To try and save himself with a plea bargain, Commissioner Isaacs had cut a deal and named the others involved in the shooting plot and the attack on Tristan.They had all been arrested and were awaiting trial.Her house had already been levelled, and the new foundation was going in late next week.When the rebuild was finished and the house was staged, she was going to put it on the market.Tristan wanted her to move in with him permanently, and she loved it here with him.
The late October wind gusted around the edge of the building, making a slight moaning sound along the eaves.Last night’s storm was starting to ease.The condo was quiet and solid around them.The bed was soft and cozy.She was warm and satisfied, and having Tristan wrapped around her made her feel safe on a level she’d never experienced before.
Her eyelids grew heavy.She let them fall.Listened to the sound of the wind and Tristan’s breathing as they lulled her back to sleep.
When she woke up next, three hours had passed, and she was alone.She checked her phone on the nightstand.Saw a message from Tristan.
Sun’s out.Get ready and meet me down at the café.Give me an ETA.
She responded that she would be twenty minutes and got up.After a shower she changed into lined leggings, boots, and a thick, peacock blue tunic-length sweater.
Golden autumn sunlight filled the kitchen as she passed it on her way to the door, where she put on a puffer vest and a tweed newsboy hat with a little black leather flower on the side.Bristol had bought it for her.At first she’d worn it grudgingly, thinking the flower was ridiculous feminine overkill, but it had quickly grown on her, and now she wore it with everything.
She messaged Tristan.On my way down.See you in five.
Outside, she was greeted by a crisp, sapphire blue sky and a carpet of multi-colored leaves covering the lawn and sidewalks.The sweet, earthy scent of them drifted up with each step.
She paused a moment to savor everything.This was her favorite time of year.Tomorrow night, Carly was coming for a sleepover.They were going to carve pumpkins and take her shopping for a Halloween costume.
She’d never thought she wanted to be a mother.But watching Tristan with Carly made her go all soft inside, and it got her thinking.He would be an amazing dad.Would never walk out on her or their child.Maybe having a baby was a possibility for her after all.She wasn’t sure yet.
Although shedidknow that she was tired of limiting herself because of her past.Now that she had a real partner, someone she could count on, the possibilities were endless.
Tucking her hands in her pockets, she started down the hill, pulling in a deep breath of the cool, salt-tinged air.The feeling of peace and contentment that washed through her shocked her.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this relaxed and carefree.And knowing a certain, gorgeous, caring and dependable man was waiting for her at the bottom of the hill had her heart beating faster.
She spotted him from halfway down the hill, the autumn sunshine setting his auburn hair aglow.He stood on the corner with his back to her, talking to someone.Ivy and Shae.
He turned when they noticed her, and the smile he gave her spread a big one across her own face.She kept wanting to pinch herself.For so long, she’d convinced herself that he had some hidden, major personality defects that would sabotage any chance of a relationship with him.Now she recognized that she’d been living in fear of more hurt and rejection.A learned response.A sort of protective mechanism to keep him at arm’s length.
No one was perfect, least of all her.Everyone had issues and flaws of some sort.But now she knew the truth about Tristan’s character.He was steady.Reliable.He loved fiercely, both her and his family.
To her, each of those traits were all treasures beyond measure.
“Morning,” she called out.Their relationship hadn’t been a secret for long.All of Crimson Point knew about them by the time they’d returned from Vegas.Although she suspected Ryder and the others at CPS had already figured it out long before that.They were fine with it, but she and Tristan likely wouldn’t be working on jobs together anymore.
“Is it still morning?”Ivy pulled the sleeve of her coat back to check her watch.“Yeah, I guess it is.Five minutes to spare.”Her smile was pure mischief.“Had trouble getting out of bed today, did we?Both had a late start for some reason.”
Shae made a strangled sound.“Ivy...”
Ivy grinned.“Nah, you both deserve it.Got any plans today?”
“Nothing major,” Tristan said.“Thought we’d take it easy, have a long walk on the beach, then do lunch, go home and watch a movie, and then we’ve got a family dinner tonight at Gav and Autumn’s.”He lifted his right arm when she stepped up to him and wrapped it around her shoulders, tucking her in close to him.
She loved it when he did that.Physically showing her how much she meant to him, but without any ego or sense of ownership involved.He used affection out of love, not insecurity.
“Nice,” Ivy said.
“You doing anything fun?”Cassie asked them.
“Her sister Kiyomi and brother-in-law Marcus are flying in from England tonight,” Shae said, eyes shining.“I’m super excited to meet them.”
“I’ll bet.Wouldn’t mind meeting them either,” she added.
“Yeah?Okay, we’ll have you guys over this week then,” Ivy said, putting her hands into her coat pockets.“So, I hear Isaacs is being charged with the works and is looking at a life sentence.”
Cassie cocked her head.She’d only been informed of that last night by the FBI.“I’d ask how you know that, but I feel like it would spoil the magic of you.”
