"Nolen?"
"I'm right here, baby." I rubbed her arm soothingly. "Are you okay?"
"I dreamt that the guy who's been harassing me finally kidnapped me."
Brushing my lips across her forehead, I pushed away some of her damp hair. "That's not going to happen. I promise you; I'll keep you safe."
Hell would freeze over before I let anything happen to her.
"I'm sorry I woke you."
This time I kissed her cheek. "You didn't wake me. I couldn't fall asleep."
"How come?"
Vanessa shifted so she was snuggled into me, despite me looming over her.
"I was too busy thinking how lucky I am to have you. I owe you an apology."
She looked so damn cute when she scrunched up her nose. "For what?"
"I should've said it back earlier because I do love you, too."
The smile she gifted me with shot straight to my heart. It was so damn beautiful and full of innocence.
"Really?"
"Yes, baby. Really. I was too caught up in my head earlier to say it back, but I've known since the first time I met you that you were it for me."
"So what took you so damn long?"
I tossed my head back and laughed at her directness. At least I could always count on her calling me out.
"Stupidity. It's as easy as that. I didn't think I deserved you, so the best course of action was to stay away. Then everything happened with you and Valerie, and I couldn't let anyone else protect you. It had to be me."
"I'm glad it was you sitting outside my house all those nights. It made me feel safer."
"So you knew, huh?"
Vanessa chuckled softly. "It was hard not to notice when you're paranoid. I would look out my window a million times to make sure it was the same vehicle."
"Well, I'm glad I could provide you that safety."
"Do you think you can sleep now?"
I smiled down at her. "Yeah, baby. I'm ready to sleep."
"Good. Me, too."
I settled down behind her and made her my little spoon. It didn't take long for her breathing to even out, letting me know that she was back to sleep.
It also didn't take me long to join her in that slumber.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Vanessa
I stood in my kitchen after one of the best nights of my life and tried not to eavesdrop on the conversation happening in my living room, but it was hard when it directly related to me.
