Page 81 of Royal Desire

I cut the small distance between us and wrap my arms around him. “I’ve missed you too. And I agree, Payne is good to the core. He always has been. Things are different now. I’m not young and scared or stupid.”

Blake proves he’s the biggest teddy bear in history. I always wonder if he would’ve turned out as good had Mom not left him with Grandma. What I do know is her absence didn’t hurt him. He’s the best possible version of himself. “Love you, Ruby.”

I smile. “I love you too. We’re both sleeping in tomorrow. Carl found someone to work at the Combover for the next couple of days so I can get settled after the fire.”

Blake lets me go and picks up the duffle of donations from the fire department. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

When he takes the stairs two at a time and rounds the corner toward the third level, I find myself alone in the Deacon estate, just like the very last time I was here.

Only today is so very different. There’s nothing to be afraid of and no reason to run. It’s not lost on me I’ve had to do that twice in my life. But this time, I found myself right back in Payne’s arms—the only place I’ve ever wanted to be.

The entryway soars. The decorative molding on the ceiling sits somewhere between the second and third floors. I think of the laughs and screeches of two innocent children from another decade who only had each other.

And Payne was the only person I ever needed.

I wander through the dining room and formal living room. Not much has changed other than maybe a new sofa or two.

I find myself in Owen Deacon’s office, and my gut tightens. When I flip on the lights, memories flood me in a way that steals the oxygen in my lungs.

The entire room is dark stained wood from the flooring under my old worn flip flops to the box trimmed ceiling. Bookcases flank me on two walls. The bar cart even sits in the same corner it always did, but today there is no liquor. Instead, bottles of mineral water are stacked in neat lines next to an ice bucket and a single crystal glass.

It's amazing how things can be so different, and yet, so little has changed.

The rising moon barely lights the back of the property. When I turn to the bookcases, gone are the golf trophies and pictures of Owen Deacon with every politician and powerhouse between here and Washington D.C.

The shelves are filled with everything Payne.

Diplomas.

Pictures from college.

Law books. So many law books, it makes my head hurt but it also doesn’t surprise me. Payne is the most intelligent person I know.

Pictures of Payne and Dean hiking, fishing, and another where they’re both sweaty and exhausted with numbered tags pinned to their shirts. The background is the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

I run my fingers along the edge of the polished bookcase when I see it.

I freeze.

Behind more accolades and honors, is a small frame tucked in the very back. Emotion rushes through my veins and tears instantly prick my eyes.

It’s a towheaded little girl in worn, stained clothing, and a brown-haired boy who looks like he was dressed by Ralph Lauren himself. Her blue eyes squint in the bright day, and his defy the color wheel as light brown tends to do in the sun. These two tiny humans have no clue what’s ahead of them. We were in the gardens beyond the very window where I’m currently standing. Our lips are stained red from popsicles. We look like a duo that could never be broken—arms draped around each other’s necks and laughing at who knows what.

“Sadie took that.”

I jump and spin when his deep voice fills the silent space. Payne stands at the entrance, arms crossed, with a shoulder to the doorjamb. I’m boxed in, but this time I feel nothing but peace.

I hold the precious picture to my chest. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to watch you go through the desk drawers.”

My expression falls. “I did no such thing.”

He smirks and walks the rest of the way into the room. “I’m just giving you shit. You can go through whatever you want. You’ll find ridiculously boring financial market research and recent legal journals so I can at least stay current. You know, light reading that will put you to sleep unless you’re crazy like me and love that shit.”

“Still as smart as ever.”

He lifts his chin and motions to the picture frame pressed to my heart. “I remember that day. Hotter than hell. My parents were away, probably trying to wine and dine the scum of the earth. When Sadie was in charge, we could do whatever we wanted.”