Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Will life ever be easier?
Diary Entry: 10 years ago
I went to her grave today, and to that of her baby.
I don’t know what to write.
I’m scared.
I can’t stop crying.
It hurts all over again.
Why am I even talking about this?
I hate my life. I hate Hardy. I hate The Skulls.
No, I don’t.
My life would be damned easier if I did.
I want to hate them. I want to make Hardy hurt, but when I look into his eyes, I’m sure I see him hurt.
Am I really capable of hurting the man I love?
I don’t know.
Diary Entry: 5 years ago
Angel gave birth. Tate gave birth. Everyone is giving birth, and their men are more loving than ever before. I’ve even heard that Lexie has given birth, and has taken Simon, her sister’s kid, on as her own. It hurts.
Wounds that had been healing are being split open, tearing me apart. I’m moving on. I’m happy, and now I’m being slapped, left, right, and center by everyone around me.
I can’t handle this.
It scares me.
It hurts me.
I’m not used to feeling like this.
I hate myself.
I envy all of them.
What did I do wrong?
Diary Entry: 3 years ago
I can’t do it. Her ghost is haunting me everywhere I go. She’s a constant reminder between Hardy and me.
I was the one who changed, not him.
I’m the one who is scared to put weight on. I’m scared to leave the club. I’m scared of all of the new beautiful women who are coming into the club. I saw Angel talking to Hardy with her easy smile and complete innocence, and for a split second, I wondered if she was screwing my husband.
I’m an awful person. I hate myself, and I can’t go on.
Each diary entry stripped Rose’s soul bare. They were the writings of a woman who was in love, filled with fear, and overcome by sadness. Hardy didn’t know how she’d been able to cope with him for all of these years. The insight it gave him was powerful, and what he was going to use to finally win her over.
****
Three days later
Rose giggled as Hardy continued to tickle her. They’d been playing cards, and she’d been teasing him about not going to the clubhouse. He only had to wait a couple more days and he’d have his woman at a prom.
“Will you stop? I’m going to pee.”
He kept tickling her, remembering all of the zones she couldn’t stand to have touched. When he knew she couldn’t stand it anymore, he grabbed the back of her neck, and kissed her lips hard.
“I want to take you out on a date tonight,” he said.
“A date?”
He nodded.
“At the clubhouse?”
He shook his head.
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s not hard. Whizz and Lacey are moving out of the clubhouse, preparing their home for Sally’s arrival—”
“I can’t believe they’re going to adopt a fifteen year old girl.” She sat back, leaning against the couch.
“Tell me about it. Everything is good though. Whizz was telling me she’s had a hard life, and didn’t expect them to like her.” He shrugged. “I guess we’re going to have to wait and see how she gets stuck in with the rest of us.”
“Lacey and Whizz are staying part of the club?” Rose asked.
“Yeah. Whizz has helped the social worker dealing with the adoption. Sally is going to be in good hands, and from what I was told, she hasn’t settled well in other places.”
“Poor girl.”
Hardy ran his hand across her stomach. “We’re going to take care of our baby.”
She placed her hand over his, and he saw her smile. Over the last couple of days he’d seen the fear and pain slowly slipping out of her gaze. He didn’t want her to feel anything but safe and comfortable when she was with him.
“We’ll be good parents to our baby.”
“That we will.” He was silent as he touched her stomach, wondering when he’d feel his son or daughter kick. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“For not being there at all the appointments, for not insisting we try. Everything.”
“Hardy?”
“I’ve grown up now, Rose. I’m not a dumb fucking kid anymore. I’ll be there for you, and for our kid. You can count on me.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips, sliding his tongue inside. She opened up, arching against him. It took all of his control not to take her there and then. He was determined to be the perfect gentleman with her, and to give her what he’d failed in the past.
“You’re blowing my mind, Hardy.”
“Good, ‘cause I’m not done. I’m going to blow your mind even more. How does dinner in an Italian restaurant sound?” he asked.
“In an actual restaurant? Candles? A maître d’?”
“Yes, I’ve booked us a table. Go and get your ass changed. There’s a gift on the bed.”
She gave a squeal, and Hardy laughed as he watched her. Getting to his feet, he waited for Baker to enter the room.