Chapter 41 #2
Will shrugged as he shook his head. “All of this is certainly a shock, but I don’t know how to be mad when you saved my ass.”
“And I’d do it again,” Ty told him, meaning every word.
“You’re really done with the FBI?”
He nodded. “I tendered my resignation yesterday. I handed in my badge, my service weapon, and returned my government-issued vehicle. I’ll have to appear in court to wrap up a few cases over the next several months, but we’re packing up my stuff now, and I’m moving to Oliver Heights.”
Will sighed as he nodded. “I’ll talk to Mac. I’ll give her the whole picture—tell her about Richard and Monroe House—now that everything’s out in the open.”
“I’m sorry,” Lydia said again. “I imagine those sound like empty words, but I truly do love you.”
“I know you do, Lydia. I love you, too.” He looked toward the door that Mac had left through. “I’m going to go find my wife.”
Lydia nodded. “Okay.”
“We’ll talk later,” Will said.
Ty nodded and ended the call as Lydia rushed to her feet and turned away from him. “Lyd.”
She shook her head as she covered her face with her hands and started to cry quietly. “I’ve lost my best friend, and I can’t blame her at all.”
Sighing as he stood, he turned her to face him, pulling her hands away from her tear-soaked face. “We just dropped a bomb on them. Give her a chance to take some deep breaths.”
She nodded as she sniffled.
“Come here,” he said as he wrapped her up in a tight hug. “Mac’s going through a lot right now, but you’re as vital to her life as she is to yours.”
She snuggled herself against him. “That might not be enough.”
He slid his hands up and down her back. “It’s enough, Lyd.”
She shook her head. “I lied to her, Ty. I betrayed her.”
“Because you had to. When she has time to think it all through, she’ll see that.”
Sniffling again, she held him tighter. “I hated everything about that, but I’m glad it’s all out in the open. We don’t have to keep secrets anymore.”
He kissed the top of her head. “No, we don’t. Everyone knows the facts. We can rebuild from there.”
She nodded. “I still haven’t talked to Uncle James, Aunt Cindy, and Gram-Gram. I still haven’t made things right with them.”
“So, let’s see if they want to get together for dinner some night this week. We’ll drive up and sit down with them, clear the air, and explain everything better. That way we can all move on.”
She nodded. “I like that idea.” She eased slightly back. “What was Will talking about when he mentioned Monroe House—when he said he’d give Mac the full picture?”
He winced, remembering that Lydia didn’t know all that there was to know either. He’d left her hanging on the day that she asked him to leave the pool house. “It’s sort of a long story about Richard Russo and how the FBI was going to do Will dirty. I can explain on our drive back.”
She nodded. “Sure.”
He brushed at the tears drying on her cheeks. “Do you want to lie down and snuggle up for a while? Or we could take a walk and get some fresh air. Or DC air anyway.”
She smiled. “I think we should pack and go home.”
He kissed her. “I like the sound of that.”
She stroked her fingers along his cheek. “Thank you, Ty. For falling on your sword for me. You took most of the brunt of that.”
“As I should have, Lyd. I did put you in a no-win situation.”
She shook her head. “You’ve been honest and honorable since the moment we met. You took care of my family and me. You’re a good man, Ty. For that alone, I could love you. But I love you for so much more.”
Damn, he was crazy about this woman. “That’s all I need, Lyd, is you loving me.” He kissed her. “Let’s pack and go home.”
Lydia put the last of the pants and shirts that she’d moved from some of her drawers onto the hangers in her closet while Ty cleaned up dinner downstairs.
She smiled as she glanced to the opposite side of the walk-in space—to Ty’s side—where all his button-downs, suit jackets, and slacks hung in a neat row.
His shoes were tucked away on several of the shelves, his drawers were full, and his bathroom items were mixed in with hers. “Right where you belong,” she whispered as she shut off the light and walked back into the bedroom.
Her smile disappeared as she sat on the edge of the bed, thinking of the agonizing conversation that she and Ty had had with Mac and Will earlier in the day. The truth was officially out in the open, but the air was hardly clear between the four of them.
Sighing, she pulled her phone from her back pocket, hesitating before she pressed on Mac’s smiling face in her texts. She paused with her thumbs on the screen before she started to type.
I just wanted to say again that I’m so sorry, Mac. I never ever wanted to hurt you. I never ever wanted to lie to you. I love you.
Three dots appeared as Mac typed back.
I love you, too. Will and I talked some more, then we spoke with Cindy and James. I understand the position you were put in. I also know that Ty risked his career to help Will. But all of this is a lot, especially with everything else that’s going on. I need some time.
