That was the problem with my dad. He was so wrapped up in his own alpha maleness that he couldn’t see another alpha when he was staring him right in the face. And sometimes, the big dog wasn’t necessarily the largest.

Feeling the need to get Lee a birthday gift, I stopped by a bookstore on my way home and picked up a Cordon Bleu cookery book that I knew he’d like. I smiled to myself, remembering the time I’d teased him for baking lemon cakes like a little old granny. In truth, the idea of him with his shirt sleeves rolled up, tattoos all on display, and wearing an apron was kinda sexy. Or maybe I was just a weirdo.

I spent the rest of the day helping Alexis with Oliver, then went to get ready. Settling on a pair of black skinny jeans, boots, and a white shirt, I thought I looked good without making too much effort. I tied my hair up in a stylish ponytail before heading out. Reya met me on the Tube, since she lived two stops away, and when we got to the pub, the place was busy. I spotted Lee, Trevor, Liam, and two other blokes sitting at a big table, drinking pints.

“Hey, everyone,” I said in greeting, and Lee immediately stood to place a kiss on my cheek. His gaze travelled over me as I shrugged off my jacket, and then he whispered in my ear, “You look hot as fuck.”

I shivered at his words, wondering if he only said it because he was drinking, but the alcohol on his breath wasn’t heavy. I sat down, and Trevor proceeded to quiz Reya on where she’d run off to earlier. He’d been so busy flirting with his gaggle of groupies that he hadn’t even noticed her leave, which just said it all. I thought maybe my friend was better off with him staying oblivious. Sure, Lee was a handful, but I imagined it’d take ten women to keep up with Trevor’s hyperactive personality.

Reya needed someone kind, someone safe. Not an adrenaline junkie who jumped off buildings and climbed mountains just for kicks. Sure, Lee was…okay, you get the point. Of all the brothers, Trevor was the wildcard. Speaking of brothers, Liam was eyeing me cautiously from the other side of the table. I understood why he was sceptical, especially with Stu’s current incarceration. But I wasn’t there for any reason other than the fact that I was drawn to Lee.

We’d been out of each other’s lives for three months. I’d thought I was over him, insomuch as you could ever get over a lost love. But the second I walked into that delivery room and saw him there, standing by my best friend’s side as she went through one of the most difficult and important experiences of her life, I knew I wasn’t over him. Not by a long shot. All my feelings had come rolling back, but with a renewed sense of warmth. I didn’t have to worry about my career or my reputation. He was just a man now. Just an ordinary man. Anything could happen. The idea caused my every pore to draw tight with anticipation.

I wanted to say something to Liam, but I knew that if he was ever going to accept me, it was going to take time. I’d have to get him to warm up to me little by little. For now, I simply nodded my head at him in lieu of a hello. He nodded back. This was good. I’d half expected him to flip me off.

“Oh, I brought you a present,” I said, turning to Lee. My knee knocked into his, and I was far more aware of the simple touch than I should have been. Pulling the gift-wrapped book from my handbag, I passed it to him. Lee stared at the gift, a grin tugging at one corner of his mouth.

“Aw, Snap, ya shouldn’t have,” he said, leaning forward and giving me yet another peck on the cheek. This time it was dangerously close to my mouth, and I inhaled a sharp breath. A second later, Lee’s attention was on the book as he pulled it from the wrapping. The smile took over his entire face then, and his eyes lit up as he looked at me. “This is great, thanks.”

“All right, it’s time for tequila shots,” said Trevor, returning from the bar. I’d been so wrapped up in Lee that I hadn’t even noticed him leave the table. He slammed a bottle of Patrón down, alongside some salt and limes. Then he went to grab a bunch of shot glasses from the barman before returning.

“Nah, man, that stuff makes me puke,” said Liam, shaking his head.

“Lightweight,” Trevor jeered, then turned to Reya, flashing a devilish grin. “How about you, Queenie?”

She blushed at him using her stage name, her eyes downcast as she nodded. “Sure.”

Trevor glanced at me. “And you, Constable?”

“Hey, it’s sergeant now,” said Lee, and Trevor looked at me, wide-eyed.

“No shit? You made sergeant? In that case, you definitely have to do a shot. All sergeants are notorious tequila fiends,” he said, making no sense whatsoever, but that was Trevor for you.

“Okay, I’ll do one,” I said, feeling Lee’s attention next to me. “But only one.”

Trevor began lining the shots up in front of us. When Reya passed me the salt, I licked a line between my thumb and forefinger, poured it on, and picked up a slice of lime. Before I could react, Lee grabbed my hand and levelled me with a hot look. A moment passed, and then he bent his head to lick off the salt, his tongue hot and wet on my skin. My tummy fluttered wildly as I tried to steady my breathing, especially when he glanced up at me, eyes dark with mischief. I watched, transfixed, as he knocked back his shot, then bit down on the lime. It was probably one of the sexiest things I’d ever seen.

“Your turn,” he said, voice husky as he held his hand out to me.

“Oh,” I breathed, heart pounding loud in my ears.

After a second of hesitation, I brought my mouth to his skin and licked. This close, all I could smell was him, his salty taste on my lips. To my horror, I found myself lingering, and a rumble only I could hear rose from his chest. I drew away quickly, downing the shot and biting into the lime.

Expecting to turn around and find everyone watching our borderline pornographic exchange, I was relieved to see they were ignoring us completely. That was mostly because Trevor was on his third shot, and the boys were egging him on to do more.

There was music in the pub and a small dance floor, a few women and men busting sloppy, drunken moves. Lee’s breath hit my skin right before he whispered, “Come dance with me.”

He didn’t give me time to respond, only grabbed my hand and pulled me up with him. I followed, my head foggy with either arousal or tequila, I couldn’t seem to tell. My eyes traced the muscular lines of his broad shoulders, shoulders made for hard work and fucking, and I began to imagine where this night would lead.

Some cheesy eighties rock ballad played through the speakers as Lee spun us around, pulled me close, and slid his arms around my waist. I stared up at him, his bright blue eyes arresting. The way he moved was purposeful, every brush of his body against mine designed to seduce.

“Lee,” I said, unsure whether he could hear me over the music, “why did you leave last night?”

I knew by the set of his mouth that he didn’t like my question, but he answered it anyway. “I didn’t want to, if that’s what you’re asking.”

What he said was a relief, because although he was showing all the signs that he wanted me, there’d always be that lingering doubt in the back of my mind, questioning whether or not he still harboured blame.

“So….” I ventured. “You just didn’t want to take advantage while I was drunk?”

“Yeah, I want to do things right this time.”

“This time?”

He nodded, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “If you think I’m here for friendship, Karla, you’re shit out of luck.” The growl in his voice did wonderful things to my insides. “I want you back in my bed, for good.”

“Oh,” I breathed, uncertain as to what to say.

“But it won’t be like last time. I refuse to sneak around or keep things secret. I won’t have you letting go of my hand because you’re ashamed to be seen with me. That shit is over. I want you to be proud to be by my side. I want you to want everyone to know you’re mine. But most of all, I want to be worthy of you.”