That Day by Karen Deen (best novels to read in english txt) 📕

become like my best friend. I love her like a sister, and I can’t let anything happen to her. It’s killing me that I can’t protect her like I normally can. I needed you, I miss you having my back.”

I take a deep breath. “Then you know why I can’t walk away from her either,” I say, grabbing the back of my neck and squeezing the tension building up there.

“There is something about her that drew me in the first time I saw her,” I tell Davina. “I’ve fought this heart thumping for over a year. Until the universe threw me a curve ball that I couldn’t ignore. She needed me.”

I look back out to sea. “In more ways than one, she needed me, and I needed her too. I can’t deny what we feel. It’s too much to ignore. For me, it’s even worse, because I know she’s in danger. It kills me knowing the reason she is in that house. I might not know the case details, but I know it’s bad if she’s in WITSEC. So, don’t you see? Her being with me is actually a good thing. I make her happy, and I can keep her safe. Safer than Scott can. Just tell him to back off and stay in the background. Keep all this between us and everything will be fine. I’m not doing it in an official capacity, but I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to her…”

Taking a deep breath, I turn to face her, placing my hand on top of Davina’s sitting on the handle of her crutch. “I care too much for her… I’m falling hard, and there’s no coming back from that.” I wait for her to say something. “Please, Davina, for all our years of friendship and your love for her, let me protect her and her heart.”

“Ugh, I’m going to regret this. I can tell right down to my core…”

Taking a few seconds, she finally answers my plea. “Alright, it’s a deal. But know this—one hair on her head gets hurt, or you break her heart, and I will shoot you myself, do you understand me?” She bangs her crutch on the floor to make sure I understand. “And stay away from Scott. Let me handle him. I know you two have history, so if you want me to back off, then you get off his case too.”

She starts to hobble to the door, mumbling under her breath, “I’m going to regret this. I know now I am. Plus the ass kicking I’ll get once my boss finds out. I need a therapist.” She stops at the door as I open it for her.

“Think about it, it’s the perfect solution.” I kiss her on the cheek while she gives me a death stare.

“Says the man who is looking thoroughly fucked these days. It suits you—not that I said that.”

I chuckle at her as she leaves. “You’re just jealous, Davina You’ve been wanting what’s in my pants for years.” I’m still laughing as she opens her car door.

“Keep dreaming, Bull.” Closing her car door and her engine springing to life, she gives me a wave as she pulls away.

I never thought I’d hear that code name Bull ever again. But life has a habit of bringing you full circle, whether you like it or not.

I jump as Seth speaks right next to me, startling me. “Who was that?”

“Just another job. One I tried to turn down, but she really wants me on board, and I can’t walk away.”

“Such the ladies’ man, aren’t we, Casanova?”

“Fuck off. You ready? I need to run hard, so no pussyfooting around, keep up.”

Pulling the door closed behind me, I’m off down the steps and listening to Seth behind me, telling me to stop being a dick and slow down.

Fuck, life just really got crazy!

I don’t care one bit. It’s the only decision for me.

Asha is mine, and no bastard, no matter what side of the war he is on, can have her!

Not now, not ever!

ASHA

The smartest move I made was swap to an argument scene to write today. The amount of pent-up emotion had my fingers shooting across the keyboard in lightning speed. Sitting here now on the deck with my iced tea, watching Kurt pull up in his truck to go surfing and then leave again pulls at my heart a little.

What will it feel like when I have to leave, knowing I’m breaking both our hearts?

Is it fair what I’m about to do to Kurt?

I’m being selfish and thinking about my own happiness. If I really liked him, I wouldn’t be so cruel. I’d let him go to find love with someone else.

Watching his truck disappear in the distance, I know, though, I can’t do that. As much as I should, I can’t let him go. There is something so strong between us. Yeah, the sexual attraction is off the charts, but it’s so much more than that. It’s like the universe put him in my life for a reason. To rescue me and not just from the storm, but from myself. From the loneliness I live and fear every day. The anxiety that paralyzes me some nights in the dark that I can never get rid of. Those times I forget how to breathe when the noises around me petrify me.

He knows, even when he’s not here, he just knows I need him.

That can’t be a coincidence.

It has to be fate.

Although I’m not sure I believe in that. Because in that case, why did fate put me there that night?

Why did it have to be me?

“You should get going before the storm starts, Jenna.” Mrs. Warrington’s sweet voice has me looking up from the brass I’m polishing on the fireplace in the back guestroom.

“Almost done here and then I’ll head home. Thank you for worrying about me, but I’d rather get it finished.” She smiles at me in her kind way.

I have been housekeeping for the Warringtons for the past