World's Worst Boyfriend: A Romantic Comedy Adventure (Fake It Book 3), Carina Taylor [ebook reader online txt] 📗

pull Sullivan's attention away from me. It about killed me to watch you drive away, knowing you were going to lunch with him, even knowing West was watching you. It was hard to not be there myself to watch over you.”

“You have been watching over me,” I assured him. “I didn’t realize what you were doing. What you were protecting me from. Part of me wishes I had known so that I could’ve helped you more or been more understanding when you were exhausted all those nights. But another part of me knows that I wouldn’t have been able to keep that secret for that long, and that I might’ve gotten you hurt or even killed. I’m so glad that Sullivan will be behind bars from now on.”

Fletcher cleared his throat and grimaced. “About that,” he said, “he’s not going to be behind bars exactly.”

“What do you mean?” I demanded. “He tried to kill you!”

“Turns out, he didn’t want to kill me. He’s actually not the worst criminal I’ve gone after.”

“You mean he’s going to walk away?” I exclaimed.

“Not exactly,” Fletcher ground out. “He’s going to be assisting us on the case now. He’s exchanged information for his freedom. Freedom with a parole officer. More like freedom with a babysitter. His lawyer is pushing for house arrest for three years—he’ll probably get it because he’s got the best criminal defense lawyer in the state. Only allowed to leave under strict guidelines and under strict supervision of an officer.”

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. “And who might that be?”

“Yeah, unfortunately it’s going to be me until we finish this case, and then he’ll be passed off to someone else most likely.”

“You mean to tell me you’re still stuck working with Sullivan? How are you not going to kill him?”

“I don’t know how to answer truthfully. It turns out he’s not as bad as I thought he was.”

“Do you know what’s great?” I asked as I looped my hands behind his neck and snuggled closer. “You won’t ever have to worry about me going to lunch with Sullivan again.”

“You don’t even know how happy that makes me.” He grinned and leaned in and gave me a quick kiss.

“I never could get over you,” I complained. “Even when Sullivan was pursuing me and asking me out, I couldn’t stop thinking about some tall guy I knew once, who is really good at fixing things. He had a thing for ball caps and standing up to my grandma for me.”

His cheeks reddened in an adorable blush as I continued, “Even when you literally dragged me away from that bar, I knew you were doing it because you didn’t want me hurt. And while I was mad enough to spit, that was the moment I realized that there was more to you than I’d ever imagined. I knew you loved me, and that you cared about me enough to protect me even if it meant I wouldn’t see you in a favorable light. And that type of sacrifice is something I can truly appreciate. That’s the kind of love I want in a relationship.”

“I do love you, Saidy Perez. And it about broke me when I thought I’d lost you, even though I knew it was my own fault.”

“I would say it was both our faults,” I butted in. “But yeah, you were the world’s worst boyfriend—briefly.”

I yelped as he tickled my sides. “But you loved me and were doing what you needed to do to keep me safe and do your job. And if you don’t shut up and kiss me sometime soon, I’m going to do something to make you regret it.”

Fletcher grinned, “Doesn’t seem like I’m the one doing the talking right now. I’ve only had one thing on my mind since I walked in. Have you been talking this whole time?”

I reached out and poked him in the chest. “I’d be careful if I were you, buddy. You might be in danger of a black eye one of these days.”

He took his time as he leaned down, teasing my lips. There wasn’t the urgency in this kiss that there had been the day before. I reached up and pulled the ball cap from his head. “Was this part of your disguise?” I whispered against his lips.

He slid a hand around my back and tugged me closer. “No,” his breath caught on the word as I ran a hand through his hat hair.

“I’m glad,” I managed to get out after a soft kiss. “I kind of like them.”

He leaned in to kiss my neck, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. “Kind of?”

“They’re okay,” I shrugged, fighting a smile as he sat up to kiss me in front of my earlobe.

I tried to turn and capture his lips with mine.

He stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “You know, for someone who wasn’t a very good liar twenty-four hours ago, you’re becoming quite adept.”

I groaned. “Fine. I have a thing for guys in hats. I think it’s sexy. Happy now?”

He smiled. “Very.”

He let go of my shoulder and slid his hand behind my head. His legs shifted underneath me, tipping me firmly against his chest, as he pressed his lips against mine. He was a starving man; I was the meal.

I sighed happily as I parted my lips, allowing him what he sought. We fit perfectly. Our height difference was an advantage when I was sitting on his lap.

His thighs shifted my hips forward.

He probably had his feet on my coffee table.

I didn’t care.

Chapter Thirty

Saidy

A loud backfiring sound caught my attention as I opened the door of the car. I climbed out and turned around to see a motorcycle driving down the road. To my surprise, it pulled into my driveway behind my car.

I reached back into the car, wrapping my hand around the small canister of pepper spray attached to my key chain.

The bike shut off and the man swung a long leg over the