I have no idea how I wandered into this spectacular life of mine, this one-in-a-million kind of love.Or why I got so damn lucky.I’m just grateful that I did.
I’m infinitely proud of the man my husband is.And I love him so much that I’m tearing up just watching him have a normal, everyday chat with Mary, because that man over there is mine.
He did not let me go.I’m worth that much to him.
“You okay, honey?”
I catch myself and quickly look at the menu.“It’s a shame it’s not meatloaf special day, since I know Declan would love it.”
“It’s not our special but we still have it.”
I look up.“You do?”
“Honey, there’d be a riot in this town if we didn’t offer it every day.”
I close my menu and nod to Declan that I got this.“Then we’ll have two meatloaf not-specials and two chocolate milkshakes, thank you,” I say.
When Mary’s gone, Declan reaches over and grabs my hand.He stares at me, like he can’t believe I’m real.Then he grins.“I see you’re wearing your deluxe-wedding-package, gold-plated ring.”
“I am,” I acknowledge.
Then he lifts his left hand and wiggles his fingers.“So am I.”
“I’m glad.”And I really am.
We chat about a lot of things, but he isn’t asking me about what happened in the prison.I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about it, but I can see the bone-deep exhaustion in his eyes.He’s been crushed by worry—worry that I made him carry.He probably hasn’t had much sleep in the last few days.
Running off was a shitty thing to do to him.
I ask him how they tracked me down, and I think he’s enjoying giving me the play-by-play.But I look around to see that the place is starting to get crowded and I’m not sure he should be telling me all this.
“Stop,” I tell him, lowering my voice.“Are you sure it’s okay to tell me about all the hacking you did?I thought you couldn’t talk about your work.”
He grins.“It wasn’t for work.It was for you.”
He assures me that the new kayak I used for my getaway was found undamaged and that Special K has already retrieved it.I’m glad to hear that, since I know that thing cost a fortune.Then he tells me about Jasmine’s boss-lady phone call, and it cracks me up.But hearing how everyone at the ranch is losing their shit without me is too much.
I almost cry.But I’m rescued by the meatloaf.And it’s delicious.Declan is a big fan.
We walk next door to the motel, and I let Declan inside.There’s really no maid service here, so it’s a mess, but Declan doesn’t mind.
I want him.He wants me.But I rest my palm on his chest.
“I need a scalding hot shower.I don’t want to be carrying around the stink of that place when I’m with you.”
I walk into the bathroom and turn around when I notice he’s not following me.
“Coming?”
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted to be alone.”He says it in a way that makes it obvious he doesn’t know what end is up or what’s coming next.
I reach out my hand to him.He joins me in front of the big mirror, and we strip off each other’s clothes.It’s not the world’s largest shower, and he’s a MacLaine, so there’s no room for acrobatics in here even if we were up for it.
We aren’t.We’re both exhausted.
So we simply stand under the hot water, holding each other tightly as the steam rises around us.I run my hands over the slick muscles of his back, shoulders, and arms and then squeeze him as tight as I can.
I lean into him.I let him hold me up, carry my weight.Not because I’m too weak to stand on my own, but because I know it makes him happy to do this.Declan loves protecting me, and he needs to know that he can.
