Richard: Caveman Instinct --- Gypsy Curse Book 2 (20 page)

The last couple of nights, I lay in bed wondering if I should have told Richard I loved him. He hadn’t said it me, and at first, I was upset. However, when I really thought about it, he didn’t need to say the words because I knew he loved me. It showed in everything he did. Really, all I had to do was think about the day we had before I left for camp. I should have told him, and I stopped myself from saying I loved him on the phone now because I wanted to say it to his face when I say it to him for the first time.

Being away from Richard had me thinking about many things. I knew when I got back, I was going to have a talk to Ethan about me moving out for good and living with Richard. I was ready. I practically lived at his place now. I was also going to talk to Ethan about the firm. We needed to hire someone who could do Ethan’s job. My brother needed time off, and now I was old enough and had my own life, he could start living his again.

A knock on the cabin door had me slipping out of bed and padding to the door. I opened it, not surprised to see Toby. “We need to talk.” He was right, we did.

Rafe stood behind Toby and shook his head. I knew he didn’t want Toby with me, but Toby and I had been close friends for years and we did need to talk. How I treated him wasn’t right and he deserved answers. “You’re right, we do need to talk.” I gazed behind Toby to Rafe. “I’ll leave the door open, but Rafe, he needs to come in. We need to talk.”

Rafe didn’t say anything for a while, and I thought I was going to have to argue, but after studying me, he nodded. “Okay, but I’ll be listening out, and if he hurts you in any way…” He trailed off, but I knew what he was going to say and Toby got what he meant.

I opened the door and Toby came in. I went and sat at the little two-seater table. Toby sat on the other side. We sat in quiet for a while, neither saying anything. I needed to break the silence. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left things the way we did. The truth is I shouldn’t have started anything with you to begin with.” He winced and I felt terrible, but I needed to get the truth out. “Toby, you’re amazing and one of the greatest guys I know, but you’re not for me. I’ve never felt an attraction to you besides friendship. I know you don’t want to hear this, but before Richard, I’d never felt the attraction. Sure, I thought you were hot along with other guys, but I’ve never felt that pull. Toby, be honest, when you’re with me, do you fill warm all over, does your stomach flip with butterflies? Do you miss me, counting down to when you’ll get to see me again?”

“No, but—”

I hold my hand up halting him. “I feel that with Richard and more. You should get to feel that, too. You deserve that.”

His shoulders sank and he leaned back in the chair. “There really is no chance for us, is there?”

I shook my head. “No chance.”

“What about if you weren’t with Richard?”

“I love him. I’m in love with him. If for some reason I weren’t with Richard, we, Toby, still wouldn’t be together because I now know what I want. What I deserve. You are a great guy and an awesome friend. I’m lucky to have you in my life. I want you to have what I have.” Reaching over I held his hand. “I hope you can forgive me, and we can be friends again.”

Toby clenched my hand in his own and sighed. “There is nothing to forgive. I pushed you into a relationship. You’re such a loving and caring girl. You’re easy to get along with, and even with your vision, you never complain and are always willing to try new things. It was easy to want you as not just my friend, but as my girlfriend. I hope Richard knows how lucky he is to have you.” He let go of my hands and stood up.

Standing myself, I smiled at him. “Oh, he does. We both know how lucky we are to have found one another.”

He came to me and hugged me. “Thanks for talking to me and giving me another chance.”

I squeezed him tight, feeling good. Feeling as if I had closure.

Toby left, and a moment later, Rafe stood at my door. “You were right. You two needed to talk. I heard what you said, and he’s right, you know. Richard is lucky to have you.”

Going to him, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. “Thanks. Thank you. That means a lot coming from you.” He didn’t move for a moment and then he groaned and hugged me back.

“This stays between us.” I giggled at his stern tone.

“Of course, I wouldn’t dream of telling a soul.”

He let me go and left. I shut the door and went back to bed feeling lighter and happier. Now all I needed was Richard.

*****

Richard

“I think you should wait until Rafe brings her home. I know she’s been away for two weeks, and you’ve only had phone contact, and you miss her, but I’m sure an extra couple of hours aren’t much.”

I didn’t even bother to answer Cole. I got out of the car as three buses rolled into the Vision school bus bays. I had been without Bailey for two whole damn weeks. There was no way I was waiting a moment more to see the woman I loved. I leaned against my black Land Rover watching as parents picked up their children. Waiting until the crowds thinned. Closing my eyes, I took deep, calming breaths in, and counted backwards from ten keeping myself calm so I didn’t just go over to the group, find Bailey, throw her over my shoulder, and take her home where I would never let her leave me again.

When the people thinned, I searched the crowd for Bailey. Straightening, I walked towards her when I saw her Raven coloured locks and shapely body. I spotted Rafe, Brenton, and Andy, the security I had sent with her, but a moment later, I spotted him—Toby. What the hell was he doing here? Had he been away at camp too? Surely, Rafe or one of the team would have told me if he was, or Bailey would have said something.

Frozen only a short distance away, I gazed at the scene before me. Toby stood behind Bailey as she knelt talking to a child of about eight or nine. The child hugged Bailey, and I relaxed and took a step towards them only for an almost haze to cloud my vision as I looked up to see Toby playing with the ends of Bailey’s hair. What the fuck?

