I giggle, wrapping my arms around her. "Thank you for taking care of him all this time."
"He loves you, don't let him push you away because of his made-up sense of nobility. He sure as hell wouldn’t let you do it. He's a King, but not without his Queen." She holds me tight and for the first time in an awfully long time, I think I'm going to be Alright.
"What if he won't listen?" I tremble with the thought.
Maisyn opens her arms, waiting for me. "Make him."
"Oh! Hadn't thought of that." I chuckle, releasing Mack and hugging her.
She rubs her boobs against me. "Give it a little of this and a ton of that!" And then she smacks my ass.
"He'll never go for it! He wants to drive me crazy and will say we need to take our time." I huff.
"Stick with us, kid. We'll teach you the ways of a wily woman." Mack shuffles toward the door. "Or at least we'll get you laid."
Maisyn throws her arm in the air. "Hell yeah! Now, throw him out!"
"I'll do that first thing tomorrow." Scout and I laugh.
"Not too early, I need him to work some first." Mack waves as she steps outside.
I hold up three fingers. "Her honor!"
They look from one to the other and giggle with me. I'm so happy by the time they leave, I can actually see a glimpse of hope on the horizon.
"Come on!" I grab Scout's hand. "Help me pack my future husband's bag so I can throw him out."
"Wow." She follows along. "I hope they know what they're talking about."
"Me too."
"If there's anything else I can help you with or questions I can answer for you, just let me know." I look at my watch, ready to get back to work.
Agent Adams scribbles in a book, never looking up. "Just one more question before I let you go."
"Alright." I crack my neck, finally drawing his attention.
"I want to make sure I have this right; you and Mrs. Carver are friends. You have no romantic ties?" He scratches his jaw, staring at me.
I square my shoulders, ready to dig in on him. "Huh, why do I get the feeling you're implying something that's gonna piss me off?"
"It's a simple question, but if you'd rather not answer it." He half shrugs.
"If you're asking if we're lovers, no, we’re not. But if you’re wanting to know if I love her, yes. I’ve always loved her, and I always will." My blood boils as he starts scribbling in his little book again. "You might want to also let everyone know; I've been in love with her since we were kids but hadn't spoken to her since the day of their accident."
His brows shoot up. "Did you know Carver was getting regular updates on you?"
"Like a private investigator?"
He nods. "Apparently he knew how you felt about his wife."
"Let's get one thing fucking clear," I grind my jaw. "the second that piece of shit laid hands on her, she was no longer his wife. He lost the right to call her that and didn't deserve her whatsoever. Not that he ever did to begin with."
"I agree." He hesitates. "For the record, this thing is done but I want you to know, I don't blame you for hating him. I would've felt the same way about the man who hurt the woman I loved."
I shake my head. "Love. I love her, but I'm not much better than Carver."
"How's that?" He narrows his eyes at me.
"I let her down, he should've never gotten that close to her." I shove my hands in my pockets to keep from hitting something.
He closes his book, tucking it under his arm. "Now I understand why you don't like me."
"What are you talking about? I don't know what you mean." I set my jaw.
"It was my job to protect her, not yours. I failed, not you." He smirks, reading me like a book. "Just an observation, but when we got to the scene, there was no way in hell anyone was getting to her. You put your body in front of a gun for her. If taking a bullet for someone means you don't deserve them, I need to up my game for my wife."
"Bullet?" I gape at him, dumbfounded.
He pats my back, smiling. "He fired his gun; we were faster and better aim."
"He tried to kill her." My skins crawls.
"Then I'd say it was a good thing you were there." He hands me his card. "I appreciate your time, if anything were to come up, you can reach me here. Ridge, you should give yourself a break. For you and her."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." My shoulders slump, giving in from all the pressure I've put myself under.
Mack walks over slowly. "Stop running!"
"I'm literally standing here." I chuckle.
She wheezes with a hand on her back. "Oh, it felt like you were running."
"What are you doing here?" I reach for her hand, pulling a chair around. "Sit down."
She glances at the seat and then to me. "If I get down, you gotta get me back up."
"When have I ever let you down, Babe?" I wink as she leans in and kisses my cheek.
"Never!" Her eyes float past me and she steps back. "On second thought, I need to pee."
I follow her sight line toward the bay doors. "The hell?"
"Bye!" Mack waves behind her head, scurrying off.
"I hope you give birth in Boone's truck!" I yell as I drag my eyes down Harper's body as she struts toward me. "And I hope you pee your pants!"
Harper stops mid-stride. "Excuse me? You hope I do what?"
"Mack just wobbled to the restroom." I cut my eyes to the bag in her hand, pointing to it. "You goin' somewhere?"
She holds it out in front of her. "No, you are."
"I am! Where am I going?" I rub the growing pain in my chest her closeness is causing me.
She lifts her shoulder, letting it fall as she drops the bag. "I suppose here. I'm not really sure, but I assumed you needed a few things."
"Thanks, but I have some things here." I point to the stairs over my shoulder.
She flips her hair behind her back. "I'd love to see where you're holed up."
"It's not presentable." I grimace when she heads that way. I snatch the bag from the floor and jog to catch up to her. "Seriously, it's wrecked."
"I'll manage." She starts up the steps, leaving me to fall in line behind her. Which is not an awful place to be with her perfectly, plump ass at eye level.
I adjust myself. "Same, girl."
"What's that?" She peeks over her shoulder, taking the knob in hand. "I've often wondered what a bachelor's pad would look like."
I step around her once she's through the door, dropping my bag in a chair. "Yeah, I'm not the tidiest person."
"So, I see." She bites her bottom lip, brushing past me, and she continues to where the bed is. "It has a loft feel, I like it."
"Let me... here ya go." I yank some clothes out of the chair and toss them onto the couch.
Her eyes flicker from the chair to the bed. I'm struck dumb as I watch her plop down on my bed, her hair floats around her, stunning me into silence. "This is fine."