“Willow, stop.”
“I swear, I wasn’t going to take the money now—that’s what I was arguing with my mother about. And the house—that was just .?.?. I swear it’s not what it looks like, Dallas. I can explaineverything.”
He catches my face, swiping away my tears, shushing me. “I know, honey.” I fall onto his chest and he holds me close, his heart thudding fast and hard. He murmurs against my head, “I know you can, and I’ll let you—just not tonight.”
Between my fear of losing Ellie and the residual shock of my questioning, I tremble in his arms. He swears, kissing the top of my head, then my temple, my tear-streaked face. “I’m sorry I couldn’t control it, Sunset.” Then finally, my lips. “I’m so sorry I let this happen.” He lifts me off my feet and carries me to his bedroom.
Our bedroom. Where he lays me on the bed and strips me of everything but my undergarments. Then helps me into one of his T-shirts. His scent wraps around me, instantly calming me, like he knew it would.
Stripping himself, he slides under the covers with me. “You’re safe here,” he assures me. “You’re home. So why don’t you close your eyes for me and get some rest.”
I fall asleep like that. In his arms. His warmth.
When I wake up, it’s still pitch-black outside, but I’m too restless. Feeling like I might burst out of my skin, I sit up.
Dallas groans beside me, eyes fluttering open and finding mine. “What is it?”
“I can’t sleep.”
He grunts, twisting. “Tomorrow. No more questioning today.”
I nod. “Can you do me a favor?”
He groans. “Now?”
Five minutes later, he’s carrying Ellie in from her bedroom, setting her between us.
I smile for the first time all day. “Thank you.”
“We’ll get her back, Sunset, I promise.”
“How can you be sure?”
He slides back in. “Because I’ve been where he is. Nothing makes sense and every decision you make is destructive. He’ll realize his mistakes. He’ll right his wrongs.”
“You really think so?”
“Honey, I hope so.” He leans over and kisses my forehead. “Now, let’s hit the hay,” he winks, flashing me a grin that could melt steel.
The next morning, I explain everything to my husband over coffee on the back porch. The dream house. The pressure from my mother. The OKIgave her after signing the prenup—my moment of weakness—and when I called changing my mind.
He listens, reacting only slightly to everything I tell him. Muscles tightening, in a way that shields me, not blames me.
“I looked up the Lakeview Estates last night.” He winks at me, moving his eyes to the view in front of us. “Think I got them beat.”
I laugh. “No comparison.”
He takes my hand, bringing it to his lips.
I breathe in the air. “In fact, the minute I stepped foot in this house, I knew nothing could ever compare.” I watch Ellie out in the yard. Guilt mists my eyes again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I wasn’t going to take the money based on a fake marriage. It wouldn’t be fair to Grandma. It felt like cheating her. That, and .?.?. I wanted this to only be about you and Ellie. Helping you was enough for me.” I swallow, feeling ashamed about my insecurities. “After I signed the prenup, it triggered something I’ve been fighting for a while. That I’ll always be alone. I’ll never have that partner in life to be my equal.” I bite my lip. “And something I tried to prove after Eric attacked me. That I can take care of myself.”
He searches my face. “Willow, I’ll always be on your side. Your partner, your equal. In everything. But I’ll never stop protecting you. Taking care of you. That’s .?.?. non-negotiable.”
I smile. “I can live with that.”
