“Not my ashes.”
“What does it matter if they’re yours or not? I thought they were. I brought them with me to scatter them here.” She points to the ocean.
“My death had to be convincing.” Even as the reason leaves my mouth, I know it’s a shitty situation no matter how I spin it.
If it were reversed and I’d thought Rosalie were gone? I’d be a fucking wreck.
So when she grabs up handfuls of wet sand and chucks it at me, I take it. I stand still, letting her release her frustrations and pain.
Splat. Splat, splat, splat.
My chest, my neck, one handful even comes dangerously close to my groin.
Rosalie’s fit goes on until I’m covered in sandy splotches from head to toe and she’s worn out.
Swaying on her feet, she sobs, “How could you leave me alone? I went through something horrible, and you just stayed away. You said nothing could keep you from me. You promised.”
“And I kept that promise. Even though I wasn’t supposed to, I came to see you.” Fed up with the distance between us, I stride forward and hug her to me so tightly she can’t get away.
“When?” Her chest is heaving so much it’s rocking us both.
“After I got out of the hospital,” I answer, then explain, “I spent several weeks recovering in a private medical facility. Gunshot wounds are no joke. But as soon as I was released, I evaded Jen long enough to pay you a visit.”
“A visit? I never saw you.”
“Didn’t you look at your list? Right before I got on my flight, I sort of broke into your house when you were sleeping,” I sheepishly admit. “Wasn’t easy to do with so much surveillance, but I had to see you. I added something to your list, hoping you’d see it and know I was still alive.”
Frantically pushing away from me, she unzips her fanny pack and produces the crumpled paper. She stares at it like she hasn’t seen it in a while, and I realize how much my absence has affected her.
She gave up on her list. She gave up on a lot of things.
When she unfolds the paper, her eyes go wide at the item I scrawled on it.
Live Happily Ever After—basic bitch status achieved
“You did this?” Rosalie asks, and although it’s a rhetorical question, I respond with the biggest truth I have.
“When I told you nothing could keep me from you, I meant it.” I scoop her back into my arms. “I wanted you out here with me sooner, but your health had to come first. Your doctor wanted to make sure you were stable with your new medicine and everything you’ve been through.”
“I am. She seemed impressed with my progress.”
“See? You’re amazing, and we’re going to bring Donovan down. I’m the best weapon the FBI has against him. I’m the only one who’s survived one of his murder attempts, so my testimony is the most damning information they’ve got. That asshole will be shocked when he realizes he didn’t finish me off.” I kiss the top of her head and apologize again as we sway together. “Please tell me you understand.”
“I do.” She hiccups. “Just stop talking and kiss me.”
I don’t hesitate to do as she demands. Her lips are salty from her tears, but I lick at her like she’s the last drink of water I’ll ever have. As our tongues stroke against each other, Rosalie climbs my body like a fucking tree.
She latches onto me, her legs going around my waist. Her fingers spear through my shaggy hair, and her warm pussy presses against my hard-on.
God, I’ve missed this.
My knees go weak, and I ungracefully drop to my ass. Rosalie doesn’t seem to care. Without missing a beat, she keeps devouring my mouth and rubbing herself on me. I recline in the sand, so fucking happy we can finally do this.
“Baby.” I chuckle as she kisses down my jawline. “Your dad’s within viewing distance.”
She harumphs before slowly placing another deep kiss on my lips. “So, what? Are you two besties now?”
“Something like that.” I try to shrug, but it’s hard with her pinning me down.
I never thought I’d be friends with a mafia boss, but Ivan’s actually a pretty cool guy. We’ve spent a lot of time watching bad reality TV, playing pool in his game room, and soaking up the sun.
He’s totally clueless in the kitchen, but with the two security guards Jen posted at the gate of the property, we’ve been able to have them run errands for us. We’ve been eating a lot of takeout.
Donovan’s trial is still several weeks away. Until then, I hope to take it easy, build a lot of lighthouses on the beach, and make love to my wife.
“We’re married,” I announce to Rosalie between kisses, because this is the news I’ve been dying to share with her.
Lifting her head, she gives me a weird look. “Yeah, I know.”
“Legally, I mean. Jen has the paperwork. All you have to do is sign it, then you’re officially Rosie Walker, wife of Preston Walker.”
Tears swim in her eyes as she gazes down at me. “You had our names changed for real?”
“Well, yeah.” I sit up and gently grip her chin. “That’s what you wanted, right? You said you liked me as Preston.”
“Yeah.” She smiles and sniffles. “And Rosie Walker sounds… right. It feels right. I didn’t think anything would feel right ever again.”
We take a break on kissing to just hold each other for a while. The sky gets darker. Stars come out. The ocean becomes more restless, and water licks at our legs every time a wave comes in.
I notice my brave wife doesn’t shake when she gets wet. She’s changed. Gotten stronger. Conquered a fear. She might not realize it, but she’s exhibited true power during one of her lowest times.
She’s more courageous than she knows.
Several things are certain about our future. One, she’s going to need a lot of reassurance. Two, we’re going to be so damn happy. Three, I’m going to fuck her every day.
With my hands roaming Rosalie’s waist, I’m tempted to take her in the sand right here, but my woman needs to eat. Her hip bones protrude a little more than they used to, and I can feel every rib.
Ivan has probably retired for the evening, but I bet he put the leftover macaroni and cheese in the microwave for us.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, my eyes locked to Rosalie’s in the moonlight.
“Not for food.”
Just then, her stomach rumbles loudly, and I smirk. “Liar.” My smile drops. “Hey, you didn’t sneeze.”
Grinning, she lifts a shoulder. “Guess therapy was a good idea. I hadn’t even realized how much I needed it until recently, and now that the shadow of grief isn’t hanging over me, I can see clearly for the first time in two months. I’ve worked through a lot of shit.”
“I’m so proud of you, baby.” I stand, taking her up with me, and she giggles as I carry her back to the house. “Let’s eat. You need to be fully fueled for the plans I have tonight.”
“Oh, yeah?” She nibbles at my neck. “That sounds fun.”
She’s quiet for the rest of the trek, but when we make it to the patio, she slides down my body. Gazing up at me with serious eyes, she asks, “What will we do after the trial is over? Once our lives go back to normal? Well, whatever normal is for us.”