This is going to be so damn awkward.
“Well, we all love Heather and don’t want anyone to hurt her,” Federico says, as if I don’t know they bitched about it.
“Yes, we do,” Matt says in agreement.
Is he unhinged? Eli’s hand constricts against my side. “Good to know.”
Matt steps closer. “She’s one of us. We protect our own.”
I feel as if I’m having an out-of-body experience. I must be dreaming, because there’s no way my boyfriend and my ex-asshole are having this discussion, right? I’ve had some weird shit go down in the last few days, but this isn’t real.
“I completely understand,” Eli says smoothly. I look up, slightly confused by how he managed to miss the hidden meaning in Matt’s words. I’m not a guy and I get it. “It’s why I hired you all. Heather’s safety is paramount. I always take care of what’s mine.”
And there it is.
“She wouldn’t need protection normally.”
“When she fell in love with me, things changed. However, I clearly have all intentions of taking care of her . . . in every way. I don’t walk away from my responsibilities, especially when it comes to people I love.”
This conversation is going to get out of hand real quick. I look to Brody, who is about two seconds away from popping popcorn, and the rest of the guys are grinning. Matt is a good cop, but no one likes him as a person.
Time to end this.
“You guys about done?” I ask. “Want to measure who is bigger? Although, I already know the answer to that.”
Matt huffs and shakes his head. “I’ve got paperwork to fill out, I’m sure you’ll be fine with Brody.”
I watch the man I thought I loved for so long walk away. Someone I made vows to, and would still probably be with if he hadn’t left, and I wonder how I was so blind.
Matt would never have hired a bunch of police officers if my safety was at risk. He’d tell me I was being stupid. He wouldn’t go out of his way to make me feel comfortable or just take my hand for no reason.
Eli does all of those things and more.
I turn back to Eli, who has his chest puffed out, his smile is ridiculously bright, and is probably two seconds away from him pounding his chest like a caveman.
“You’re that happy with yourself, huh?”
He grins at me. “You’re welcome.”
I roll my eyes and drop my forehead to his chest. “You’re a mess.”
Eli’s arms encompass me. “Your ex-husband is an idiot.”
“I’m well aware.”
“I’ll handle him if he becomes a problem.”
I’m not sure what he’ll do, considering Matt’s my boss, but I’ll never tire of his desire to care for me. It’s nice having someone there for me. We’re truly partners in every sense of the word.
I lift my gaze back to his with my hand on his chest.
We don’t say anything, we don’t have to.
The depth of Eli’s love is soul shattering, and I feel it in my bones. He gives me things I didn’t even know I needed. He looks at me as if I’m the only thing that matters. It’s the kind of love I saw in my father’s eyes when he looked at my mother.
We could’ve fallen apart last week, but we didn’t. We stand here, stronger and even more secure than before.
“Thank you,” I say.
He takes my hands in his and smiles. “I should be thanking your ex.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve never been more grateful than I am right now. If he weren’t such a dick, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He drops lower and kisses my lips. “And this.” He places a kiss on my forehead. “Or this,” he says before he cups my face and kisses me deeply. His tongue slides against mine, and I forget where we are. My hands grip his shoulders as I kiss him back.
I hear someone clear their throat, and we both pull back. Shit.
Brody stands there with a shit-eating grin. “Now that was some funny shit. Glad someone finally told him what a piece of shit he is.”
“He’s lucky I’m recovering or I would’ve kicked his ass,” Eli concurs.
Oh, dear God.
I scowl at Brody and then look back to Eli. “Go be the famous hot guy who everyone loves.”
He dips his head, giving me a sweet, short kiss. “Good thing I only love one person.”
“Good thing she loves you back.”
Eli smiles and taps my nose. “Once in a lifetime,” he says before he heads out of the room.
I lean against the door, grateful that Kristin was in the Four Blocks Down fanclub. Otherwise, this chance would’ve passed us by, and that would’ve been a tragedy.
Chapter 28
Heather
~ Two Years Later ~
“This is so exciting!” Danni jumps up and down as we get escorted to our seats.
“Dude,” Nicole grumbles. “FBD is totally not as fun as the last time we were here.”
I laugh. “Why because you know them all now?”
She rolls her eyes and huffs. “Duh! I swear, your boyfriend isn’t even cute anymore.”
“You’re so full of shit.” I smack her arm.
Eli Walsh is still a very sexy man, and she knows it. He’s like a fine wine that only gets better with age. He’s been on tour the last few months, and once again, he’s doing his final show in Tampa. I spent two weeks with him jumping to St. Louis, Nashville, Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Paul, and Little Rock before I booked a flight home. Hell no was I doing that again.
They’re all slobs.
I much prefer his apartment in New York than being cramped on the bus with the guys.
It’s been a whirlwind the last few years. One that I’m sometimes amazed we’ve endured so well. The media responded well when I said I wasn’t leaving my job, and I think being a cop shielded me a lot.
I’m clearly not after his money, even though he practically throws it at me.
The lights dim and déjà vu hits me like a Mac truck to the face.
Kristin grabs my hands, squeezing tight. “I’m so glad Eli hooked us up with these seats.”
“Well, I didn’t give him much choice.” My smile is wide as she giggles.
“This is true. Still, I’m so grateful.”
As much as this is like the first time we attended the concert, so much has changed. Kristin left her husband and now lives in my old home with her two kids. Danielle and Peter are actually doing extremely well after having a second honeymoon. And Nicole is still the same, having random sexcapades and God only knows how many threesomes. I stopped asking after it started giving Eli ideas.
I’m now permanently living in Eli’s Tampa house. Though, at first it wasn’t entirely by choice. Eli practically moved my stuff out of my place and into his the day after our press conference. My home was swarmed with photographers, and he wasn’t having it.
I was exceedingly against it, we fought, and then did a lot of making up—in our new home.
The silhouettes of the band members are visible now, and the crowd roars. Lights come on and the concert begins.
I watch Eli the entire time. The way his dark brown hair catches the light, his green eyes meet mine every time he’s close, and the way he only gives me his cocky smirk that makes my heart melt. I love him more each day, even on the days I’d like to wring his neck.