Chapter 6 Tony
TONY
The next morning, I’ve got the coffee on early and I’m wiggling my hips as I sashay around the kitchen. I’m a big guy. I don’t usually sashay, but I’m so damn happy that I’ve got Caroline under my roof that my whole body can’t stop moving.
Caroline slept all the way back last night and only woke up when the pickup stopped outside my place.
I’ve put her in the spare room, the room that I’ve had ready and waiting for her ever since she up and moved to LA. I always wanted her to have a place to come back to if she needed it.
There’s a desk in the corner where she can work.
Although now that Amy’s moved out, I can turn her old room into a home office.
If Caroline wants to stick around, that is.
I realize I’m getting ahead of myself, but I can’t help it.
I’ve been given a second chance with the only woman I’ll ever love. I’m not going to fuck it up.
“Morning.”
I spin around to find Caroline leaning on the doorframe, watching my hips move as I whisk the eggs. Her hair’s ruffled from sleep, and there’s a red mark down one side of her cheek where she must have laid on something. But she’s in my house, and she’s never looked more beautiful.
“Coffee’s fresh.” I indicate the pot of coffee, and she shuffles over to pour herself a mug.
“I’m making a cheese omelet with mushrooms. You want one?”
I know it’s her favorite, or at least it was seven years ago.
“Thank you.” She gives me such a sad smile that I think she’s going to cry.
“It’s only an omelet, honey. No eggs got hurt making it.”
Her lips twitch, but I don’t quite get a smile out of her. “I mean for last night. Thank you for being there for me.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Caro.”
She looks away, and maybe she’s thinking about all the years when I wasn’t there. I can’t do anything about the past, but I can be there for her now, in the present and for all the rest of my days.
“Thanks, Tony.”
She takes her mug and sits at the table, pulling the local paper toward her while I get back to the omelet.
She doesn’t seem ready to talk yet, so I won’t push her.
I whistle as I grate the cheese onto the eggs, and she flicks through the paper while nursing her coffee.
It’s a scene of domestic bliss, and I’ll do anything to make this my normal—to have Caroline at my breakfast table every morning for the rest of my life.
A few moments later, I slide the omelet in front of her and sit down for breakfast opposite my wife. Well, my ex-wife, but soon-to-be wife again, I hope.
Caroline takes a bite and closes her eyes as she eats.
“Mmm, Tony. Your omelets are the best.”
It’s a small compliment, but I’ll take it. I’m not a great cook. I perfected the omelet because it’s Caroline’s favorite.
“You got a lot of work to do today?”
The look on her face instantly falls, and she ducks her head. I regret asking the question. It makes me wonder what she’s not telling me, how bad things really are.
“Not really.”
“There’s a desk in your room that you can work from, or you can bring your laptop out here if you prefer. I’m not going into work today, but I’ll keep out of your way.”
I asked Bronn for some special leave, and when I told him it was for Caroline, he agreed immediately. But she doesn’t need to know that.
I love having Caroline in my house, but there’s something that’s been nagging at me. Something I need to know.
“About last night…” I begin slowly, and Caroline gives me a wary look. “Where are things with you and Paul?”
My voice comes out choked because the thought of Caroline with another man always makes me tense. I couldn’t stand it when I found out she was marrying again. I put on a show for her because I want her to be happy, but I was dying on the inside.
She puts down her fork and eyes me warily.
“I kicked him out when…” She trails off and looks away. She’s not telling me something, all right, but now’s not the time to push. “…I kicked him out a few weeks ago,” she continues. “It’s over between us. It had been for a while, and that was the final straw.”
“Are you divorcing him?” My voice is tight, but I need to know this, even if it kills me.
“Yes.”
I don’t realize how tightly I’ve been gripping my cutlery until she says those words.
“I have grounds for immediate divorce, but my lawyer’s having trouble tracking him down.”
She looks down and sighs, and I hate that I have to go over this with her, but I need to know where she is. If she’s emotionally tied to another man, I’ll back off. But it doesn’t seem like that’s the case.
“You don’t know where he’s staying?”
She shakes her head. “He’s not being very… communicative.”
“I’ll have someone track him down.” She gives me a warning look, and I try to get the scowl off my face. “And then I’ll pass the details to your lawyer.”
I can tell from her look that she doesn’t quite believe me. And she shouldn’t. When I find that scumbag, I’ll be paying him a visit. But Caroline doesn’t need to know that.
We finish up breakfast, and I head to my room to give Seth a call.
He’s the IT whiz on our security team and was part of our Special Forces unit. He has particular skills in finding things and people that don’t want to be found. I’m not sure it’s all legitimate, but I’m not asking questions.
He doesn’t answer, probably too busy with his new woman, so I leave a message.
Then I make another call to the local florist.
If Caroline isn’t emotionally attached to Paul, then I’m not taking any chances. The sooner I win her over and make her mine, the better.