“How did you even know you’d need this?” I asked, staring at the vest, my pulse still racing.
His fingers closed around mine, steady despite the tremor. “I wasn’t about to take chances.”
“You amaze me.” I wiped the tears from my eyes, my heart climbing back from the pit.
“Yeah, I’m pretty proud of myself,” Alistair murmured, wincing but grinning. “This vest’s the kind security forces swear by. Costs a fortune, but you barely know it’s there.”
I smothered him with kisses—his forehead, his cheek, his jaw, his lips—each one a thankful prayer. “Thank God you’ll be okay. You have no idea how much I love you.”
“I think I do.” His green eyes sparked with mischief, that cheeky half-grin curving his mouth before it melted into a low, quiet chuckle.
“I will never doubt you love me,” I swore, my voice breaking.
“We live for love,” Alistair whispered. His smile lingered as his eyes slid shut, clinging to my words like they were the only thing keeping him tethered.
“Alistair, we need to move you now. We need to check for blunt force trauma, possible rib fractures,” Constance said as two paramedics rushed in with a stretcher.
“Can I come with him?” I asked quickly. Alistair gave the faintest nod before the officer answered.
“Ma’am, you can ride with us.”
“Everything will be fine, right?” My eyes searched Constance’s face, needing the reassurance.
“You’re fine. Both of you are safe.” She squeezed my hand.
I nodded as relief settled in my chest. We were in good hands.
Alistair
Christmas Day
“Can you manage to sit up?” Vera asked, adjusting the pillows on my divan.
“Sure,” I said, watching my family tear open their Christmas presents, laughter filling the room. I adjusted my new wristband—a gift from Vera. Cool steel pressed against my skin, the words “I love you” embossed in Morse code. I traced the dots and dashes with my thumb, the secret message beating quietly beside my pulse.
My chest was mottled with bruises, and my ribs ached with every shallow breath. They would heal. Most things did. Would I put my life at risk for my woman again? Without a doubt. Vera was worth dying for. More importantly, she was worth living for.Regardless of past scars, I owed it to myself, and to her, to make the most of what came next.
“My mom called. She wished us a Merry Christmas,” Vera chirped, throwing a grin my way.
“Is she enjoying her new yacht in Monaco?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.
“Heck, yeah. She and her new boyfriend are having the time of their lives. She told me to thank you again. Guess you’re unforgettable.”
“There’s no need to thank me. Are you happy with your present?”
“Are you kidding me? I love strays.” Vera’s eyes shone as she stroked her tricolored cat, who purred and kneaded her lap, eyes contentedly closed. “Mimi is gorgeous. Thank you for rescuing her.”
Seeing Vera this happy, I couldn’t help but smile. This—right here—was all I ever wanted.
“We’ll take the little lady with us wherever we go. She’ll be treated like a queen,” I promised, giving Mimi a little scratch under her chin. The cat opened her yellow eyes, hopped off Vera’s lap, and padded to her food bowl.
“How’s your present?” I asked Damian as he pulled off his virtual reality headset, his hair sticking up in all directions. My teenage son stood as tall as Vera now and was still growing.
“It’s cool,” he said, grinning as he handed the headset to her. “Do you want to try it out?”
“Sure.” She slipped it on, giggling as she adjusted the strap. “Whoa. This is incredible.”
I watched her reach out, as if trying to touch something only she could see.
