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Damian picks it up with a gloved hand, inspecting it. “Monogrammed.” A smile curls his lips. “I. M.”
“Ivan Mallovich,” I mutter.
“Can’t be sure, but we can run it for a print. Even a partial would help,” he says. He bags the cuff link, and we keep looking.
After an hour, we give up the search, and I head back with the evidence to run it for prints, but not before I have a chance to see Sabrina. Unfortunately, it’s a quick visit where she slips me a piece of chocolate cake and I give her a kiss before heading back.
“Damian’s hanging around until you’re both done. I’ll meet you at home,” I tell her as I head out. She tugs on my hand and steps closer, coming up on her toes.
“Love you,” she says quietly.
Touching my lips to hers, I say, “Love you back, and I’ll show you how much tonight.” I give her a wink as I leave.
TWELVE
The Dishes
SABRINA
By the time I get home, I’m wiped. I hope that Alex is good with scrambled eggs for dinner. As I walk through to the kitchen, I call out for Alex. On the kitchen counter is a salad ready to be dressed, and the plates and cutlery are out to go onto the table. A puff of smoke and the smell of grilling meat turns my attention to the patio, where Alex has tongs in hand, flipping a steak.
I pop my head out the door. “Hi, honey, I’m home.”
He flashes his sexy smile my way and holds out a hand for me to take. “Hey, buttercup, come give me a proper hello.” I wrap an arm around his neck and plant a kiss on his luscious lips. “Mark that, baby. Anytime you or I come home, this is exactly the way I want to be greeted,” he teases.
“You got it, gorgeous.” I giggle. “Do I have time to get out of these scrubs before dinner?”
“Yeah, I got this.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. “Be quick.”
I don’t delay. The aroma of grilled steak makes my tummy growl. It feels good to get out of my work clothes and into a pair of shorts and T-shirt. I pull my hair out of the ponytail and comb it through, deciding to leave it loose.
Alex is already waiting for me when I return and holds my chair for me to sit down.
“This looks amazing,” I say. “Steak, baked potato, and salad. I could get used to this.”
“Don’t get too excited. I can grill, but in the kitchen, I’ve only perfected grilled cheese, scrambled eggs, and warming up canned soup,” he says, a twinkle in his eye.
“Do you know what I discovered today?” I ask, softening my voice and reaching out to touch his arm.
“What, baby?”
“I’m happy.”
“That’s good,” he says, but he doesn’t understand, and I feel he needs to know.
“You don’t get it. I grew up in a great family. My parents loved me. There was the typical brother-sister stuff, but Don and I love each other too. But even then, I felt like something was missing. I kept waiting for magic to happen. As if one great thing was going to change my world and I was going to lead this blissful life. Instead, something did happen, but it was horrendous, and it wrecked me. I didn’t know what I was looking for, waiting for, praying for. And today, I saw it. I saw people making me cakes and checking in on me to make sure I’m not working too hard. Chloe holding my hand when I’m having a difficult moment. Damian, Zeke, and Caleb, all being protective older brothers to a woman they hardly know. And you. God, I have you! I have everything I want. I wake up excited for a new day, fall asleep beside the man I’ve fallen in love with, and reconnected with people who mean the world to me.” I’m grinning from ear to ear. “I’mhappy.”
Alex is looking at me funny. Not weird or scary, but like he’s seeing a rainbow appear before his eyes.
“Did I say too much?” When he doesn’t respond, I say, “Alex?”
“I’m in awe of you. You’re soft and sweet as honey, yet resilient, a fighter, my survivor. You’re the magic. You don’t see it, but I do. People want to be around you. They want part of that magic that surrounds you. Even that asshole, Cameron. He saw it, he wanted it, and because he could never have it, he was trying to extinguish that fire inside you.” Alex touches my cheek and runs his thumb over my lips. “I wanted to ignore what I felt for you. It was to give you space, time to heal. Allow you to rediscover yourself. No matter how I tried, though, I couldn’t ignore my need to be close to you. You’re everything I need and want.” He leans closer and kisses me lightly. “That, right there, that’s magic.” He smiles against my lips, and I follow suit. He draws back. “Eat, buttercup. More magic to come,” he says to lighten the mood, and wiggles his eyebrows, causing me to giggle.
We eat our meal in silence. It’s comfortable, safe, calm. Occasionally, we hold hands, or I touch his shoulder, which results in his brilliant smile flashing in my direction. I insist on doing the cleanup. Alex keeps trying to help, and I finally have to slap his hand away from the dish towel.
“This is my job tonight,” I say with a grin.
He comes up behind me, resting a hand on my belly. “Fine. I’ll give you that. Just means that I have two free hands to do as I please,” he murmurs with his mouth at my ear. He nips my lobe.
