Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Scarlet
Mrs. Holder volunteered to keep Rosie overnight again since the two were engrossed in a movie marathon. With her generous offer, a mask I didn’t know I was going to have to wear fell away. Trudging to our apartment after my shift, I abruptly stop when I spot a man camped in front of my door.
Jesse.
For a moment, I take in his sleeping form.
My eyes trace every one of his beloved features.
I know moving won’t kill my love for him.
Hell, moving to Mars won’t let me forget the way he makes me feel.
Nor will I be able to erase the way he is when he’s really with me.
Us. Not the ducking and hiding he’s been doing when we cross paths in public, I think as heartbreak swamps through me.
“You make the thought of leaving next to impossible.”
My voice must awaken him or he isn’t asleep because the moment the words leave my mouth, his eyes fly open. I’m paralyzed by the swirl of emotions in his gaze—emotions I can’t name. Silence echoes through the hallway, luring me to him—to the haven I know can be found in his arms.
Refusing to be cowed, I saunter to my door and insert the key into the lock. I barely release the bolt before Jesse reaches past me and twists the knob. Storming inside, I know his calm is long gone. Going on the offensive, I drawl, “You know you’re technically trespassing.”
“Arrest me. But not until we have this out between us.”
My guts twist at the torment on his face when he faces me. The agony in the air makes my apartment feel claustrophobic. “Jesse—”
He cuts me off before I can say more. “Is it true? What Rosie said?”
“What did she say?” All I know is that she convinced Mrs. Holder to go visit Lightning—something she will get grounded for.
Then I walked into a who’s who of Kensington royalty.
Jesse doesn’t need to know Rosie was so upset when I got her outside of his home, my instinct was to protect her not punish her.
“She said you’re moving.” Before I can reply, Jesse adds, “That’s after Flynn blamed me for him needing to hire a new deputy.”
Crap.
He stalks forward and lays his hand over my heart. “You’re leaving and you weren’t planning on telling me?”
My tone is mild when I counter, “I wasn’t planning on leaving tomorrow.”
“So, it’s true.” His hand drops away from me.
I fold my arms around myself. I know by the end of this I’m going to need something to keep my heart inside my chest. “It’s…complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“I was going to tell you, Jesse.”
“When? When your bags are packed in the car on the way out of town? Damn it, Scarlet. Why didn’t you talk to me about this opportunity if it is so fucking important to you? Why am I the last to know about what’s happening to my girlfriend?”
That word is like a nuclear bomb being dropped at ground zero on my heart. “Is that what I am? Your girlfriend?”
His eyes narrow before he hisses, “You did not just ask me that.”
My control snaps. “Why not? You’re the guy who doesn’t want anyone to know we were together in the first place.
You’re the guy who avoids linking us in any kind of way.
” I lean forward and deliver my kill shot.
“And you made my daughter feel less than by behaving exactly the same way in the diner—so much so she asked me about it.”
He shakes his head frantically.
“Don’t try to deny it. Fine. I’m good enough to be your secret lover, but I’ll be damned if you let my little girl feel like she’s not enough.”
He flinches as my words aim true. For long moments, he just stands there and stares at me before he turns around and walks out the door.
The weight of it all crushes me as soon as the door slams shut. My knees buckle. I sink to the floor, the cold tile biting into my skin. My sobs come hard and fast, shaking me to the core. He’s gone—like I always knew he would. But being right doesn’t alleviate the ache in my chest.
Then the door crashes back open. My head snaps up.
Jesse stands there, chest rising and falling like he’d just run a mile. For a moment, neither of us moves. I’m certain I don’t breathe.
“Jesse?” I croak, my voice barely a whisper.
He steps inside. “I went to my truck.” His voice low, rough. “Forgot something.”
My heart stutters when he reaches into his pocket and then kneels in front of me, pulling out a small velvet box. “This was my mother’s.”
My hand flies to my lips.
“I was trying to figure out the perfect time, but tonight, you made me realize that might never happen with how much I’ve fucked up,” he says, his voice breaking. “I love you, Scarlet. It wasn’t that first night at Ralph’s, but it wasn’t long after.”
“But…hiding us?” I stammer out the question that’s still a wall between us.
He lowers his head to mine. “The secrecy wasn’t to hide you, but to protect you and Rosie from the paparazzi. My family can’t escape it.”
His voice is resigned. “You hate it.”
“Yes, but not as much as I love you. I’ll call StellaNova and let them know you’re mine, if that’s what it takes. I’ve been ready to shout my love for you for quite a while.”
He opens the box, revealing a simple, stunning solitaire.
“Say you’ll stay,” he whispers. “Say you’ll let me spend the rest of my life proving I’m proud to be the man at your side.”
Tears stream down my cheeks. “Yes,” I whisper, my voice trembling but sure. “Yes, Jesse. It’s all I—we—want.”
Relief floods his face as he slips the ring onto my finger. He lifts it to his lips and kisses it before he pulls me to my feet and drags me toward the door. At my hesitation, he quirks a brow.
I point my finger in his direction. “Don’t you want to celebrate?”
He swoops me up in his arms. “I do. Later. Right now, I want to pick up Rosie and introduce you to the rest of our family.”
Tears fall freely. I make no attempt to hide them. “That sounds perfect.”
* * *
Jesse wasn’t joking about StellaNova. On the day we were married, the following article was released.
Our most sincere congratulations to Mr. Jesse Kensington, uncle of DJ Kensington and brother-in-law to Beckett Miller, and Scarlet Marsden.
The two were recently wed in a ceremony performed at the ruins of the family’s original homestead—a long-standing family tradition for all Kensington first-born sons.
Surrounded by an intimate circle of family, close friends, and the incredible glory of the Texas landscape, the bride’s maid of honor was her sister-in-law Paige Kensington, wife of Beckett Miller and mother to DJ Kensington.
DJ Kensington and Fallon Kensington also stood for the bride who was walked to the altar by her daughter, Rose Marsden.
Standing for the groom was his best man, Ethan Kensington. Followed by Beckett Miller and Mitchell Clifton.
In quite the twist, Rose dragged Max Blake (son of guests Brendan Blake and Danielle Madison) onto the dance floor for the first dance. Some witnesses claimed there “may have been a foot stomp involved,” but young Rose prevailed and got her dance.
Her parents were too busy laughing—then kissing—to comment.
Cheers, Jesse and Scarlet. Your vows brought us to tears. If you live by them, you’ll have the kind of marriage most will envy.
—StellaNova