“The green one,” Calla says.
“Ready to head out, sweetheart?”
Phil doesn’t reply, or even look up, but he wraps his arms around Vivi and gets to his feet. I collect his duffel, and then Calla scoops up Vivi’s carrier from the hallway and comes with us out to the car.
Once both my precious passengers are in the car, I say to her, “If you’re worried about him later, text me.”
Her expression softens with relief. “Thank you. I’m not worried about the shutdown—he’ll be fine once he’s had time to decompress. Well, as fine as anyone could be in this situation. But the fact that someone’s stalking him terrifies me.” She glances toward the car and lowers her voice. “I made Spears tell me what the note said. The Marines gave you fancy training, right? You can protect him?”
My mouth feels weird, and I realize with a start that it’s because I’m… smiling. Fuck me, after the events of this afternoon, I wouldn’t have thought I could do that today. “I can protect him,” I confirm. “The Marines gave me a whole lot of… fancy training.” Though “fancy” isn’t usually the word used to describe it, considering how sweaty and dirty we ended up.
That seems to satisfy her, though. “No obligation, but if you wanted to work from our showroom on Monday, I could find a quiet space for you. Or if Phil doesn’t want to come in but you can’t stay home, just let me know.”
I promise her I will, though I already know for a fact that I’m not leaving Phil’s side until this is over. Damian will understand.
Phil, on the other hand, is probably going to get so annoyed with me by the time it’s done.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
PHIL
The bedroom isa dim cocoon when I wake, but I can tell from the way light is sneaking around the sides of the blinds that it’s morning. Stretching, I roll over and grab my phone from the nightstand to check the time. Nine thirty.
Considering I went to sleep a little before eleven last night, that’s late. Not surprising, though. I’m usually tired and physically worn out after a shutdown, and I think anyone who’s just discovered they’re being stalked would need the healing escape sleep brings.
My stomach jitters at the reminder, but I take some deep breaths and try to focus on the facts only. Yeah, someone is stalking me, and yeah, being sent an effigy of myself with a knife in it is fucking scary, but I’m not alone. I’ve got Griff, my friends, the LAPD, and Vivi on my side. Whatever this person’s problem with me is, they’re not going to get to me.
They’re not.
I sit up, letting the covers fall to my lap. Griff’s not in bed, but I wouldn’t expect him to be at this time of morning. Not while I was sleeping, anyway. Last weekend we spent a fun Sunday morning in bed, but we were bothveryawake then. I smile atthe memory, lingering anxiety swamped by giddy happiness. I have Griff in my life now, and even though it hasn’t been long, he makes everything better. Even dealing with a stalker.
My stomach grumbles with hunger, and I toss the covers back. Bathroom, then breakfast.
My plan is derailed when I come out of the bathroom, pass the living room, and see Griff on the couch with his laptop. Some things are more important than breakfast.
He looks up as I walk into the room, his gaze searching my face. Whatever he sees makes him smile. “Good morning.”
I clear the last remnants of sleep from my throat. “Hi. I slept hard.”
“You needed it. Do you want something to eat?”
“In a minute.” I sit beside him, then nudge his laptop. “Move this.”
Chuckling, he obliges. “Yes, Your Highness.”
I stretch out on the couch and put my head in his lap. “Much better.”
His hand comes to rest on the top of my head, fingers sifting through my hair. “Yeah. Can’t argue with that.” Leaning down, he kisses me lightly. “I love you.”
The shock of the words ripples through me, followed by joy so big, it feels like it might burst through my skin. I surge upwards, wrapping my arms tight around his neck and scrambling to straddle him as I kiss him until it seems like we might become one person instead of two.
It’s still not enough.
Eventually, though, I need to breathe, and I pull back and rest my forehead on his shoulder. “I love you too,” I mumble, then, because he deserves a loud, strong declaration, I lift my head and look him in the eye. “I love you. So much.”
My happiness is reflected back at me in his face, and we grin foolishly at each other… then kiss some more.
When my calf starts to cramp, I break the kiss and slide off his lap so I can sit properly, snuggling up against his side as I stretch my legs out in front of me. I’m wearing my comfiest faded old pajama bottoms and an equally soft old tee, thanks to Calla knowing exactly what I’d need, and I consider staying in them all day.
