I was grateful that he decided to take charge. It took the pressure off me.
He sighed. “What you did was wrong,” he said as he gave me a pointed look.
I nodded but didn’t speak.
“And involving Tiffanii and her crowd?” He shook his head. “Always a big mistake.”
I winced. “You found out about that?”
He nodded. “Yeah. When she approached the police while they were questioning me, I figured they had something to do with it.”
That was definitely true.
He studied me. “Do you promise to never do something like that without me again?” His half smile played across his lips. “I’ll be there to talk you off the ledge.”
My heart began pounding. Did this mean that he forgave me? That made it sound like we had a future. Did I dare hope?
“Yes,” I whispered. “I promise.”
He stepped closer to me. The feeling of his warmth washed over me. It was so familiar and comforting. Even though it had only been a few days. I missed him. So much.
He raised his hand to cradle my cheek. “So, do you want to know my wish?”
I nodded as I leaned into his hand. Tears brimmed on my cheeks as I realized what this meant. He forgave me. This nightmare was over. My chest swelled with relief.
He brushed a kiss on my cheek. “That I will never lose you like that again,” he whispered in my ear sending shivers across my skin.
I pulled back so I could meet his gaze head on. I needed him to see how true the next few words I spoke were. “You won’t,” I said.
He furrowed his brow as he hesitated, and then he leaned forward to meet my lips.
Fireworks exploded through my body. This was what I was meant to do. Love Cade. He made me feel whole.
A home was no longer a big house with walls and overpriced furniture. It was the place I was with the people I loved. Eventually, the pain from my parent’s divorce would lessen, and I would be able to see Dad’s new house as a place I belonged in. And the moments I spent with Mom would make our house feel like home again.
But while my family life was a wreck, my life with Cade was perfect. For now, he would be my home.
When I pulled back, I studied him. “Thanks,” I said.
He quirked an eyebrow. “For what?”
Heat raced to my cheeks. “Loving me.”
He nodded and then his teasing smiled emerged. “That is so you. Forcing me to take charge and say something like that first.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
He pulled me closer. “I don’t mind. I’ll tell you first.” He pressed his lips to my forehead before pulling back. “I love you, Chocolate Milk.”
I snuggled into his chest. “I love you, too, Monster.”
Epilogue
I pulled up to the courthouse a week later and turned off the engine. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and straightened my ponytail. It was my first day, and I wanted to look presentable.
After I shoved my keys into my purse, I opened my door and stepped out.
I made my way up the steps of the courthouse and entered. Cade was standing next to the counter, chatting with an elderly woman on the other side. When he saw me, his smile lit up.
“Hey,” he said, walking over to me and planting a kiss on my lips.
I giggled as I pulled back. “I’m not sure we are supposed to be doing this,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
He shrugged. “I don’t care.”
When he leaned closer, I pressed my hand on his chest and pushed him back. “I am not letting you get me in trouble again.”
He wrinkled his nose as he pulled his most hurt expression. “That was not me.”
“Cade Kelley, stop fraternizing with Penny,” Ralph said as he walked into the foyer with a bunch of neon vests hanging from his arm.
“Porter? Gladia?” He called out. Two more people approached. “Welcome to community service,” he said as he handed out the vests.
I took mine and slipped it on.
After had I talked to Cade, I contacted the judge. He was surprised that I actually wanted to pay my debt to society. Apparently, most people—well, everyone—tried to get out of doing community service. They didn’t voluntarily offer themselves up for it. He had thought it was a joke at first, but I convinced him, and he let me join in.
Plus, it gave me more time to hang out with Cade. So it had its benefits.
After Ralph went over the rules, he turned and motioned for us to follow him.
Cade slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close as we held back a little from the group. He nuzzled my hair. “I’m happy you are doing this with me. But you didn’t have to,” he said. His voice was gruff.
I turned toward him. “It’s okay. It didn’t feel right that you were the only one getting punished. I did something wrong, and I should do my part to fix that.” I bit my lip as I turned to look at him. “Plus, seeing you in neon orange is doing something to my insides.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Really?” Then he nodded. “Good to know.”
I giggled as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine.
“Cade!” Ralph scolded.
He groaned and looked up. “Yeah?”
“Stop fraternizing with Penny.”
Cade sighed and let me go. “This is going to be torture,” he said under his breath.
I laughed. Torture or not, I was just happy to be next to him. He was my home, and I wasn’t going anywhere.
I nodded toward Ralph and smiled at Cade. “Come on. We’ll be fine.”
He sighed. “Yeah. You’re probably right. Besides, this will be harder for you because of your love for correctional colors,” he said, waving toward his vest.
“True. But it’s only two hours every week for”—I squinted as I tried to remember Judge Jones’s stipulation—“fifty weeks.” I shrugged. “No biggie.”
Cade groaned. “I’m going to die,” he said as he followed me out of the courthouse and over to the bus that was idling in the parking lot.
I laughed. “Well, I’ll be here to resuscitate you.”
He eyed me. “Promise?”
I nodded.
He sighed as he extended his hand out toward the stairs of the bus. “After you.”
As I passed by him, I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. He responded with a smile and a squeeze back. As I sat in my designated seat, I glanced out the window. How strange this all was. A few weeks ago, if I had told myself that I would be sitting on a bus, headed for community service, I would have said I was crazy.
There was no way I would have ever done something like that for Cade. And now? He was my home. While my whole life tumbled down around me, he was there to support me. To love me.
So even though we sat on opposite sides of a bus headed to pick up litter from the side of the road, there was no place I would rather be.
I was home.
***
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Other Books by Anne-Marie Meyer
Clean Adult Romances
Forgetting the Billionaire
Book 1 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Forgiving the Billionaire
Book 2 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Finding Love with the Billionaire
Book 3 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Falling for the Billionaire
Book
4 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Fixing the Billionaire
Book 5 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
The Complete Billionaire Series
The Whole Series for $9.99
Marrying a Cowboy
Book 1 of a Fake Marriage series
Fighting Love for the Cowboy
Book 1 of A Moose Falls Romance
Marrying an Athlete
Book 2 of a Fake Marriage series
Marrying a Billionaire
Book 3 of a Fake Marriage series
Marrying a Prince
Book 4 of a Fake Marriage series
Clean YA Romances
Rule #1: You Can’t Date the Coach’s Daughter
Book 1 of the Rules of Love series
Rule #2: You Can’t Crush on Your Sworn Enemy
Book 2 of the Rules of Love series
About the Author
Anne-Marie Meyer lives in MN with her husband, four boys, and baby girl. She loves romantic movies and believes that there is a FRIENDS quote for just about every aspect of life.
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Rule #2: You Can't Crush on Your Sworn Enemy (The Rules of Love) Page 15
