“That has nothing to do with avoiding, Edward. You’ve just stated some facts.”
“I’ve never seen you attempt to date other women. You keep women, even your subs, at a distance. No one can get close to you. Your friends are the only people you allow close to you, nothing else and no one else.”
Peter shrugged. “What more is there to life? I can’t have the woman I love, and I don’t think it’s fair letting another woman get close. It would be unfair of me to let another woman think they’ve got a chance with me.”
Edward stared at him. “Do you even love Laura?”
“What?”
“You’ve been in love with her for ten years, and you’ve never really been close to her. Are you sure you’re actually in love with her?” Edward asked.
“I’m not going to talk with you about this.” Peter headed out of the cemetery with Edward following behind him. He’d walked the entire distance from the club to the cemetery near town.
“Why not? It’s not like I’m on Dean’s side. I imagine everyone knows you’re in love but see Dean and Laura together, so they don’t really care.”
“And you’re saying you care?” Peter asked, amazed. He kept walking, needing the fresh air to keep him sane.
“I’m your friend. Of course I care.”
Peter stopped. “I appreciate your caring, I really do, but I can’t handle this right now.”
Edward reached out, touching his arm. “You can talk to me. When the time is right, you can talk to me no matter what.”
Staring at his hand, Peter nodded. “Thanks.”
“I better get back to the club. Take care, and I’ll see you tonight.”
It was Saturday night, and it was always busy on the weekends. “You certainly will be seeing me.” Peter smiled and watched the other man walk away before heading into town. He passed several people who stared at him. Some whispered behind their palms.
He didn’t care.
Like every other Saturday he went to the library, going straight to the back to grab a book off the shelves. He loved his peace and quiet, but at the library he got to see people while he was doing it. Grabbing a book from the shelf, he sat down and flipped open the page.
“You’re here again?” Rose Slater asked.
He looked up to see the girl who stocked the shelves. Rose was a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. He’d seen her around town and the library many times. She was nineteen and hadn’t been allowed to go to college. Her family wouldn’t let her leave Cape Falls.
Yes, Rose Slater was his only piece of heaven away from the club and all his troubles.
“I thought you’d be used to me by now?” he asked.
“I’m used to you. I just thought you’d have something more exciting to do on a Saturday.” She smiled at him, and Peter couldn’t help but be struck by how it lit up her whole face.
“No, nothing interesting.” He smiled, thinking about his morning trip to the cemetery.
“Well, I’ll see you at lunch.” She turned to leave, and he took the time to admire the curves of her ass.
She’s got her whole life ahead of her. Leave her alone.
Staring down at his book, Peter couldn’t help but wish his life had been different. If he’d not fallen for Laura he might have had a chance to experience love with Rose.
****
Rose watched the clock ticking. She was counting down to the time when she got to sit with Peter outside of the library and have lunch. He was so handsome, and she knew a lot about him. She remembered him from when she was younger and shouldn’t have developed a crush on him.
Letting out a sigh, she passed the doorway, carrying some books, and watched as he turned a page of the current book he was reading. In the last ten years Peter had changed. Gazing through the window she had seen how his boy-next-door good looks had advanced into the masculine strength of a confident man. He looked nothing like the boys whom she used to go to school with. There was a maturity in his depths where there was once a nonchalance about life. Peter had changed. His hair had darkened over the years and was no longer a sandy blond.
I shouldn’t be thinking about his hair or his muscular body.
Licking her lips she dropped her gaze to the book in her hand. The title meant nothing to her. She placed the book on the shelf then went around the counter to serve a young girl. The mother glanced in Peter’s direction and clucked her tongue.
She knew who he was and who his friends were. They were the social outcasts of their small town. Rose knew the only reason they put up with them was because of the Steer brothers and the fact Gabriel was an amazing sheriff.