His Needs: Billionaire Alpha Read Free

grimaced. "She needs to be under supervision to take them, and I assume that's what her attorney is going to push for."
    "If her father lets them." Bethany ran her fingers through her hair before working the long strands into a messy bun. "He's coming over soon to grab her stuff, or sending someone. You know he's rich as hell. I doubt he'll come himself."
    "I met him a few times. I think she puts an evil spin on him because he's wealthy and forces her to stay in school, but he seemed like a good guy." Jake shrugged and winced again before chuckling. "I keep forgetting that any movement tugs at all these stitches."
    "I'm so sorry, Jake. I feel so fucking guilty about not having answered the phone when you called in a panic. I could have stopped-"
    "No, you couldn't have. You'd have been stabbed half to death too. She was out of her mind." He got a faraway look in his eyes before shivering. "Anyway. What's going on with this new guy of yours? He treating you well? The wedding go good?"
    "Everything was great. He's a great guy." She slipped her hands under her legs, grateful that he hadn't said anything about the ring on her finger. He had to be a little out of it not to notice. The ring was large, far bigger than anything she would have preferred, but hurting Damon's feelings over it was out.
    "Good. Make sure he stays that way." Jake turned a little and groaned as his father walked back in.
    "You ready, son?"
    "Yeah, I guess." Jake turned back toward Bethany and smiled. "Dr. Tarrington is going to let me TA alongside you until I get back on my feet. The university has been good to us through this crap, but I don't want to get behind. Is that all right with you?"
    "Heck yes." Bethany got up as Jake's father pulled him back toward the door. "I'll be right beside you no matter what you need. You putting off your master’s this semester?"
    His father spoke up, "Hell no. I tried to tell him that one semester wasn't going to make or break him, but you know he's an overachiever."
    Bethany laughed and wiped at her eyes again. "He's in good company. I'll help out where I can."
    "Study dates twice a week like we used to?" Jake winked and wiggled around in his wheelchair as if trying to get comfortable.
    "Only if you're buying coffee." She opened the door more fully and moved back to let them out.
    "Him buying the coffee?" Jake's dad chuckled. "You mean me?"
    "Are you offering?" Bethany teased him and closed the door as they waved their goodbyes. The thought of what Jake must look like under his loose t-shirt and sweat pants caused her to cringe. Krista had almost succeeded in taking his life, and thank God she hadn't, but he was forever changed. Every time he changed clothes or got naked in front of a girl, they would see the excessive scarring all over his chest and stomach.
    "Unbelievable." She tried to discard the thought, but it lingered as she cleaned up the apartment and packed up the rest of Krista's stuff. Both of her friends’ lives were forever changed, and hers as well. Fear over what love could do tugged at the edge of her thoughts and tried hard to force her to step back from what could possibly be the greatest love story of her life.
     
    *
     
    The visit with Krista's dad wasn't nearly as bad as Bethany had prepared herself for. He was very much the guy Jake said he was. Friendly and grateful for her help. They loaded everything up in his Lexus and he apologized for the two hundredth time before driving off.
    Bethany made the quick decision to go over to Kent's in hopes of seeing Damon. With all he had to catch up on, there was no way in hell she was going to bother him. Things had changed a little, and yet not nearly enough for her liking. The ring on her finger should have been the open door for her and Damon moving in together and planning their days together, but it wasn't. They were back to dating with the promise of moving toward something more solid in the future, or so she hoped.
    She got in the car and buckled