Ryn took a deep swallow, gathering her senses. “Uh … the garage, I think.”

Jillian nodded. Opening the front door, she stopped and looked back at Ryn. “He likes you.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he’s liked a lot of women.”

Jillian shook her head. “Truth?”

Ryn squinted a bit. Did she want the truth? After a few seconds, she nodded.

“My brother has fucked a lot of women, but I don’t think he liked any of them. He liked sex. Period.”

The door closed behind her leaving Ryn with a lot to think about.

*

As expected, Lilith waited for Jillian with a patient smile and eager ears. Dodge didn’t say a word when she walked through the door. He just gave her a hug and a sad smile before leaving.

“He’s not good with emotions.”

Jillian nodded at Lilith. “There’s really nothing to say.”

“There’s everything to say, dear. You let him go.”

Jillian plopped down on the couch. “I did,” she replied with a deep sigh. “It was never going to work out anyway. The guy refused to take me on a real date … one with cloth napkins.”

Lilith smiled. “You’re an amazing woman.”

“Well I don’t feel so amazing right now.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Jillian closed her eyes. “Yes, you can just listen.”

*

Day

“Dammit, Jones!”

Jessica jumped out of bed, leaving a mattress covered in tangled sheets and a collapsed wall of pillows, but no Luke. Then it registered, the angry voice came from the other room.

“What’s going on?” she asked as Jones ran to her. Picking him up, she kissed his head.

Luke had a murderous look on his face as he scrubbed the floor on all fours, wearing a T-shirt and pajama bottoms. “I took your dog outside, but he refused to do his business, instead deciding to hold it until we came back up here.”

She giggled, setting Jones down. He ran into his kennel as if he’d been sent to jail. Luke put the soiled paper towels in a plastic bag and washed his hands.

“Are you laughing at this situation?” The look he shot her over his shoulder would have killed a lesser woman.

“I can’t even count how many times I’ve yelled ‘Dammit, Jones,’ but never at the dog.”

Luke dried his hands. “I’m not laughing.”

“Of course you’re not.” She bit her lips together.

He grabbed her arm and yanked her into his chest, stealing her breath. Then he turned them around and lifted her onto the counter. She ran her hands through the sexiest unkept hair ever.

“You woke up alive,” she reminded him with a beaming smile.

Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he mumbled, “Indeed, I did.” With a smooth, swift stroke he pulled her tank top off, returning his mouth to the sensitive skin of her neck. His hands cupped her breasts with firm pressure. “In fact…” his hands slid down and he curled his fingers around her panties, working them under her backside and down her legs “…I’ve never felt so alive.”

“Luke,” she whispered with an impatient need, grabbing the hem of his shirt.

He helped her by pulling it off and sliding down his pants. No underwear. She smiled. He smirked and it was so damn sexy.

The hiss of his breath filled the room as she stroked him. He rested his hands on her legs and closed his eyes, letting his chin drop to his chest.

“So I’m moving in?” He was steel in her hand, a pinch-me moment to think that she, fucked-up-in-the-head Jessica, had such a visceral effect on him.

Gripping her ass, he tugged her to the edge of the counter then pushed her legs apart. Looking into her eyes he promised her forever before his lips spoke the actual words. “I’m never letting you go.”

She shivered as he slid inside her, claiming her lips with his, her hair with his hands, and her soul with every beat of his heart.

*

“I’m driving.” Jessica punched as much confidence into her demand as possible when Luke picked her up to meet her family for dinner. They decided to wait until he met her parents before they jumped into cohabitation.

“Get in, babe.” He shook his head as she went to open his door, but not before he slammed down the lock.

The scowl on her face held great promise of a beating later that night. She reined in her stubbornness and got in the passenger side, but only because they were going to dinner with her parents.

“If I didn’t love you so damn much, I’d hate you for being so possessive and selfish. You have four siblings. How is it you don’t know how to share?”

Luke smiled as he pulled away from the curb.

They were the last to arrive, only because her parents and Jude arrived early. It was no surprise they wanted to interrogate her brother to see what he knew about the man she deemed worthy of meeting her parents. Jessica’s secret was safe, although Jude was not happy that her brilliant therapist had crossed all ethical lines with her.

“Hey!” She released Luke’s hand to hug her parents as all three stood to greet them.

“This is a mistake,” Jude warned in her ear when she hugged him.

“Shut it.” She batted her eyes at him, feigning innocence. “Mom and Dad…” she gave Jude a barely-detectable scowl “…and Jude, this is Luke Jones, my … boyfriend.” She said it like a question as she looked up at Luke with a bit of apprehension. Boyfriend seemed so childish for a distinguished psychiatrist.

He kept his eyes and friendly smile focused on her family, so she assumed the label was okay.

“Luke, these are my parents, Grant and Sunny, and my brother, Jude.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He shook their hands, then they all sat down at the table two seconds before the waiter rushed over to get their drink order.

Jessica ordered wine. Luke ordered beer—a local brew. Grant nodded in approval. Jessica rested her hand on Luke’s leg. A silent thank you.

“So Jessica told us you’re a doctor.” Sunny smiled.

Yes, she had told them that, but they already knew. They knew more about Luke than she did. Since Claire’s death, her father made every move Jessica made his highest priority. He and Jude had both offered to fill her in on all the details, but she didn’t want to know, at least not that way. Luke would share his past on his own time.

“Yes. I’m a psychiatrist.”

They nodded.

“Our daughter’s psychiatrist?” Grant questioned.

That … that was the one piece of information they didn’t know. She begged Jude to keep it a secret, to make sure their father never found out.

“I was.”

Jessica turned toward Luke. Stunned. There was no other word. Not in her wildest dreams did she imagine him telling them that, not with his professional career at stake. A bubble of silence enveloped their table.

Grant looked at Jude. Of course he wondered how that bit of information failed to make it to him. Jude glared at Jessica with apparent anger over the secrecy that was blown with two simple words from the good doctor himself.

Grant cleared his throat. He was a dark-haired, burly man with a Tom Selleck mustache. Most people found him intimidating. Jessica, however, was a daddy’s girl and knew his softest side. That side wasn’t on display during dinner. “And now you’re romantically involved?”

“I’m in love with your daughter.”

“Enough to risk ending your career?” her father continued as Jude and Sunny watched like spectators at a Wimbledon match.

Jessica feared the answer. The question weighed heavily on her own mind. Truthfully, she didn’t know what she wanted his answer to be. Thinking of herself as a monster for so long made it easy to feel unworthy of Luke’s love, and even more unworthy of him taking such a life-changing risk for her.

“Yes.”

Sunny looked at Jessica, both of them teary eyed.

Grant nodded. “And dealing with her past?”

“It’s my number one priority.”

Another nod. “If you hurt her—”

“I’m certain I won’t live to tell about it, sir.” Luke smiled and finally, so did her father.