Page 122 of Until You

Jesus.

How the fuck did I get this lucky?

How the hell did I go from broken and defeated to the happiest fucking guy on the planet?

It’s because of her.

That’s why.

Plain.

Simple.

Her.

“I know. I’m just finishing up reading Rhys’s notes. The poor guy’s up to his neck in diva-ness while trying to protect said diva from all the threats that come with her last name.”

“I warned you she was going to be trouble.”

“Don’t I know it. The two are like oil and water. Rhys can handle her though. He’s a take-no-bullshit kind of guy.”

“Yeah, because hardened asshole goes great paired with a combative, pretentious socialite.”

I chuckle. “Since Daddy’s paying the bills, all we care about is what he thinks of us. Not her.”

“Tell that to Rhys. Poor guy has to be gritting his teeth so hard they might break.”

I don’t have to look up to know Tenny has moved behind me. I can smell her perfume before her hands rest on my shoulders and, just like every other time she’s near me, I only seem to want more.

“He’s been through a hell of a lot worse than protecting a spoiled brat. Besides, I happen to know for a fact that his employer provides great dental insurance.”

“He does now, does he?” she murmurs.

“He does.”

The thought still fills me with pride. How far The Force Crew has come in the last year. From the cluelessness of those first days as we figured out what was needed to become an official business to today. We have ten employees on our staff, a stellar reputation that has netted us more requests for protection than we can meet, and a profit margin that is shockingly good for a company in its infancy.

“Come on. Put it to rest,” she says as I make a few more notes on my pad. “You don’t want to keep your girls waiting now, do you?” She presses a kiss to my head, prompting me to drop my pen, turn my chair, and tug her down so she’s sitting on my lap.

My lips find hers instantly—like they always do—and smother her laugh. I take the moment of solitude without the girls or our company near to enjoy my wife. To sink into all this woman is and everything she’s given me—shown me I deserve to have.

“What’s that for?” she murmurs when the kiss ends, fingernails playing with the hair at the base of my neck.

“Just because.”

“Just because, huh?”

“Yep.” Another tender kiss. “Just because I love you. Just because you’re incredible. Just because you’ve made me happier than I ever thought possible. Just because until you, I never thought any of this was possible for me.”

“Ditto.” She smiles against my lips.

“And right on cue.” I chuckle when a chorus of girls rings out and into the open windows of my office—the old outbuilding on the property.

She rises and holds out her hand to me. “Let’s go. The girls are busy showing Justin and Sheila their latest jumps into the pool. They might need a break and some adult libations to enhance their enjoyment.”

I bark out a laugh as we move across the yard, hand in hand. The girls have been so excited to see their uncle Justin and aunt Sheila again that they’ve been overwhelming them with dance routines, pool jump competitions, makeup tutorial watching, and everything in between.

Even when you’re used to them, it’s a lot . . . and since my partner is only here for the week, they’ve been inundated.