Chapter 36 Cuter Than A Frog
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CUTER THAN A FROG
Harlow
When I open my eyes, there’s no question where I am or what I’ve been through.
I’m enveloped in a warm, strong body and have a dull ache in my shoulder.
Three little stitches is all it took. A bullet hit my body, and all I needed was a stitch-stitch-stitch. And here I thought I was lucky the last time I was shot at.
First a miss, then a graze. I cannot afford to come into contact with a bullet again. The odds aren’t looking good.
After a dramatic scene at Grandma’s house where Janie and Allen were taken into custody, I had to explain to my contractor that we’d have to reschedule when he showed up in the middle of it all.
He didn’t look like he was horrified. He looked like he wanted to call his wife and tell her everything he just walked in on. I guess that’s how small towns work.
Then my adrenaline plummeted. I fell into Devon’s arms in a puddle of tears.
I had my moment, even though it didn’t last long, because Devon was right. It’s over.
Finally over.
Every person involved in the plot against my father, me, and keeping Jett Cross’s identity a secret is in custody. So are Victor Turner and Hugh Bancroft.
I had no idea what revenge would look like.
The moment I realized what Albert had planned for me was the beginning of the end.
My only goal was to stay one step ahead and do everything I could to make sure my father had the best care he could have.
I knew something wasn’t right, but I had no idea how bad it was.
I never dreamed Dad would be on the road to recovery like he is, but I really never dreamed I’d end up with a brother and someone like Devon Donnelly at my back.
Literally, glued to my bare back.
Lips hit the skin where my neck and shoulder meet just inches away from my bandage-covered stitches. Instead of good morning, he kicks into caretaker all over again. “It’s time for your pain meds. Then I’ll order breakfast. You need to eat.”
I shift to my back so I can look up at him.
He props his head up on one hand and slides the other across my abs and strokes the underside of my breast with his thumb.
“Please don’t order breakfast. The need to be normal today is overwhelming.
If I’m hungry, I’ll go down to the café.
You’ve been babysitting me since we met.
You should go to work and do whatever you need to do. ”
Devon narrows his eyes, but he doesn’t stop stroking my breast. “Are you dumping me?”
“Hardly. I’m counting my lucky stars you haven’t kicked me out by now. At this point, I’m like a needy tree frog with those little suction feet—but not the poisonous kind. Like the cute ones with the long red fingers. I dare you to try and get rid of me.”
His frown deepens. “Are you comparing yourself to a red-eyed tree frog?”
I shrug and wince when I feel it in my shoulder. “Basically.”
He bops the tip of my nose with his index finger. “You’re really selling yourself short. You’re much cuter than a frog.”
A smile tugs at my lips.
He keeps talking. “If I kiss you, maybe you’ll turn into a princess—oh wait. You already are one.”
My smile disappears. “Not funny.”
“You’re the one who compared yourself to a frog. Not me.”
“Frogs aside, I’m not going anywhere. I chose to move back to Winslet and buy Grandma’s home so I could have some normalcy.
I don’t want to be the American Princess.
That was thrust upon me when I was young.
Janie did nothing to stop it and might’ve perpetuated it.
But I’m done with that life. I want to live in a small town, grow vegetables in my backyard, maybe buy some chickens, and make a difference in people’s lives through my mom’s foundation. ”
His expression softens. “And if I’m the lucky arse you’d like to be stuck to, I’m here for it.”
“So, no, I’m not dumping you. I like this.” I slide my hands up his neck and into the hair at the back of his head and amend my declaration even though I’m not ready to throw that word around yet. “I love this. I don’t want any of this to change.”
He leans down to press his lips to mine. When he gazes into my eyes, he makes his own non-profession of the off-limits word that we shouldn’t even spell let alone utter aloud yet. “I love this too.”
“Good,” I whisper.
“Good,” he agrees. “But I’m still going to get you some pain killers, order you breakfast, and take the day off to spend with you. You’re going to have to get used to that kind of normal.”
I bite my lip. “You’re impossible.”
“Trust me, I’m trying to get used to it too. I barely recognize myself.”
A lump forms in my throat, surprising me as the tears form out of nowhere. “Thank you. Yesterday really sucked.”
“It’s my mission in life to make sure nothing sucks for you, baby. Never again. You’re going to make that house into the refuge you need. It’ll be beautiful, Harlow, but the life you’ll create there will be even better. You’ll never have to think about revenge again.”
It’s my turn to kiss him. “Moving back to Winslet has been a secret dream of mine for years. And now that I have Grandma’s house, I thought it would be perfect. But a house is just a location. I found refuge in a place I never dreamed of ... you.”
Devon’s intense eyes bore into me so deeply, I feel them in my soul. It’s like that night on the pier when he claimed me all over again. Agreeing to his contract was the best thing I’ve ever done. “That’s because you are mine. It’s okay, baby. You can say it. Or not. I’m patient.”
I don’t say it. But I do pull him to me and continue to be needy when it comes to Devon Donnelly. I’ve asked a lot of him since the day we met, and he’s never once said no.
Other than the one time he didn’t want me to take a tennis lesson with Roman Malloy. And I should’ve listened.
But other than that, he’s protected me like I’m his most prized possession.
And I’ve never felt anything like it in my life.
I break our kiss to tell him the truth. “I plan to be needy for the rest of my life when it comes to you.”