She stopped where she was, hands on her hips and an adorable pout on her face, but I forced myself to walk right past her. It was difficult. What I really wanted to do was sweep her into my arms. “Why not?” she asked.

That was too much for me to resist. Turning around, I stepped in front of her and claimed her mouth with mine. “Because…that is my baby, and I don’t share her.”

“I thought I was your baby?” she squeaked out, breathless.

Grabbing her hips, I pulled her into me. “You are.” I kissed her hard, deep, sealing my words with my body. “And I don’t share you either,” I said, drawing back. Never again. My heart couldn’t take it.

The look on Kiera’s face was so warm, so loving…so turned on. So darn cute. Even as I laughed at her expression, I felt that connected, loved feeling that I only used to feel—briefly—during sex. Kiera had changed everything for me, and I felt those moments all the time now, for the oddest reasons. And knowing I could feel complete bliss at the strangest, most unexpected times, made every second of life enjoyable. She made me feel so…alive.

We arrived at Pete’s Bar not too much later, and I pulled into “my” spot. Getting out, I hurriedly walked around to Kiera’s side, but she’d already opened her door. How was I supposed to be the chivalrous boyfriend when she wouldn’t wait for me? With a frown, I held my hand out for her. The frown slipped off my face the instant her fingers were safely tucked inside mine.

Walking into the bar filled me with serenity. If ever I let my guard down, even just a little, it was here. This place was home to me, more of a home than my actual home had ever been. I led Kiera through one of the double doors and kissed her hand as she extended away from me. I couldn’t seem to enter Pete’s without broadcasting to the room that she was mine. Probably because I’d spent so long hiding how I felt about her. I was never hiding again.

The bartender, Rita, was eyeing me like a hungry wolf stalking its prey. She typically looked at me that way. Kiera didn’t know about my history with Rita, that I’d caved into the older woman’s carnal desires and slept with her once. Or at least, I didn’t think Kiera knew. I hoped she didn’t. That was not my proudest moment, especially since Rita had been married at the time. It hadn’t fazed me back then, but now that I was in a happy, healthy relationship, I knew I shouldn’t have gone there. Of course, I shouldn’t have gone there with Denny’s girl either.