The child with Bailey skipped away. Toby let her hair go, but it was too late. I was furious. She stood, turning to face Toby. I knew the fucker saw me because he grinned and rested his hands on my woman’s shoulders. That was it. I was done. I had gone two friggin weeks too long without Bailey. I had been caging my caveman instinct, but not anymore. I let that beast out, and I wasn’t going to put him back. Narrowing my gaze on the fucker, I stormed to Bailey, removed his hands, spun her, picked her up, and put her over my shoulder. Without saying a word, I walked back to my SUV.

“Hey, put me down.” Bailey whacked my back and kicked her feet. “Richard, put me down now. People are watching.”

Slapping her arse, I growled, barely containing my anger, “Stop it before you hurt yourself.” She squealed and wiggled, but I swatted her arse again. “I am holding onto sanity by a damn thread, Bailey. Stop now.” She must have heard the seriousness in my voice because she stopped.

Cole had the back door open waiting for me. I gently put Bailey down and helped her into the car. “Call the airport. I want the family jet fuelled and ready for Vegas.” Cole didn’t say a word. He could see now wasn’t the time to mess with me. Following Bailey into the car, Cole shut the door, and I turned to see Bailey staring at me wide eyed and shocked.

“Richard, what has gotten into you,” she whispered.

“Nothing. Nothing at all. I’m finally done fighting myself and what I want. You’re mine, Bailey. Not anyone else’s. Mine. I love you, but you drive me goddamn crazy. I’m not waiting any longer for everyone in the world to know you belong to me. We are going to Vegas and getting married. When we get home, you can have something with the family, but everyone will know you’re mine. We will move the rest of your things into our house and change all documents so everyone knows you’re my wife. Mine. Now, what the hell was that boy doing there and why didn’t you tell me?”

Tears slid down Bailey’s cheeks and she hiccupped. “Did you just tell me you love me?”

“Yes.”

She sniffled and nibbled on her lip. “Did you just ask me to marry you?”

“No. I didn’t ask. I told you we are getting married. I have just had two weeks without you, and I will never do that again.” Fuck it. I undid my seatbelt and moved to the middle seat. Wrapping my arms around her, I hugged her tight. I had held myself back when I got in the car for fear of holding her too tight or staking my claim and fucking her to show her just who’s she was.

Bailey clutched me back, and then I felt her lips on my neck then my cheek. “I love you too. Even when you’re acting crazy insane.”

A lightness almost like I was floating settled over me, peace and happiness washed over me, and I kissed Bailey with everything I had in me showing her just what I felt. She clung to me and responded with the same eagerness, love and so much passion. By the time we eased apart, we were both panting and fighting for breath.

She rested her head against me and we sat snuggling each other for a while. Then she sighed. “I’m sorry. I should have told you Toby was at camp. I honestly forgot he was going until he turned up. He’d volunteered six or so months ago as a way to spend time with me. I didn’t think he would come. Actually, I haven’t even thought about him lately.” She gazed up at me through her lashes. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but we needed this. I needed to talk to him. I had to tell him where we stood. Richard, he deserved that. I’ve been friends with him for years. He deserved to be told I was in love with you and that there would never be a chance for him and me. I was with you and happy. He needed to know so he could move on. And, Richard, he deserves to find someone great. Someone who listens to him when he talks about the things he loves. Someone who gets butterflies from just his touch. Someone who he knows would give him the stars and the moon if she could because I have that.” She brushed her lips over mine in a sweet kiss and my heart melted. “I have missed you so much over the last couple of weeks. The time away has made me realize you may be crazy, overbearing, and egotistical, but you’re loving, caring, and thoughtful, everything I could ever want and more in a man I love. And I love you. I love you so much. So let’s go to Vegas and get married.”

Grinning down at her, any anger I felt over Toby vanished. Damn, I loved this woman. She knew just the right things to say to calm me down. She was perfect for me. I loved her more every day. “I love you, Bailey.” Holding Bailey close to me, I knew I didn’t need to say anything else. I believed the gypsies had gifted us Silvermans, and it wasn’t a curse. I loved Bailey, and with her, I had my friend, lover, and soulmate.

I have a couple of important people to thank. Without them, this book wouldn’t be what it is.

My kids for being neglected whilst mummy wrote this. My hubby who became a single dad.

Jess Buffet, thanks for not only the amazing cover work but for being my best friend and listening to me go on and on about Richard and Bailey. 

Lisa Owen, you rock. Thanks for helping me push through the blocks.

Lastly, a huge shout-out to my editor Rogena Mitchell-Jones, who took on the battle of editing this book. Thank you so much.

Self-Published

Gordon’s Dawn

A Mate’s Escape

Caveman Instincts

Stephan

Richard

The MacLeod Clan

The Laird’s Future Bride

Peacekeepers

Her Keepers

~ ~ ~

Published with Beachwalk Press

Armageddon Mates

Kane’s Mate

Rane’s Mate

Ava’s Mate

Arden’s Mate

The Protectors

Volume 1 – Coming Soon

Finding Love

Winning Her Lover – Coming Soon

~ ~ ~

Published with Liquid Silver Books

The Price of Fame

~ ~ ~

Published with Evernight Publishing

The Bears

Theirs

Ours

Hers

The Inteli

Savior

Sin City Shifters

Sasha’s Lion

Jezebel’s Lion

Merpeople

A Merman of her Own

A Merman Uncovered

Mount View Treaty

Claimed By Her Panthers

(Co-authored with Jess Buffett)

Stand Alone Books

Always and Forever

Letters to her Soldier

~ ~ ~

Published with All Romance eBooks

Her Big Bad Mistake

Lucian’s Soul

I would love to hear from you!

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