Page 119 of Talk Wicked to Me

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Her heart screamed Yes! but when it came to Brennan, her mama brain was driving the train. “I love you even more for wanting us to be there with you, but we can’t go. It’s too much with Brennan. He’s finally on a schedule, and I’m just getting my arms around living this big, beautiful life the three of us have created. I used to be afraid of everything, and you showed me how magical life could be. I don’t want to travel thousands of miles and get scared all over again and mess up how far we’ve come. That wouldn’t be fair to you or Brennan.” She wound her arms around him. “But I love you more than life itself.”

He held her tight. “I’m going to miss you so damn much.”

“Me too, but I know that even if you’re not physically here, you’re always here.” She put her hand over her own heart.

“How about here?” He kissed her lips.

“Always.”

“And here?” He kissed her neck.

“While you’re away, I’ll be thinking about your mouth on a lot of places, but don’t go any lower, because your mom might be watching us out the window.”

He chuckled. “Then I’ll save the best parts for later.”

“I’m holding you to that, but speaking of later, Marco wants to come over to talk after we have dinner with your parents.”

His jaw clenched.

“He’s getting married, and his fiancée, Andrea, will be there, too. They don’t want custody or even a visitation schedule. He just doesn’t want Brennan growing up thinking his birth father didn’t want him. I don’t know what that’ll look like, and I don’t think he does, either, but I’d like to talk about it with you, and I’d really like you to be there with me when I talk with him.”

“Of course I’ll be there. I’m glad he’s stepping up. I don’t want Little B thinking anyone doesn’t want him. But I’m going to have him checked out before he gets a second alone with Brennan.”

“Okay. Thank you. But let’s both try to stay on the rails this time.”

“Your ex, your rules, darlin’.”

“Really?”

“No promises, but I’ll try.”

“In that case, does the whole my-whatever-my-rules thing apply to my bedroom, too?”

He flashed a wolfish grin. “If it involves me on my knees eating my favorite meal, then absolutely.” He threaded his fingers into her hair, drawing her into a kiss so full of heat and hope and a love so pure and true, she wanted to disappear into it. He brushed his lips over hers. “What time are you meeting Elliott?”

“I rescheduled.”

His eyes flamed. “We have the afternoon to ourselves?”

“Sort of. We have Brennan.”

“I think Brennan would love a couple of hours with Granny Gingy. Come on.” He took her hand, walking swiftly toward the house.

“What are we doing?” she asked with a laugh.

“Getting my mom to babysit.” He stopped walking and turned the hottest, most loving gaze on her. “We survived our first tiff, and I finally got to tell you I love you. We’re due some epic makeup sex, which calls for my bedroom, my rules.”

Thrills darted through her. “I like the way you think, Dr. Wicked.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

EMERSON FINISHED DRYING her hair the morning of the Suicide-Awareness Rally, thinking about the roller coaster of a week they’d had. The conversation with Marco and Andrea had been nerve-racking, but it had gone better than she could have hoped. Marco had come prepared to relinquish his parental rights, which had floored them, but Emerson breathed easier knowing he didn’t plan to seek custody in the future. In turn, Marco wanted Brennan to be told the truth about who his biological father was, and they’d agreed to keep lines of communication open as Brennan got older, in case he wanted to meet Marco. Baz’s friend Justice, an attorney and a Dark Knight, had connected them with a family-practice lawyer who had drawn up the necessary documents to make it all legal. They’d gotten the notarized documents back yesterday, and once Baz was home from Indonesia, they’d talk with his friend Tasha about how best to handle things with Brennan as he got older.

Dealing with that situation was hard, and she knew today would be difficult, too. They’d stayed up late the last couple of nights talking about Ashley and about how emotional the event would be for everyone. She was glad she would be there to support Baz and his family. Baz had been worried about what feelings such an emotional day might stir in her. She knew she’d get emotional, but without the guilt that had previously weighed her down and with how much closer she felt to her parents after the video calls and going through their things, she wasn’t afraid of the emotions. Everything she and Baz had been through had strengthened their relationship, and she knew that together they could get through anything.

She put away the hair dryer, put on makeup, and took one last look in the mirror. She was wearing the green sundress Baz had bought her. It was easy to nurse in, and she wanted to look nice for the event. It also had the added benefit of the wonderful memories they’d created in it. They’d seen the proofs from the photo shoot, and the love resonating from them was inescapable. Baz had ordered enough copies to share with his family and their friends. When she’d sent the digital proofs to Gwen, she’d been thrilled to learn her parents were there with her.

She went to get Baz’s cut from the rocking chair, where he’d left it Wednesday night. He had to get to the clubhouse to meet the rest of the Dark Knights for the ride that preceded the rally. She heard Brennan giggling and reveled in the sound as she left the bedroom. She saw Baz lying on the living room floor across from Brennan, who was on his belly on a blanket beside Ollie. The three of them had their heads together, and she could hear Baz whispering but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Whatever it was held Brennan’s and Ollie’s rapt attention, which was freaking adorable. She loved moments like this. Knowing how much she’d miss them while Baz was overseas, she hung back, unseen, soaking it in.