Sid lifted me into his truck, buckling my seatbelt and pausing to run a hand over my hair.
Did I imagine the way his hand shook?
He climbed into the driver seat before the V8 engine roared to life as he tore out of the parking lot, his anger evident as he pressed the gas pedal toward the floor.
We drove in silence, barreling up the canyon and pulling into Brad’s driveway. I’d scarcely noticed the drive, trapped as I was inside my own head trying to make sense of the evening’s events.
Trixie ran circles around us when we walked hand in hand into the foyer. We’d been gone a lot longer than expected, and Sid left me only long enough to briefly let her out. I was still standing where he’d left me when he returned.
He moved in close, raking his large hands gently through my hair. He stooped low, pressing his forehead to mine. “Baby, I’d feel a hell of a lot better if you said something.Anything,” he pleaded hoarsely.
Had I not spoken? I wasn’t even aware of it.
“I….” My voice was hoarse in my ears. “I....” I tried again. He pulled me in close, wrapping his arms around me, enveloping me in a cocoon of safety. I pressed my cheek to his firm chest, breathing him in. “I thought Travis was going to die,” I stuttered, realizing why this particular event felt more horrifying than those in the recent past. “I felt so helpless.”
“But you weren’t helpless, Sam.” His deep voice rumbled from his chest like an oncoming storm. “You still tried to stall that fuck. You did what you could and ultimately, you saved him just as much as my bullet did.”
I looked up at him in surprise.
He took my mouth and I could feel his big body tremble as my lips met his. “Christ, tonight took years off my life,” he breathed against my lips.
“I hope not. I want all the years I can get with you.” I sighed.
“Well then, how does forever sound?” he murmured.
****
“What the hell is this?” Theo chortled, holding up the romper that Sid had tried to convince me to get rid of just days before.
It was two days later and we were moving in to our new house.
“Remind me why we didn’t just hire movers?” I grumbled to no one in particular as I snatched my clothing out of Theo’s grasp. “I’ll give you the same fashion lesson I promised Sid,” I told Theo.
“Is that a threat?” he replied, his gaze snapping over to Declan as he carried a box inside. “That sounded like a threat.”
“Don’t be such a b-a-a-by,” Sarah sang from our master bedroom. She’d volunteered to hang some of my clothes instead of lifting anything heavy. She was a good friend, but as she’d put it, manual labor was out of her jurisdiction.
“I’m all man, sweetheart,” Theo hollered back.
I rolled my eyes at their banter before I looked around our home. Between the two of us, we didn’t have much furniture, but it didn’t matter. We’d fill the bare walls with photos soon enough. Our new dining set would be center stage for dinners with our extended family of friends. We’d christen our new bed before making love in every room. We’d fill the house with so many memories, it’d be bursting.
I couldn’twait.
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind as Sid’s lips met my neck. My whole body gave a little shimmy in response. I turned in his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Okay, babe?” he asked. He’d barely left my side since the event with Richards.
I nodded with a grin. “I’m moving into the house of my dreams with the man of my dreams. I’m great.”
He grinned, bending to take my mouth in a soft kiss.
Caden groaned as he and Travis came in carrying Sid’s giant TV. “We didn’t help you guys move so that you could stand there and make out all day.”
Sid shot him a crooked grin. “Hey, man, you offered.”
“Momentary insanity.” Caden shook his head.
Danny cocked a brow at him as she came in carrying Trixie. “Only momentary?”
Caden paused, making Travis grumble with frustration as he shifted the TV’s weight. Caden leaned over so he could kiss her briefly. “Insane over you.”
