Alex raises his hands and shakes his head. “I don’t have the keys to this place. You let us out.”
Tyler’s gaze bounces from Alex, to the door, to the kitchen and lands on me. “I let you down. I’m so sorry.”
I reach for him, and he takes my hand. “No. You saved me. Again.”
Tyler settles on the couch. “I’ll always save you. If you’ll let me.”
My shoulders slump. That would only be possible if he were staying.
Alex asks for the keys to my car so he can go to the hardware store for the piece of gutter.
“Don’t forget the bullet hole in the kitchen,” I say. “I don’t want to explain that to our guests.” A bullet hole in my B and B. Tears slide down my face. It’s completely irrational. I’m safe, so why am I crying now?
Tyler scoots closer to where I’m sitting on the couch and strokes my arm. “It’s okay. It’s all over.”
“Is it? Blake’s still in the hospital. I’m back to being a witness to a crime for a mob boss. It’s not over. If anything, I’m right back in hell.”
Tyler takes my chin, so I’m looking directly at him. “You won’t have to testify. You didn’t see him murder anyone. You didn’t see him push Blake off the road.”
Another wave of sadness hits me. I hate Enzo. Despite my resistance to hating anyone, I truly hate the man for bringing nothing but pain and grief into my life. My friends’ lives. Part of me can’t believe he won’t continue to terrorize me in the future.
“What about his…” I wave my hand in the air, looking for the right word. “Family.” Although that seems like a horrible use of such a meaningful term.
“I don’t think they want anything to do with Enzo. His cousin has been trying to take over, and the entire family has been removing themselves from previous criminal enterprises. They won’t come after you. And even if they did, I’ll be with you. Always.”
I don’t want to start over. I love this town, my friends, and even my job. But I love my husband more. His dark green gaze is so intense. I have to tell him. “I’m not running again. The only reason I would leave is to stay with you.”
He strokes his thumb down my tearstained cheek. “You want to stay with me, too?”
I nod, shyness stealing my words. But if I don’t tell him what I want—exactly—how can my husband, my Dom, give me what I need? “Use your words” echoes through my head in Tyler’s dominant voice. There can be no ambiguity, no misunderstandings.
“I love you,” I say. “I’m in love with you. I want our marriage, for better, for worse, with everything that being married entails. Rich, poor, good health and bad.”
Tyler shifts his arm under my knees and lifts me onto his lap. His lips press to mine in sweet, soft kisses. “I love you, Amelia Kincaid Davis. I’m in for everything. Even kids.” He freezes and locks his forest-green gaze on me. “If you’re willing.”
I snuggle into him, pressing my nose to his neck. He smells like cedar-tinged sweat, gunpowder, and safety. I relax against his chest.
“Think you might want kids someday?” he asks in a quiet, coaxing tone.
“I’ve never thought about it,” I lie. The weight of all this trauma lifts a bit at his question. “I’m not against the idea. Especially the part where we make them.” And the part where he’s a dad, holding a baby in his arms. I see it so clearly, my breath catches.
He squeezes me tight and smacks my ass. “Naughty girl.”
His growly tone of approval makes me squirm, and based on the hardening length beneath me, he’s just as excited by the idea as I am. “Where would we live? The B and B isn’t set up for kids. I can’t imagine going up two flights of stairs with an infant or even pregnant. And I don’t want to move back to St. Louis, even if it is safe now.”
“How would you feel about a small relocation if we stay in the area, close to your friends?”
“What about the guys?” I glance up to find Stone on the phone. Who’s he talking to this time, the airlines? “They’re practically your family. You won’t miss them?”
“They’re staying here too. At least that’s Stone’s idea. He has to get Eliot and Cade on board.”
“What? How?”
“Stone has an idea for aprivateresort he wants to build. All of us would be partners in the project.”
“That sounds amazing.” He’s staying. The entire team is staying. A giddy rush vibrates through me. Everything I’ve dreamed of. After dancing with death, talking about life, and planning for our future, I need to be close to him. Reconnect on every level. Even if children never happen for us, my heart is bursting to full. We have a family. We are a family.
TWENTY-FIVE
