Dibs on Delaney
Maddox
Nestled with me under the covers, Delaney softly asked, "Do you think I'm too gullible?"
"Nope."
"But you didn't even think about it."
"Because I didn't have to think about it."
"Oh, come on. You can't be that sure." She was frowning. In the darkness, I couldn't see it. But I could hear it – the little frown she made whenever she was worried.
I ran a hand along her naked back. "Trust me, I'm sure."
"Well maybe you shouldn't be." She sighed. "I wasted over a year on something that wasn't even true. I was such an idiot."
I said it again. "Nope."
"But—"
"What you were was protective of the people you love. There's no shame in that."
By now, it had been over twelve hours since Brian Smelter had made his confession. Delaney had spent most of those hours blaming herself – and not nearly enough blaming the people responsible.
The congressman.
His head of security.
Hell, even the girl upstairs wasn't completely free of blame.
But Delaney?
She'd sacrificed a lot to avoid dragging anyone else into the mess. This included Maisie and Tessa, who'd been shocked as hell when Delaney had explained what happened.
They didn't blame her.
I'd been glad to see it. Delaney had been through enough already.
In a quiet voice, she said, "You make me sound like a hero when I was really a fool."
I gave her a soft squeeze. "You're no fool. Wanna know the truth?"
"What?"
"I admire the hell out of you."
"Oh, stop it. You can't."
"Why not?"
She nestled closer. "Because I don't deserve it."
"Sure you do. In my world, everyone throws everybody under the bus the first chance they get. Friends. Family. It doesn't matter. But you?" I smiled in the darkness. "You're different. I like that."
She laughed softly against my chest. "Yeah, I'm so different, I've kept you up all night."
"Or maybe I've kept you up."
"Fine," she laughed. "We both kept us up."
It wasn't only us. Griff and Maisie had stopped by the house after dinner and stayed until nearly two. Add Ryder and Tessa, and nobody ran out of things to say.
"And besides," I said, "the sun won't be rising for hours. But listen, there's something I want to ask."
"What's that?"
"Your clothes in storage – you want me to have them delivered to the island?"
She hesitated. "You could seriously do that?"
"Hell yeah. Just say the word."
With another muffled laugh, she said, "I bet Tessa would just love that. She'd probably think I was moving in."
"Yeah, but not uninvited." It was true. Tonight over dinner, Tessa had invited Delaney to stay here at the house for as long as she wanted.
Then, not to be outdone, Maisie had extended the same invitation – inviting Delaney to stay with her and Griff at the three-bedroom cottage they were currently renting.
When Delaney balked at barging into their love nests, Maisie offered up the house she'd inherited from her dad, telling Delaney, "It's vacant and everything. You could totally move in. I mean…if you won't stay with us."
"Or us," Tessa had said, looking determined.
By the time dinner was over, Tessa and Maisie were still debating who had dibs on Delaney.
It had warmed my heart to see. But there was something neither of them knew. Dibs or not, if I had my way, Delaney would be staying with me.
I just didn't know where, that's all.
But first things first. "You know…if you want, I can have all of it brought here."
Delaney snickered against my chest. "Even the furniture?"
"Sure, if that's what you want. You can sort through it, keep what you need, and we'll send the rest back. Or find a storage unit closer. Your choice."
With a smile in her voice, she said, "You make it sound so simple."
"Yeah. Because it is." I gave her another squeeze. "Just say the word."
By the time she was drifting off to sleep, she sounded happy and relaxed.
Me? I was happy. But not quite relaxed.
I knew something Delaney didn't.
Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a crazy day.