Whoa, what?How the hell did she get anything I’d said as not wanting her? I grabbed the side of the curtain and hoped for her sake she’d put the damn towel on as I slid the curtain across the bar. “I didn’t say I don’t want you. I said I don’t deserve you.”

“That’s practically the same thing. We both know how you are, Chase. You screw every female you come in contact with. I don’t want to be just another girl to someone, and when it comes to Brandon, I won’t be. If you can convince me right now that I have a reason to not be with him, then start talking. Otherwise, you and your confusing words need to stop.”

She really thought she was just another girl to me? Sure, I told everyone that, but she had to know that wasn’t true. And it’s not like I’d told her that—I told her the opposite! I’d never felt anything like this for anyone, and she thought she was just another girl for me? I thought about all the girls she’d seen me with since meeting her and wanted to curse myself for ever trying to push her away; I’d done this to myself. Until I showed her differently, she’d always think she didn’t matter to me. And other than wanting her to be with me, I didn’t have a legitimate thing to say against Brandon. He was the best guy I knew, the only guy I’d trust her with. “As long as he is what you want, I’ll stop bothering you.”

I thought about the way he’d come after me that morning because I’d bruised her. Yeah, he was in just as deep as I was. I let my fingers trail across the biggest bruise on her arm and wanted to kill myself. I leaned over the tub and kissed that bruise, moved up to kiss the smaller one on her shoulder, then across to kiss the identical one on her right shoulder. If only that could make them go away. “I’m so sorry, Harper,” I whispered, just before kissing the corner of her mouth. She’d never know how sorry I was for everything that I’d done to her in just two weeks of knowing her. “Get my number from Bree. I have to go in to work tonight, but if anything happens, call me, and I’ll be there.”

Before I could do anything else, like take her in my arms and never let her leave, I made myself turn and walk out of the room. I was already running late getting to the shop—not like anyone would care—but I needed to get there and clear my mind of my princess. I snorted as I cranked the engine of my truck. Yeah, like that was possible.

“HEY, MY MAN! Wasn’t sure if we’d be expecting you or not after our convo last night!”

I laughed and slapped Brian on the back as I went to my station. “Yeah, well, you got me tonight, so stop your bitching.”

“I’m so serious, bro, you missed some crazy hotties last night, and all they wanted was a piece of Chase.”

“Yeah—about that. I’m pretty sure I’m done with other women.”

His back straightened, and he spun around in his chair to face me, “Uh, ’scuse me?”

“You ever have a problem with someone else wanting your wife? Not just wanting her, because, Marissa’s hot, and we all know that. But I mean someone really wanting her, and her wanting him? Before you guys got married or anything like that?”

“Swear, bro, you should have started with that, because I thought you were going to start batting for the other team.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and went back to setting up my station.

“All right, fine, uh, not really. I mean guys have gone after her, chicks, too, but it’s always been me and Marissa . . . err, well, except for that one time.”

“Yeah”—I huffed out a laugh and repeated his words—“except for that one time. But that was you, Bri, not her.”

“Whatever. You know I’m making up for that shit. Why’d you ask anyway?”

Sighing loudly, I put a couple sketchpads back down and looked over to see the lobby empty, “There’s this girl—”

“Oh, no way! Chase Grayson is whipped!”

“Do you want to hear this or not?”

He nodded as he chuckled and grabbed his phone. “I gotta tell Riss. Keep talking.”

“Bastard,” I whispered, and shook my head as I dragged my chair closer to his station. “I don’t know what it is about her; I can’t stop thinking about her, and I’m telling you I don’t even care about other girls anymore. At first, I just wanted a go at her because she was a challenge, but that didn’t even last two hours before all I could think about was protecting her and keeping her with me.”

“Oh, shit, you love her.”

I looked up at Brian and flinched back, “No way. I mean, she’s different. So different. You know I don’t get like this over women. And there are things about her that drive me crazy in the best ways possible, yeah, but I don’t love her.”

“Yeah, you do. I can see it all over your face when you talk about her. Man, you’re not whipped, you are straight up in love with this chick.”

Love her? Hell no. I just met her. There arethings shedoesthat Ilove, but Idon’tlove her. “Nah, Brian you’re taking this too far.”

“Whatever, I’m not gonna argue with you. So what’s the problem, then? You asked if guys went after Marissa. Someone going after your girl?”

“Well, she’s not my girl. She’s too good for me, she deserves someone that’s the exact opposite of me. So, I’ve been trying to make her realize that, too. But now, too late, I’m realizing I don’t want her anywhere except with me. And now she and Brandon are dating, I guess. You remember Brandon?”

“Oh man”—he nodded—“that dude’s like your brother.”

“I know. This is ridiculous, I don’t know what to do. Brandon’s the best guy for her, I know that, but I want her. And I’m constantly pushing her away and pulling her toward me; I’m pretty sure I’m giving us both whiplash.”

“Look, Brandon’s great and all, but you’re being too hard on yourself. I wouldn’t agree with you that he’s the best guy for her. I think any guy that loves her the way you do is the best guy for her.” I started to tell him I wasn’t in love with her, but he cut me off. “You are, and you’ll realize it one day.”

“Whatever, so what would you do if you were me? I know I should let her be with him, but I don’t know if I can.”

“I’m just going to compare her to Riss because that’s exactly how I think of her, so if someone was trying to take my girl from me—even if she weren’t my girl yet—I’d fight for her. No way I’d let Marissa slip away, and you shouldn’t let this chick slip away. What’s her name?”

“Harper. Princess. Whatever fits at the moment.” Brian raised an eyebrow at me, and I shrugged. “When I first met her, the title fit. Now it just pisses her off, but it still kinda fits her.”

“That’s weird. I’ll stick with Harper.”

I laughed. “Shut up, man. You’d like her. She’s hot, God she’s so damn sexy, and she has no idea. She’s everything I never wanted in a girl and everything I want from her. She’s snarky and at the same time sweet as hell; she’s probably shorter than Bree, and she’s fierce, but she looks like a pissed-off little kitten when she is.” Brian’s chuckles cut me off, and I blinked up to look at him. “What?”

“Chase Grayson is whipped and in love!” he shouted loud enough to be heard throughout the tattoo parlor, and I glared at him. “Oh, man. Screw texting Riss about this. I gotta call her and tell her; you know she’s gonna give you hell. And she’s gonna want to meet her, so I know you and Brandon got some bro-mance going on, but don’t let her go, man.”

I thought about my princess, I’d already screwed things up bad enough, but I was done with it. I was done with everything else but her. She didn’t want me to drink? Then I wouldn’t. All that happened when I did was mistakes with other girls, and no other girl mattered. Not anymore. I didn’t know how to go about fixing what I’d already fucked up, but I’d change everything from here on out, I needed her. “I won’t.”