Red Red Rose
Page 31
“Can’t say it doesn’t suck, because it does, but I guess I can’t hate the guy since he did save your life, and my sister’s.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“I know. That’s what’s making this so hard. At least if he was a tool like that last one, I could hate him or try to steal you from him, but he’s not. Shit, I’d probably actually like the guy if I wasn’t so jealous.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be sorry,” he sighed. “Just be happy, Nora. That’s all I want.”
That’s all I wanted as well, and I was going to do my best to see to it that she was.
I was still leaning against the wall outside her room when he walked out. He stopped when he saw me. He glanced back over his shoulder and then stepped out of the doorway.
“I’m guessing you heard all that.”
“I did.” I wasn’t going to pretend I hadn’t listened.
He nodded. “Then you know if you don’t take care of her, come December thirteenth, you’re going to have me in your face. I blew it once. You mess up and you can be sure I won’t blow it again.”
I nodded, but that wasn’t going to happen. “I know what I’ve got in there.”
“Good, be sure that you don’t forget it, because trust me, you fuck that up, you’ll probably regret it the rest of your life.”
Which is why I didn’t intend to fuck it up.
He started to walk away, back toward his sister’s room, but I called after him, “Hey.”
He turned.
“Come December, you need a job, I might know of a team that could use a guy like you. Give me a call.”
He nodded once and then I walked into Nora’s room, loving the soft smile that lit up her face when she saw me. Yeah, there was no way I was fucking this up.
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You two have a nice chat?”
She let out a heavy breath. “Yeah.”
“He try to steal you away?” I teased.
“He tried, but there was nothing for him to steal. Someone else already has my heart.”
I smiled. “I hope you let him down easy.”
“I did.”
“Good.” This time I kissed her on the lips.
I was still kissing her on the lips when her parents walked in. Jim cleared his throat and we broke apart. Nora’s cheeks turned a cute shade of pink when she met her mother’s grin.
I was forced to share her with them for the next several hours. They were as reluctant as I was to be away from her. I think it would be a while before any of us breathed easy and stopped smothering her, but Nora didn’t seem to mind all the extra doting.
I just couldn’t wait until the doctor signed her release papers and I was allowed to take her home. I needed to hurry up and find a place of my own. I wasn’t sure that Emily would appreciate having me at their place now that she was going to be back home too. I knew Nora was anxious for them both to be together. Emily came down from her room, and the girls didn’t even exchange words. Nora just scooted over on the bed and Emily climbed up with her. They entwined their arms and rested their heads together and that’s how they stayed until Emily went back to her room. They both had one more night in the hospital.
I didn’t even want to imagine what it would have done to Nora if this had ended differently. Will, or Aaron, was damn lucky there were about a hundred prison guards and steel bars separating us.
At least he’d never get near her again. Never be able to hurt her. Pretty soon he’d be nothing but a bad memory. His days of darkening her thoughts were over. I was going to see to it. And then, when she was ready, I was going to see to it that she was mine permanently.
I cringed; I probably needed to call my mother. She was going to lose her shit. Between me and Camden, she’d been dropping not so subtle hints that she was ready to be a grandma. She and Nora’s mother were going to get along just fine, and she was going to love Nora. It was impossible not to.
I’d give it a week before I called her. This week would be just ours, because once I called and told my mother there was someone in my life, she’d be in her car and on her way over the mountains.
“What are you thinking about?” Nora’s soft voice pulled me from my musings. Her parents had gone and it was just the two of us.
“My mother,” I answered.
“Your mom?” Her brow pulled into a puzzled frown.
“Yeah, I was just thinking you should probably meet her. You think you can handle my family?”
A beautiful grin stole her features. “I think I can. I think I can handle anything as long as you’re with me.”
“Where else would I be?” With her is where I belonged, and where I intended to stay.
Note From the Author
My first romantic suspense! What did ya think? I hope you’ll let me know by leaving a review. This story was so much fun to write and a little different from my previous work. I feel like many, many hours spent reading Nancy Drew and the Mary-Kate and Ashley detective series as a child led me here! Not to mention all those hours spent watching Criminal Minds. This definitely isn’t the last mystery you’ll see from me. Did ya’ll like James? He might make a reappearance down the road. It is my plan to carry this story into a series of stand-alones. I hope you all will look for the rest in the future, and thank you for giving this story a chance. Writing is a passion of mine, and so I would do it regardless of whether I sold a copy or not, but it’s because of you amazing readers that I get to do it full time and make a job out of this adventure. It’s also because of the amazing support system I have, not only in my readers, but the friends and family who have been with me on this journey. I couldn’t do it without you all. And thank you Jesus for this amazing ride we call life!