When I looked at Gordon, he had tears streaming down his flushed face. “I don’t know what to say.” He wiped at his eyes with his good arm. “I’m relieved and ashamed.”
“Don’t be ashamed.” Tanner grimaced. “Crater is a horrible man. He’s no doubt gotten away with murder many times over. He’d have murdered me in cold blood last night if not for you, Gordon. That’s just a fact.”
“But still,” Gordon said softly.
“We need to put this behind us.” Tanner lifted his chin. “You accidentally took a life, but you also almost gave yours to save a life. To me, that balances things between us. You saved Seth from the streets, and that means almost more to me than any of this. You’re a good man, Gordon, and you need to be out there in the world spreading kindness.”
“Thank you, Tanner.” Gordon’s voice broke.
I took Gordon’s hand in mine. “We all have a new start. Let’s make the most of that. Let’s find the good in this chaotic situation and focus on that. Just like you always say, Gordon: we need to concentrate on the good in the world because there’s so much of it around if we just look for it. Let’s do that.”
He nodded, looking relieved and exhausted. “Okay.”
“You should rest,” Tanner said softly. “This has been a traumatic few days.”
“Yes. Sleep sounds good.” Gordon rested his head against the pillow, and his fingers loosened on mine.
“We’ll come see you later today,” I whispered.
Gordon nodded. “Yes.”
I moved toward Tanner, and we crept to the door. Once we were out in the corridor, I hugged him. The steady thud of his heart under my ear comforted me. “Thank you, Tanner.”
“No need.” He kissed my hair. “I’d be dead right now if not for Gordon.”
I winced and tightened my arms around him. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth. Yes, Gordon accidentally took a life. But he saved mine. He didn’t have to. In fact, if I’d died, he’d have been home free about what happened with my dad. But he didn’t take that route; instead he stepped up and saved my life. You don’t send a man like that to jail.”
I lifted my head and kissed him, and when the kiss ended, I said, “I love you so much, Tanner Trenton. The best day of my life was the day you walked into my shop.”
A warm smile spread over his handsome face. “Does that mean you’ll stay married to me longer than the required three years?”
I laughed. “I’m afraid so.”
“I say when the three-year deadline arrives, we should renew our vows. We deserve a real wedding. We’ll make a big deal out of it this time.”
“I like that idea.”
He sighed and tugged me closer. “And I love the idea of you being my husband. My real husband.”
“Me too.” My lips twitched as we started walking toward the exit. “I know we’re in love and all, but do I still get my four million when the three years is up?”
He laughed. “You can have it right now if you want.”
“Nah. I know you’re good for it.” I smacked his ass. “And if not, you’ll have to make it up to me in other ways.”
He chuckled and we headed home.
Epilogue
(Six months later)
Seth
“God, this is the life,” Tanner sighed, lying on his surfboard next to me as we bobbed on the water, waiting for a wave.
“Yes it is.” The warm sun felt good on my skin, and I allowed my gaze to run over Tanner’s beautiful body.
