Page 65 of Blood of Vengeance

I took a deep breath and gave the living room one last look. A blanket lay draped across the back of the small couch that matched the handful of pillows I’d bought. Framed images of the desert around us hung under glass on the walls, all giving life to what had been a single-note color scheme. I had even added a rug to ground the space and keep everything from looking too bachelor pad, though I wouldn’t say I’d added a feminine touch. More…softened the rough edges.

“Ready.” I gave Zella a hug as she and Rush—my two partners in crime—headed out to the porch to meet Flinch. I stood in the room and waited, unsure if he’d like what I’d done or not.

“Short stack?” Flinch peeked inside, likely wondering why things seemed so weird tonight. Why I wasn’t outside with the others to greet him.

“Hey.” I linked my hands together and crossed my legs at the ankle, knowing my posture screamed how nervous I felt. “Welcome home.”

He frowned then looked past me, his eyes going wide. I stared as he took it all in—the rug, the blanket, the pillows, the lamps, and art. All the little details I’d picked up for him, playing completely off his already established color scheme.

“What did you do?” he asked softly.

“Do you like it?”

“I do.” He stepped toward me slowly, still looking over the room. Keeping his voice soft as he asked, “How did you do this?”

“Rush took us shopping.”

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in tight. “He better have paid.”

“I paid.” I shivered at his answering growl, loving the way the sound seemed to reach through my soul and tug on something deep within me. “Though, technically, I paid with your money.”

“How’s that?”

“You’ve been giving me cash all week.”

“That was for you.” He frowned, his brows pulling tight. “All that money was for you.”

“It was too much—I couldn’t possibly spend it all, so I bought you a few things.”

He sighed but hugged me tighter. “Well, thank you. No one’s ever been so thoughtful. And the room—I love it.”

“You do?”

“Absolutely. I hope you do, too. It’s your space and not just mine.”

Stomach butterflies…I had them.

“I do like it—it’s still your style but more comfy and personal. But there’s more.” I grabbed his hand and tugged, leading him down the hall to his bedroom. “Just…keep an open mind.”

I let him pass me, watching as he looked around. This was the space I had spent the most on. Another new rug, soft bedding, new pillows, curtains, an actual headboard. I had completely redecorated this room, even putting in a few touches that were far more my style than his. The space had become an amalgamation of the two of us, and I worried he wouldn’t like it.

“Locklyn,” he said, that growl coming through plain as day. He closed the door, the quiet snick of the handset engaging like a gunshot in the room. The tension growing between us.

Breathing hard, I answered with a soft, “Yeah?”

“Where’s Zella?”

That question stunned me stupid for about three seconds. “Uh…outside with Rush.”

“Good.” With speed I had no idea he was capable of, he lunged and picked me up by the backs of the thighs, flinging both of us onto the new duvet. I landed with a giggle, clinging to him. Loving the feel of his weight on top of me.

“Flinch, what are you?—”

“This is amazing,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. The moment suddenly heavy with an intimacy I hadn’t expected.

I ran my hands through his hair, staring up into those light eyes I had come to care about so much. My heart wanting to beat right out of my chest. “You like it?”

“I love it.” He stared down at me, body relaxing. “And I love you for putting in so much effort just to make me happy.”

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