Free Love Renewed (Entwined Hearts #3) by Maria Macdonald Page B

before the day, I thought you’d be turning up today seeing as Saul, Soph, and the rest of them will be there today too?” His voice has softened, apparently noticing the pissed off woman stirring to life within me.
    “Oh. Yeah, that would make sense,” I answer, not sure if I want to be completely honest about my situation.
    He pulls his hand down his face and sighs. “Nova, listen, there’s a lot of stuff we need to talk about. I want to spend time doing that, and I’m going to stay here as long as I need to for that purpose. But I have to be clear, you have my past, completely. I want you to have my future, I will lay everything I am down for you, which is more than you realise right now. But I won’t cut my family out. That’s a step too far.”
    I cock my head to the side, I know men’s brains aren’t always the easiest things to work out, but I’m completely thrown. I have zero clues as to what he’s talking about right now. “What?” I reply.
    “I love them, I want you to love them too. If you’re going to the wedding for Con, but avoiding going until the last minute because you don’t like some of them, then I need to know now. I won’t ever cut them off.”
    “Seriously.” I snap, crossing my arms.
    “What?”
    “You’re a fucking dick.” His eyes widen, but he says nothing. “Why would that even be your first thought? I like them all, probably more than I like you…you douche. Men are such dicks,” I mumble the last part to the ceiling. “I’m coming on Friday because I don’t have the money to come before, or to stay for longer.” I sigh and sit down at the breakfast bar.
    Looking up at him, I watch as a myriad of emotions pass over his face. “It’s a rare occasion that I can’t read someone,” he tells me, but his voice is full of wonder.
    “Yeah, well, I’d be surprised if you could read me all of the time, seeing as I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing myself for most of it,” I reply, still ticked off.
    He doesn’t say anything and I sit, facing away from him not really sure how we got to this point and also somewhat confused. This is this how you sometimes behave with boyfriends, not someone you barely know, that you slept with the night before. Suddenly, feeling slightly uncomfortable I try to figure out what to do. I twist around to talk to him, but he starts speaking into a cell at his ear.
    “It’s me. Yes. Organise another ticket for my flights to and from Vegas…” he pauses and his eyes lift to mine, “first class with me. Yes. No. No hotel, she’ll be in my bed,” he continues and a smirk tips his lips, which makes me narrow my eyes at him.
    Chucking the cell down, he’s obviously finished the call.
    “Why did you do that? I can’t pay you back, I snap at him.
    “I will always take care of you,” he says so softly that it throws me and I shut my mouth, wondering whether I should be annoyed or not. Before I get a chance to decide he stalks to me and places one hand on either side of the bar stool, once again caging me in. I look down at each of his hands then back to him.
    “You like to pin me in, don’t you?” At my words, a raw hurt passes through his eyes and he steps back. Walking over to the window he stares out to the skyline.
    “There’s a lot you need to learn about me. I will tell you everything…eventually. What you need to know now is that I like being in control. With most women that’s fine. I don’t do relationships.”
    His words crush me. I take a step backward. I’m not sure why, though. Maybe it’s his words that have had that effect, or the shock of realising how hurt I am, knowing this is where we end and that thought is painful. But I can’t be a booty call, it’s just not in me.
    “With you though Nova, you’re the only person I’ve ever had a real relationship with, the only woman I would be willing to be in a relationship with again. With you, I’m all in.” This time, his words make my heart beat a