Chapter 20 #2
My eyes blur a bit, but I force the stupid burning glassiness back. I nod again. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I… I need you three also.”
Paige’s head bobs more again, her hand coming up to brush a loose tear from under her eye. “I need you three also.”
The family room door pops open and the guys all crowd in. Kevlar moves quickly, dropping to a squat before Grace. “What happened?”
She rolls her eyes at him. “I don’t know exactly, she hasn’t said yet, but she did almost get her dumbass killed and I was just mad at her over it. But she promised—they both did—that they wouldn’t do dumb shit that takes them from me.”
Kevlar’s eyes dart over to me, his brows pinch and his head shifts again looking over at Frankie. “You left some shit out.”
Jolt eyes me as the rest start getting on my husband. Jolt’s hand goes up. “Mint and Wally are back Sunday. Harry has a right to hold her story until then… well, that assumes Mint will be in a headspace to listen.”
I frown at Jolt because he may have a point and I don’t like it. His face splits into a great big smile. “We are all team Harbon.”
My brow lifts. “What the fuck?”
Grace and Paige both clap and laugh with glee over the name. Then they both start trying to work out theirs with their guys. Frankie shakes his head with a heavy eye roll as our gazes meet. “Take a wild fucking guess.”
My eyes dart to Virus who is beaming at me.
I can’t help it, I laugh. I laugh hard. I get yanked to my feet and rounds of hugs and congratulations go around.
Mouse even lifts me from my feet giving me a great big hug.
I squeal and laugh as he does it then sets me back down.
Finding myself pressed against Frankie, his chest to my back and arms wrapped around me and his lips against my ear.
“They are all fully on board. Everyone is going to work together to make sure this is a smooth transition.” His lips press a soft kiss against the shell of my ear.
Virus grins over at me, then offers a wink.
Frankie gets us home after we hang out far too late into the night. We curl into bed, exhausted, but I am glad we made it home for Ron Ron. Honestly, I also like the feel of waking up in this house. In this bed. To Frankie.
We spend the day relaxing around the house, and Ronny-boy supervises as Frankie shows me how he preps the fruit.
We set some out and refill the seed. Standing out in the beautiful yard he has here, gives me a sudden urge to add some flowering plants like Meadow has.
I want to see the bees buzzing around. “Can I plant some lavender and stuff?”
Frankie’s eyes move over my face. “Anything you like. This is your home too.”
“Which, we should discuss my helping with the mortgage and bills.” I move toward him, loving how his intense blue eyes pale in the bright sunlight.
“Well, I own the house outright, so no mortgage. As for the bills… sexy girl, how would you feel about combining our finances?” His head tilts, he is evaluating my expression.
“Aren’t you an estate attorney? Shouldn’t we put together a postnuptial or something?” Saying that word out loud feels icky. Kind of like it takes away from the depth of commitment we made to each other.
His face hardens. “Harlow, you are putting me in a spot here.”
“What do you mean?”
“You clearly did not like how that sounded. We will not be diminished what we have. I am fucking here. I am here for-fucking-ever.” His hand jerks up and he motions to his ring finger.
“We both know what has you. I know you make less than I do. The thought that I would need to protect my finances from you… fuck that just eats at my sanity. What’s mine is yours. ”
I move closer to him. “I just want to make sure that you know I want to be an equal partner here. I w?—”
“Stop. Just. Just fucking stop.” He rolls his neck, his head tips up staring up into the blue sky. I reach out, slipping my hand into his which gets his body to loosen, his head tips back down. “I don’t want any kind of fucking out.”
I flinch a little with his words because I realize I might be testing him. It wasn’t my intention. “Frankie, I am coming into this with less than you have.”
His eyes lock on to mine. “Harlow, I won’t let you run.”
Fuck. He… he really does know me too fucking well. He knows what is scaring the fuck out of me. “I don’t want to run.” My words feel soft and utterly honest.
His hands lift, framing my face, his eyes bore into mine. “I am serious. There is no fucking outs. I won’t allow it.”
I can’t fucking help it, I let out a breathy huff of laughter, my insides feeling lighter. “I think I am supposed to push back on that allow comment.”
He smirks that cute boyish grin, the devious devil back in there. “And you aren’t because you know what I am really saying. Need me to say it again?”
My smile falls away. I hate that I am this way. This isn’t fair.
His head shakes. “No. Don’t do that. Obsessive motherfucker, remember? Your need to be reassured fits perfectly with my need to consume every last piece of you.”
Relaxing my head, I let him hold the weight of it within his grasp. “You always know exactly what to say to make this all better. I love you so much.”
He grins wider. “You have no fucking clue how good it feels for me to finally not only have you but know that you love my brand of love.”
He bends, pressing his lips to mine. When he pulls back, I lift my brow. “We do still have to make a decision about finances.”
He shrugs. “We can make mine joint accounts. You can keep yours—for now. When you feel ready to combine, we will. But Harry, if you even think about cutting and running, I will have Virus on your ass so fucking fast.”
A chill runs through me at his words and not the Virus part, that part is comforting.
No, it’s that I don’t trust myself. The fact that I keep fishing for reassurance without intending to proves that I am very much still capable of making stupid decisions when spooked.
I won’t allow myself to have that opportunity because I know what I have here with Frankie is the real deal.
It is the first thing that has made me truly feel good.
So, now, while my head is in the right space, I will make the choice to protect what I am building with Frankie.
I shake my head. “No. We combine now.”
His jaw does a little rolling jerk within his mouth.
His eyes—those are what really give him away—he is trying to squash a triumphant smile and likely even a crow of joy.
I give him a toned-down eye roll with a smirk myself, because he’s just so damned cute.
The pads of his fingers press into my scalp as he keeps hold of my head.
“If that will make you happy, then we will do that. I’ll call and make an appointment. Monday good?”
“Mmhmm. It will need to be before I go into work, though.”
“No problem. I will see what they have.” He bends again, brushing his nose against mine, his forehead pressing to mine. “Our son is watching.”
Both of us roll our foreheads so we can look in through the back window to find Ron Ron watching us intently from his cute little kitty throne.