Ruthless Bastard (Dangerous Love 3)

Rhett paused. He looked around, seeing two women laughing as they walked by, obviously thinking he and Remy were in a lovers’ spat. He turned back to Remy and softened his voice, hoping that would calm her down. “I haven’t promised Kinsley anything.”

Remy snorted and poked his chest. “Which is exactly the fucking problem, you idiot.”

At that, Rhett raised his eyebrows. He couldn’t recall ever hearing Remy curse like that before. Or calling anyone a bad name. Damn. He’d really pissed her off.

Her voice only tightened as she went on, snarling at him, ignoring everyone walking around them. “Kinsley deserves a guy to promise her everything and to give her the whole goddamn world. She’ll want you, even if you cannot give her that. She’ll take any little piece of you that you give her, because for some unknown reason she loves you.”

She loves you…Rhett’s chest tightened, and t

he room spun a little. “Am I really that terrible of a person, Remy?” he asked in his own defense.

“As a friend, no,” she said, and some of the heat left her eyes. “You’re wonderful. We all love you. I love you. But you’re not the guy who wants marriage, who wants to wake up Sunday mornings in the arms of his wife.”

She wasn’t wrong—Rhett couldn’t imagine that. Walking down the aisle, promising anyone forever. He’d never lived with a woman. He wasn’t even sure how that would work. Where would they live? Her house? His? It seemed easier to keep separate houses…separate lives. He liked his space. Needed it. “I understand that you’re worried about her, Remy,” he said again, softly but not weakly, “but Kinsley seems perfectly fine and happy with how things are going right now.”

“Of course she is,” Remy countered. “She wants you so bad that anything is better than nothing at all.”

Rhett’s chest took a direct hit at that. He knew what sacrifice meant. He hadn’t wanted that for Kinsley, and yet now, he couldn’t seem to stay away.

Something must’ve crossed his face because Remy stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “No one will say it to you because they’re all secretly hoping that this thing between you and Kinsley works out. Hell, if I thought it could, I wouldn’t say a damn thing either.”

He’d been running from this truth, but it was there, always on his mind too. “You think we’re doomed to fail?”

“I think you could have it all. Have the life that she, and you, deserve, but not like this.” She snapped her fingers. “You want this, Rhett? Truly want this? Then do the one thing you never do.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Which is?”

“Work at it. Truly. Work out your shit and figure out what’s going on in here.” She tapped his chest. Hard. “Then, after that, marry her.”

The thought was so absurd, he burst out laughing. “Remy,” he finally said. “We’ve only been seeing each other for a week.”

“So what?” Remy countered. “You’ve known her your entire life, and she’s wanted you pretty much for that entire time.” Remy took a step and closed the distance between them. Under her scrutiny, his heart began to race, sweat building on his flesh. “She deserves your commitment. Totally in. One hundred percent.”

Rhett gave her an incredulous look. “She wouldn’t say yes, even if I asked.”

“Maybe not,” Remy said with a shrug. “But at least you’ll have shown her that you’re serious. That this isn’t just you going with the flow, taking what you want, and having fun. Because soon this is going to get serious. Very serious. You’re having a baby together.”

His back went ramrod straight. “I’m quite aware of the serious nature of things, Remy.”

Her brows shot up. “Are you? Really? Because one day, that little baby is going to grow up and be a kid and ask you, ‘Daddy, why aren’t you and Mommy married?’ And what answer will you give?”

He glanced away, taking in what she’d said. He’d expected Boone to have this conversation with him, but he was actually more supportive than Remy. He waited for a couple of women to enter the bathroom before he said, “You’re talking years ahead. Things are good right now. We’re taking this day by day, slowly.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and dipped his chin, looking into her eyes. “I know you’re worried about Kinsley. I know that my track record doesn’t bode well to ease those worries, but this is Kinsley’s show. The moment she’s not happy, things will change, and I’ll do what I can to ensure that I don’t hurt her.” He gave her an honest smile. “You’re a good friend to corner me and give it to me straight, but hurting her is the very last thing I want to do.”

Remy considered him for a good long moment then sighed and stepped back. “All right, I can live with that.” She began to turn away but then stopped and looked back at him. “Just so we’re clear, if you do hurt her, I’ll hex you.”

He laughed, shaking his head at her. “You know I don’t believe in that magic shit.”

“Yeah, well, hurt her, and kiss your erections goodbye, buddy.” She spun on her heels and marched away as if she meant every single word.

Rhett frowned after her. She couldn’t…she wouldn’t…

Her grin back at him declared she most certainly would.

Chapter 11

“Wild night last night?” Benji asked by way of greeting as he entered the bar from the back room the next afternoon.

“Wild night for everyone else in town but me,” Kinsley said with a smile, adding more beer bottles from the box to the fridge. Truth was, as much as she loved a good party, she had to admit that not being hung over this morning wasn’t horrible either. She’d done her laundry, and Rhett’s too. Her to-do list was basically down to zero, and her accounting had never been this up to date. Though all day her mind had been stuck on when she saw Remy pull Rhett away for an obvious talk last night. When Kinsley had asked Rhett about it later, he muttered something about Remy loving her and something about his erections. The conversation was confusing, and Rhett looked a little pale about the erection part, so Kinsley left it alone, figuring Remy had threatened him somehow. “We went to Merlots,” she explained to Benji, folding up the box. “They all drank. I ate ice cream.”