Free Protecting His Witness (Red Stone Security Series) by Katie Reus

had all gotten rides to school with their friends that morning. Traitors,” he muttered.
    “But she wasn’t done. Oh no, not my mama. She put on a housecoat I’m pretty sure belonged to my grandmother, a shower cap, and told me to get in the van. When I asked her what she was doing she said that if I was going to act as if she embarrassed me, she’d give me a reason to be embarrassed. She also said that if I couldn’t respect my own mother in front of my friends that she clearly wasn’t raising me right and was going to make some changes.”
    Jordan laughed against his chest, unable to contain her howl of amusement. When she looked into Vincent’s face, his lips were quirked up at the corners. “So what happened?” she asked.
    He shook his head, but he was smiling. “She took me to school, and stubborn little ass that I was, I didn’t think she’d actually go through with getting out of the car, but that woman has no fear. As she started to get out I apologized—profusely—and begged forgiveness. She told me if I ever mouthed off to her in front of anyone again, I couldn’t even imagine what she’d do. That’s the day I realized that my mother is smarter and scarier than I’ll ever be.”
    Jordan grinned up at him. “She sounds like a trip.”
    “That, she is. My sister Zoe still hasn’t learned her lesson where my mom is concerned, but that’s probably because she’s just as scary as my mom.”
    “I’d love to meet them.” The words slipped out before she could rein in her big mouth. She inwardly cringed and tried to think of a way to backpedal what she’d said.
    “I’d like that too.” Now there was no amusement on his face. Just a raw intensity that stole her breath.
    She had no idea what to make of that comment. Absolutely. No. Clue.
    “Over the past few years, there have been other women in my life.” His abrupt change in topic was like a knife in her chest.
    She so did not need to hear any of this. Even if it was true, she didn’t want to hear the fucking words. Jordan started to get up, but he held her firm, his grip around her tightening. “Why the hell are you telling me this?” she snarled, not bothering to hide her hurt.
    “Because I don’t want anything between us. There might have been others in my life, but no one meant anything to me. I never got over you. When you left, it was like you took part of me with you.”
    Tears burned her eyes. She didn’t want to hear this either. Didn’t want him to tell her how much she’d hurt him, even if she had. She could feel her emotions spiraling out of control and didn’t want to break down in front of him. Blinking the wetness away, she kept her gaze on his. In the moonlight, his beautiful pale eyes seemed even brighter against his dark skin. “You can’t know how sorry I am,” she whispered.
    “I’m not telling you because I want an apology. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get over you leaving, but after last night, I’m not living without you, Jordan. I…can’t. And I don’t want to.”
    She could hear the truth in his voice, but she also knew he could be saying this now and mean it, but what happened later? What happened when he couldn’t get over what she’d done? Just a few hours ago he hadn’t been sure what the hell he wanted and now he was so positive? No freaking way. She tried to tell herself to get the hell out of his room, to get far away from him before they crossed a line and she got her heart shattered. Walking away had nearly killed her.
    If he walked out on her after this, she didn’t know that she’d survive the heartbreak.
    Before she could form a response or force herself to leave the room, he kissed her. Maybe he’d sensed her hesitation, she wasn’t sure, but he moved lightning fast, crushing his lips over hers in a heated, hungry kiss—devouring her mouth. It was the only way she could describe what he was doing to her. Like he was trying to completely possess her.
    He shifted in an