Free Brand Me (Imagine Ink Book 2) by Verlene Landon Page A

make with all the mess back home. The timing sucked. The business, Walker and Erika, and starting a family, all needed her attention, but she had to say yes to this time with Richard. If she’d had blown it off, she’d still be firmly entrenched in a loveless, and if she were honest, abusive, relationship a decade from now.
    The truth was, she owed her new-found confidence and understanding to this trip, and by virtue, to Richard. Ironic didn’t begin to cover it. The man responsible for a lot of steaming piles of shit in her life was also partially to thank for cleaning it up, even though that wasn’t his intention. He stole her confidence. No, she gave it to him, but now? Now, she was taking it back, and he made it possible for her to do so. There was a touch of mental-ward worthy laughter building up inside her, but she kept it trapped there, lest Michael think she really was off her rocker.
    Even if she returned to a world of chaos going to Hell in a hand basket, this trip was already worth it. Sometimes, a woman had to stop trying to save everyone else and save herself.
    That realization was staggering.
    Michael finally cut into her thoughts with the answer to the question she had asked earlier, “Relax, mama, I don’t have a drinking problem. Yes, I can tie one on now and then.” When he took a breath, Tori could’ve sworn he mumbled, more so in the last fucking year , but she wasn’t one hundred percent, so she let it go for now, but did file it away as a piece of the puzzle that was Wingman Michael. Seemingly exhausted, he flopped back on the pillow before continuing to speak.
    “Like I said, I don’t have a drinking problem, but your concern warms my heart.” Tori’s eyes dropped to her lap where his masculine, intact hand was lazily stroking up and down her thigh. It was a light touch, almost as if he wasn’t aware of his actions, but it felt very intimate and cozy. She liked it. A lot.
    “Hmm, you changed out of my sweats. I kinda like the thought…” He trailed off and his voice was almost inaudible, almost.
    “I can handle my liquor, even with a few pain killers. It was only a shot or two to take the edge off. Believe it or not, this hurts like a bitch. I know I look all hard and tough, and for the most part I am,” he delivered with a chuckle, “but you, pretty lady, bring out the softer side of me.” Michael rolled on to his side, still not breaking contact with her thigh, to look her in the eye with what was the most seductive twinkle she’d even been the recipient of, glittering in his.
    “I’m just a big ole teddy bear around you, and you know what teddy bears are good for? Cuddles.” Shit he was spry for someone with a cocktail of meds and drink in him, and with a lame hand to boot. Somehow, he managed to twist her around and she landed with a bounce face to face beside him on the bed. His good hand now stroked her cheek and gently coaxed her hair around her ear.

    W hat the fuck are you thinking man? The boyfriend was public knowledge. She’d confirmed it herself. But yeah, he’s no good for her. Still, he didn’t need or want anything from a woman, and especially not her.
    The voice of Maury Povich popped into his head as his own, berating him. We have the result here Mr. Brande, are you ready? Our test has determined that, that is a lie. You do need this woman and you want her even more. The fake audience oohed and aahed so loudly he was wondering if they were actually in his head and if Tori could hear them too.
    Yep, he was monumentally screwed. There was something in his heart that was telling him she was his salvation and not his instrument of destruction, or maybe it was his soul, because his heart was still a little blackened toward her.
    Even through his confusion, he could feel her becoming an integral piece of him, coursing through his body, while his blood drummed out her name. Tor - ee, tor - ee, tor - ee. The flow of his blood, his life, being forced through his