I rocked her back and forth as she cried softly into my collar.
“So, we’re going to regroup a little,” I started, gently pushing her back by her shoulders. “And then we’re going to have the best damn indoor barbecue in history. I was promised pasta salad.”
She let out a watery laugh and wiped at her cheeks.
“You really scared them.”
I had no doubt that Rachel would have fought her mother and won, but if I hadn’t been here, it would have been a scary night for them both. I had another thing to worry about while I was on the road, but I’d call my lawyer in the morning to see what I could do to protect them while I was away.
Because I’d meant every word I said. Rachel meant everything to me, and I?—
Shit.I’d said I loved her. I’d told Rachel’s mother that I loved Rachel before I told her. It had just slipped out.
When Taylor trudged back into the kitchen, I looked for Rachel in the living room, and she was nowhere to be found. As I moved down her short hallway, the sobs coming from the other side of her closed bedroom door made my stomach drop.
I knocked and opened the door before I gave her a chance to answer.
“Don’t cry, baby,” I said, rushing to the bed where she was crumpled into a ball. “No one is taking Taylor.” I lay next to her,gently rolling her over until she faced me. Her eyes were red as they met mine, thick tears snaking down her cheeks.
“Of all the shit I’ve been through with that woman,” she said, wiping her face with the back of her hand like her sister had done a few minutes ago. “This was the first time I’ve ever been scared. She’d come and go when I was a kid, but I had my grandmother. And then when Taylor was born, she pretty much handed her off to me because she couldn’t be bothered. I knew she was planning something, but I didn’t think she’d try to take her.”
I had to focus on calming Rachel down and not running after her mother and fiancé to make damn sure they never came back.
“She’s not.” I rested my head on the pillow next to her. “Trust me. My lawyer is the biggest asshole on the planet. He can hit her with all kinds of lawsuits and charges.” I swiped her tears with my thumbs. “I will make sure she never hurts you again.”
“I’m not crying because I’m hurt. My mother hasn’t hurt me since I was little.” Rachel sat up, rubbing at her eyes. “I’m crying because if it weren’t for you, I could have lost my sister tonight. I would have fought to get her back, but I’m not sure I would have been able to stop them from taking her.”
“You would have. Jared is a tool. You’re a tough cookie with a powerful punch. I speak from experience.”
I coaxed a laugh out of her as she scrubbed a hand down her face, a soft smile curving her lips when her gaze found me.
“So, you love me, huh?”
“You caught that? Not how I wanted it to come out.” I wove my hand into her still rain-soaked hair. “But yeah. I love you. So fucking much.”
Her face crumpled before she grabbed the back of my head, pressing her mouth to mine in a desperate kiss. Now that the words were finally out, the relief was palpable. Her mouth was salty and sweet, her tears still staining her skin.
I’d set the world on fire before I’d let anyone or anything hurt her.
“I probably loved you from that first day, and that’s why I couldn’t let you leave,” I said against her lips, not wanting to tear my mouth away from hers. “And now I’ve got you, and I will never let anything happen to you,” I said as I gently grasped a fistful of her hair, giving it a pull so she’d look up. “So you’re not going to worry about this.”
“I love you too, so much.” She feathered her hand down my cheek. “But I can’t make you spend money on a lawyer.”
“You can. He’s on retainer and he’s been bored. The most action he’s seen from me is when I had him take down a video montage of my dick in baseball pants.”
“He took it down? It’s not anywhere to look up?” Her brow quirked up.
“No, because he’s good at his job.” I glided my hand up and down her thigh. “I told you I wanted to take care of you. So let me do it, okay?”
“I still wonder if you’re real sometimes. Like I conjured you up on the page and you’re some kind of fever dream.”
I smiled at her soggy chuckle and drew her into my chest.
She melted into me, her body relaxed for the first time since we’d come through the door.
“I’m real, Slugger. And all fucking yours.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