She sniffled as she read Mac’s reply. Okay.
The kids and I are going back to Mass with Will at some point in the next couple of weeks. He’s staying in the pool house while we try to work things out. Maybe we can talk next week.
She raised her brow as she read Mac’s next reply, having so many questions about what all of that meant, but answers would have to wait. I’m here whenever you’re ready.
Okay.
She set the phone on the bed as Ty tapped his knuckles on the doorframe.
“Knock, knock.”
She turned her head, sending him a small smile as their eyes met. “Hi.”
“Hey,” he said, smiling back as he walked her way. He stopped in front of her and captured her hands, pulling her to her feet. “What’s going on?”
She locked her wrists at the back of his neck. “I sent Mac a text, apologizing again.”
He hooked his arms around her waist. “And?”
She shrugged. “She says she understands the position that I was in and that you risked your career to help Will, but she wants some time.”
“That seems reasonable.”
She nodded, immensely relieved that Mac hadn’t completely cut her off. “She also said that she’s going home with Will and the kids at some point in the next couple of weeks. He’s going to stay in the pool house while they try to work things out.”
Ty raised his brow. “Oh, really?”
She nodded again. “I know they talked to Uncle James and Aunt Cindy, so I don’t know if there was pressure put on them to figure stuff out… She said maybe we can talk next week.”
He wrapped her up tighter. “I hope you guys do.”
She stood on her tiptoes, kissing him. “Me, too.”
He nuzzled his nose against hers. “Are you up for a walk? We could head to the park and grab an ice cream. Or we could stop by your classroom and do whatever it is that you wanted to do there.”
She shook her head. “Let’s save the classroom for tomorrow.”
“So, the park, then? Or we could stay right here and have a dance party in bed." He bit his bottom lip as he wiggled his shoulders.
She laughed, always loving that he was willing to be silly. “How about the park first? Then we can have a dance party.”
He waggled his brow as he grinned. “That sounds like a deal.” He kissed his way along her jaw and down her neck. “Maybe you could show me your vibrator during our dance party.”
She grinned as he tickled her skin. “I could probably do that, but I like you way better than my vibrator.”
He continued with his teasing, moving to her collarbone. “So, we’ll just play with it a little.”
“Okay,” she said next to his ear. “But what I really want is your mouth and your hands and your penis.”
He growled as he attacked her neck.
She screeched out a laugh. “Ty!”
He eased back, laughing. “Let’s take a walk, Lyd, or I’m going to toss you onto that bed.”
She chuckled, capturing his hand as they walked from the room. “I’m actually looking forward to a walk at the park.”
He nodded as they headed downstairs. “Enjoying what’s left of the sunshine and getting some fresh air. It’s not a bad way to end the day.”
“No, it’s not.” She stopped by the door to put on her sneakers as he did. “Jamie and Greg sent out a group text shortly after I went upstairs. They’re having a last-minute barbecue tomorrow night—a potluck-type thing.”
He snagged his sunglasses off the entryway table. “We should go. I want to start meeting more of your friends. This is our life now. Let’s dig in.”
She grinned. “I like that idea.” Then she stopped with her hand on the doorknob. “Were you serious this afternoon when you said that you didn’t care if we had a baby before we got married?”
He nodded as he hooked his arm around her waist. “Rings and babies. The order doesn’t matter to me. The only thing I care about is that I’m doing both with you.”
“Aw.” She kissed him as her heart melted. “What do you think about a wedding at the compound? A small one with close family and friends?”
He nodded. “I like it.”
“Maybe next summer?”
He nodded again, kissing her this time. “Sign me up.”
She smiled. “Maybe we could work on a baby after the honeymoon.”
His mouth came back to hers for a second time. “You and me until next summer. Then we’ll start our family.”
Her heart soared as she stared into his gorgeous blue eyes. This was everything that she’d ever wanted. The man of her dreams. A job that she loved. A family of her own. “It sounds like we have a plan.”
“And we know that a solid plan is one of your favorite things.”
She wrinkled her nose at him, giving his arm a playful shove. “Plans are a good thing.”
He chuckled. “They certainly can be.”
“Like the fact that we need to book our flights for Austin when we get back from the park. That’s a plan.”
He raised his brow. “We’ll book our flights after we have our dance party.”
She laughed as he grinned. “Thank you for cheering me up.”
He winked. “That’s what I’m here for, baby.”
She held his gaze as she kissed him. “I love you, Ty.”
He pulled her mouth back to his. “I love you, too.”