it’s never gonna sit right with me that you basically bought me from Lincoln.”
She winced at that, “I didn’t buy you, Colt. I bought part of your business.”
“That’s logistics and you know it.”
She couldn’t argue that. Not really. Lincoln had used the money to force Colt to work and fight for him. Her money had freed him from that but in his mind, it only meant he had a new debtor that he owed. That dynamic would never work in their relationship.
“What if you think of it more as a loan?” She met his gaze when his brows furrowed, “You can pay me back as you get the money like you were doing with Lincoln or you can save up and buy me out all at once. I don’t want to own Fine Lines, Colt. I want you happy. I’d give you the paperwork to the shop right now if I thought it would make you happy but I know you’re too stubborn to simply take it.”
“You can’t gift me my own damn shop.” He grumbled.
“Exactly, which is why you’re going to buy me out just as soon as you get the money but only with a couple of conditions. One, you do not go to your family for the money. You can save or you can go to the bank. I won’t take dirty money and I won’t let you go down that road again.”
He snorted, “Yes dear, anything else?”
“Don’t call me that. I’m being serious.” She resisted the urge to smack him in the shoulder since he was still injured, “And two, I’m a silent partner until that day happens. You act like I don’t even exist.”
“But the shop is partly yours. Don’t you want a say in what’s going on down there?”
“As long as it’s legal, no. It’s yours. I have my own business to worry about. You run Fine Lines and I’ll run Split Ends and other than a piece of paper that me, you and the rest of the family knows about, nobody else will even be the wiser that the property has changed ownership. It’s not like anyone else knew Lincoln was involved in the first place, right?”
“Yeah. Right. I guess.”
She breathed a sigh of relief, “So that’s it then? You agree that the money isn’t going to be an issue between us?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re really done with the fighting and the side jobs with Lincoln? You’re out, Colt. That’s part of this deal. You said you wanted it but if you’re having second thoughts I need to know now. I can’t be one of those girlfriends that sits at home not knowing if you’re out there in danger or risking your life. I can’t end up like Nessa. I won’t. I’m sorry.”
“Hey.” He rose up on his shoulder again to look at her directly, “I’m out. I swear. I can’t promise that there won’t ever be nights when I step into the cage. Sometimes I need to hit things. Its part of the anger that bastard left in me. And I can’t promise that there won’t be any danger because I’ll always be a Bomar and people in this town have a tough time differentiating between us. But I can promise you that I will always come home to you.”
Her eyes watered, “Always?”
“And forever.” He kissed the track the lone tear that escaped made before pulling back, “I’m out and I’ll go tell Lincoln that first thing tomorrow. I don’t think he’ll be surprised by my answer. I heard he figured out just how amazing you are firsthand.”
“Oh… yeah… that. I guess you heard that I slapped him huh?”
“Yeah. I heard and damn, if I wasn’t so proud of you I’d put you over my knee and spank you. That was crazy. You know that right? Nobody hits Link and gets away with it.”
“I did.” She smirked. “In fact, I think he kind of likes me.”
Colt growled, “He better not.”
“Likes me as in respects me.” She rolled her eyes, “Not likes me as in wants me naked and in his bed.”
“Don’t ever mention my cousins and a bed ever again.”
“Oh come on, you know if I was thinking about crawling in bed with another Bomar boy it would be Ford, not Linc…” She screeched as Colt shifted on top of her and pinned her down, “Oh my God! I was kidding!”
“You’re gonna get Ford killed if you keep that up.”
“It was a joke, Colt. You’re the only Bomar boy I want.” She struggled against his grip and he released her easily so she framed his face and leaned up to kiss him, “You’re the only man I want.”
“Say it again.” He brushed his lips over hers and made her smile.
“I love you.”
