Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
“Babe?”
“Back here,” she yelled from the bedroom.
She grabbed the last pair of socks from the bottom of the laundry basket and shoved them into the dresser, then closed the drawer with a smile.
She loved seeing her clothes next to his, the way he’d welcomed her wholly into his life.
She loved being surrounded by his things, being surrounded by him.
Though it had only been a few weeks, they had fallen into a comfortable rhythm.
After the ordeal with her father and Aster, she had spent a day in the ICU in Bradenton before they flew back home.
The studio had cut ties with Aster, who had initially claimed innocence.
She hadn’t been able to make bail, so she was still awaiting sentencing.
Her father had several prior offenses, and he had been denied any chance at bail.
He was currently being charged with attempted murder and would likely be put away for a long time.
In her statement to the police, she had explained their plan to kill her, then swindle her mother out of the life insurance payout she would have received on her behalf. An officer spoke with her mother to corroborate the events that had transpired prior to her arrest a little over a month ago.
Apparently, Dale had swept back into her mother’s life like a white knight, luring her away from Burt.
Her father had conned her mother into moving in with him, and since her mother never had any money of her own, he had made several small deposits into her account to win her over.
While she thought Dale had been helping her out, she had unwittingly given him access to her account information and checkbook.
He would have easily been able to drain the account with her none the wiser.
Roman appeared in the doorway, and his eyes immediately landed on her. He strode forward and pulled her into his arms. “Good news.”
“Yeah?” She stretched up on her toes for a kiss, luxuriating in the slow sweetness of his lips on hers, the way his hands slid over her back.
Roman broke the kiss and smiled at her. “Aster pled guilty.”
Her brows shot up. “Seriously?”
“It was the smart thing for her to do.” He lifted one shoulder. “Her lawyer managed to talk her into spilling everything and getting a plea deal.”
Unease sat heavily in her stomach. “So she’s still going to jail, right?”
“She’ll do some time.” Roman’s gaze turned wary, and he let out a little sigh. “She’s been charged as an accessory to attempted murder along with several other things, but they cut down on the sentence because she’s cooperating.”
She leaned away. “Tell me how that’s a good thing. Because the way I see it, she’ll be back out in no time.”
“I know, babe.” He pulled her back to him. “But we’ve got restraining orders—”
“Great,” she mumbled sarcastically. “I’ve got a piece of paper to protect me.”
“Come on, now.” Roman stroked her hair. “They’ve done what they could.”
She couldn’t hide the disappointment she knew shone on her face. She wanted justice; she wanted them to be punished for what they’d done—not only to her, but to everyone else they’d hurt in the process. It wasn’t fair.
“I don’t like it, either,” he continued, his soothing voice rumbling next to her ear. “But it’s what we’ve got to work with, so we need to take it.”
“I know. It still sucks.”
“It does,” he agreed. “But I’d like to believe that Aster wouldn’t be stupid enough to try something like this again. She knows she won’t be as lucky a second time.”
That was true, at least. “What about my father?”
“With his history, he’ll be doing some serious time. You won’t have to worry about him again.”
“Good.” She curled in closer to Roman, reveling in his heat and strength. She wanted to put that time behind them and move forward.
“Besides, you know I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”
She tipped her head up and looked at him.
His expression was earnest, and it made her melt a little inside.
Since Roman was no longer required to work security for her, they had both returned to work once they arrived home.
But Roman was more protective than ever.
He was constantly checking in to make sure she’d gotten to and from the studio okay each day, and he hated when his jobs for Vantage took him away from her at night.
He stared down at her. “Do you know what today is?”
“Um…” She searched her mind but came up empty. “Thursday?”
“That, too.” He chuckled, then turned serious again. “Today marks exactly one month that we’ve been married.”
She blinked. “You kept track?”
“You didn’t?”
He laughed when her mouth flopped open then snapped shut again as she floundered for a response, and she lightly slapped his chest. “Whatever. So, what’d you get me?”
“It’s always about you, isn’t it?” His tone was teasing as he slipped his hands down to her hips. “I was thinking of something more… mutually satisfying.”
“By all means.” She grabbed his shirt and stepped backward, tugging him toward the bed. “Show me what you had in mind.”
He grabbed her hips and lifted her, then lay her back against the cool fabric of the comforter as he settled himself over her. She was already reaching for him when he grabbed her hands, stilling her movements. Her gaze jumped to his, and her breath caught at the emotion she saw swirling there.
“You’re beautiful.” He released her hand and stroked her hair, then cupped her face. “I don’t tell you that enough.”
“You do—”
His thumb swept over her mouth, silencing her. “I don’t tell you how much I look forward to seeing you each day. How happy you make me.” His chest rose and fell. “How much I love you.”
It was the first time either of them had uttered those words, and tears sprang to her eyes as happiness spread through her body. “Really?”
“How could you ever doubt it?” His lips lowered to hers, and he kissed her soft and slow. She slid her fingers through the short strands of hair at the back of his neck as he thrust his tongue against hers.
A long minute later, she surfaced from her haze of pleasure and met his gaze. “I’ve wanted to tell you forever—I love you, too.”
He grinned, pulling her with him as he rolled to his back. “Show me.”