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“I’m disappointed in him, but I have you and nothing else really matters to me right now.”
That brings a small grin to her pretty face. “I just need to pack and check out. It won’t take long.”
Patty and John are sitting in the lobby, surrounded by luggage. Getting up, Patty has tears in her eyes when she wraps her arms around Leona. “I don’t understand what’s happened, but I’m so relieved the two of you are safe.”
John shakes my hand. “Why would Derek want to harm you?”
“He thinks his company can use me to make money.” It’s true but leaves out a few details.
Hugging me tight, Patty says, “He said that you’re some kind of monster. He called you a beast and said you don’t have the same rights as we do.”
“I’m sure that’s what he thinks.” I pat her back.
Holding me at arm's length, she gives me a long look with narrowed eyes. “Do you promise to always put Leona’s happiness above your own?”
“Of course.”
“Then I don’t care what you are, Cade. I’ve never seen my daughter happier than she’s been these last couple of days. Make her happy and we’ll stand behind you no matter what comes.” Patty kisses my cheek. She gives Leona another hug. “We packed your bags.” She points to a small suitcase and Leona’s purse.
John asks, “Are you coming home with us, Leona?”
“No. I’m going to stay here a while.” She gives me a questioning look. Once I nod, she smiles, and my heart soars.
John hugs her. “Probably for the best. We’ve got to go and collect Melony, and I can’t imagine the two of you in the same car right now would be a good mix. It was nice of you not to charge her for her part in whatever happened today.” He shakes his head. “I’m sure Derek will make bail in a day or two. What happens after that, I can’t imagine.”
We see them out and load Leona’s bag in my car. Once they leave, I turn to my mate. “How long will you stay?”
Without responding, she gets in the car and starts the engine.
Once I’m in, with my seatbelt buckled, she pulls away and heads to my house. “How’s your head?”
“Clear now. I can drive if you want.” I guess she’s not going to answer. Maybe she doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. I’m happy to have her for now anyway.
Shaking her head, she pulls to a stop at the end of the road, then turns right toward my house. “You can drive tomorrow if you want. Maybe we’ll just stay inside for the day. Actually, it might be a few days before I’m willing to let you out of my sight.”
I like the sound of a few days. “You’re welcome for a lifetime, love.” My throat tightens when she remains silent. After a few miles, I say, “I may have to leave here. If Derek told his company about me, they’ll start looking. I don’t want to have to worry about being shot every day for the rest of my life.”
Still quiet, she pulls into my driveway and parks the car. Once we’re in the house, she rolls her suitcase into my bedroom. “I’m going to have to go to the city.”
“I understand.” My chest hurts as if she’d driven a knife through my ribs.
“My landlady is nice. I’ll bet she’ll give me my deposit and not hold me to the last three months of my lease. My boss may be a little harder to convince about living outside the five boroughs.” She shrugs. “There are other jobs.”
Staring at her as she pulls open drawers in my dresser, I don’t know what all of that means, and I’m afraid to hope.
Reaching the last drawer, she puts her clothes in. “I have some laundry. Do you think you can make room in one or two of these for me?”
“Yes.” It’s all I can manage to get out.
“Where would we move?”
Maybe she was going to say more, but I stopped any other questions by scooping her up in my arms. “We?”
Her sweet lips tip up, and she runs her fingers through my hair. “Of course. There’s a very good chance I’m carrying our baby. Not to mention that I’m madly in love with you. Where you go, I go. Unless you had other plans?”
I capture her mouth with mine and kiss her until neither of us can catch our breath. The idea of our baby growing in her sweet body makes me feel reverence, but everything about my mate drives my desire. “Are you sore?” I skim my fingers along her bruised cheek. At some point, Derek will have to pay for touching my mate, but that can wait until he serves the human sentence.
“A little.” Gripping my neck, she wraps her legs around my waist. “Not too sore though.”
