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They escorted me to the door, then stood on the small porch with their arms around each other, watching until I’d turned the corner. I couldn’t help smiling. The pair of them coming into my life really was one of the best things to happen to me.
Aiden called just as I entered the café. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and said, “How’d the meeting go?”
“As well as can be expected given the situation.” His reply was terse. “I’m going home, and I’d really like your company. I know it’s late but—”
“I’ll be packed and ready in ten.”
“You really do need to start leaving some of your clothes at my place. It would make things a whole lot easier.”
And a whole lot harder when I had to leave. “I’ll consider it.”
“I guess that’s one step in the right direction.” His amusement was evident in his voice. “I’ll see you soon.”
I shoved my phone back into my pocket and ran up the stairs. Belle was already asleep, so I wrote her a note and then packed some clothes and shoes for tomorrow. Aiden pulled up just as I locked the front door.
He leaned across the truck to open the door, then kissed me long and hard once I’d gotten in. “Hmmm,” he said. “You taste like banana, coffee, and whiskey.”
I smiled. “That’s because I’ve been overindulging in all three.”
He pulled out onto the road, then glanced at me. “Any reason for said overindulgence?”
“You could say that.” I quickly filled him in on everything that had happened.
“If either your father or your husband makes any attempt to harm you, in any way, I will tear them to shreds.” His voice was grim. Dangerous.
I reached across the truck’s cab and placed a hand on his thigh. His fingers wrapped around mine, warm and strong and fierce. “I appreciate the sentiment, but the last thing I want is you up for a murder charge.”
“Then maybe I’ll settle for tearing off a limb or two.”
I smiled. “You know, there’s a part of me that seriously wishes to see that, but… not at the cost of destroying your own life. And it would, you know that.”
His breath hissed through clenched teeth. “Yes, but the sentiment applies. I will do whatever I can to keep you safe.”
“I know that.”
He nodded, just the once, as if a contract had been made. And it was a contract that was later sealed in his bed, when he made me feel so cared for and so damn precious that it rocked me to the core.
And afterwards, as we drifted to sleep, I was forced to admit the one thing—if only to myself—I’d been avoiding like crazy these last few months.
I hated the man I was married to, and loved the man I could never marry.
Life was never going to be the same for me, no matter what happened in the next few months.
A sharp ringing woke us many hours later. Aiden muttered a number of obscenities and spent several seconds groping for the phone.
“Aiden O’Connor,” he said eventually, his voice husky with sleep.
“Sorry, boss,” a familiar voice said. “But you said to ring if we had another situation.”
Byron, I realized after a moment. Aiden flicked the loudspeaker on so I could hear.
“The flesh stripper?” he said.
“Yeah. I’m afraid it’s struck again.”
“Where this time?”
“Up in the Campbell Creek plantation.”
