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She seemed to understand my need to take care of her and didn’t argue. Instead, she settled against me, loosening the tight rope.
Cleo rushed up to us before I’d taken more than two steps in the direction of the house, Daisy running up behind her. “You’re back.” She took Vanna’s hand that had been resting on my chest, and I fought down the urge to growl at her. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I was so worried. I made you all your favorite foods.”
Daisy jumped in place, her tail wagging. This obviously warranted as a special occasion for her to be moving so much.
“Good thing our freezer is huge,” I grumbled under my breath.
Cleo huffed, and Vanna giggled, then murmured to Daisy while scratching her head.
I couldn't believe I was one of the most feared men in the city but the women in my life didn’t seem to take me seriously.
Vanna was quick to reassure her friend. “I’ll eat whatever you’ve made. I missed your cooking.”
I moved again, not wanting to stand in the driveway and out in the open for too long. Since there was nothing more precious to me than Vanna, I wouldn’t take even the smallest of chances of something happening to her.
She wasn’t supposed to walk up and down the stairs yet, so we’d made one of the empty rooms downstairs into a bedroom.
Cleo veered off into the kitchen, but not before calling out to us. “Come to the kitchen whenever you’re ready so I can feed you.”
Daisy stuck close to my side when I went the other way and into Vanna’s new—and temporary—room, sitting her down on her new bed. Vanna looked around with wide eyes, then hunched in on herself, making her already slight frame seem even smaller. Her reaction was the opposite of what I’d expected.
“Since the doctor recommended you not walk up and down any stairs for at least a week, Cleo set this room up for you.”
I hoped if I explained why she’d have to stay in the hastily put-together room, she wouldn’t hate it as much. But my words seemed to deflate her even more. “Of course. Thank you.”
Her voice was emotionless, and I blinked at her, trying to make sense of what was happening. It seemed I was missing something major. “You can do with it whatever you want. Change the color. Get a different bed. Add more furniture. We didn’t have much time to get it ready. I’m sorry.”
She sank her hand into Daisy’s soft fur. “The room’s fine. I appreciate you organizing it.”
She didn’t sound happy. And I couldn’t stand the thought of her being miserable, even if it meant she’d end up staying somewhere else. I shouldn’t have pushed her to come back with me and instead let her stay wherever she wanted. “Do you not want to stay here any longer? Would you prefer to go to my parents’ place?”
The question finally elicited more than a monotone response. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable staying anywhere else.”
Her answer gave me hope, but it still didn’t explain what was wrong. Because something definitely was. And I refused to give up until I knew what it was and how I could fix it. “Then what’s wrong? Is it something with the room?”
She brushed her hands over the brand-new bedding. “I’m tired and overthinking things. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
She bit her lip, taking a moment. Coming to a conclusion, she lifted her head, and for the first time since we entered the room, she looked at me. “I thought I would stay with you. But I understand that we’re not like that anymore. I’m sorry for assuming and getting upset. As I said, I’m just tired.”
I choked on my spit, coughing before I could push out words. “You want to stay in our room?”
She drew her lips in, then released them again, cheeks taking on a pink hue. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” I blinked at her, barely even feeling the noose around my neck anymore since hope was pushing out any other feelings. “And you’re sure you don’t want to stay down here?”
She looked around the room, her shoulders drawn tight. “I can stay down here. It’s a great room. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.”
Instead of again repeating her words like a brainless idiot, I dropped to my knees in front of her, my arms going around her hips, bringing her knees flush against my chest. Daisy grunted in disapproval when I bumped into her. “There’s nothing I want more than for you to move back into our room. With me. I want what we had back. But I don’t want to push you. If you need more time, take it.”
She put her hands on each side of my face, leaning down. “I don’t need more time. I love you. And I can’t tell you enough how sorry I am for betraying your trust.”
I pulled her closer, her legs opening so I could fit between them. She bent down, our lips touching with reverence, as if neither of us could believe this was real. I savored her achingly familiar taste that I’d missed so much. My hands traced invisible patterns over her thighs, aching to feel her velvet skin.
But most of all I was spellbound by the promise of getting her back. Being able to touch her whenever I wanted.
When we broke apart, her lips were swollen, her hair a mess and her eyes unfocused. I placed one last kiss on her nose. “I know you didn’t have a choice. It’s in the past. From now on we’ll only look to the future.” I cradled her face in my hands. “Let’s have lunch, and then I’ll move all your stuff upstairs.”
