Page 128 of Exile and Embrace

I’ve killed people without blinking. I rushed into shoot outs and didn’t think twice.

For years, I put my life at risk without a second thought, but when it comes to getting engaged to the woman I love, all I have are thoughts.

Ava is too good for me, that’s always been true, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to be good enough for her.

Ava hums along with the music as I drive down a winding road later that evening.

The window is down, strands of her hair blowing around her face. Sunlight highlights the different colors in her hair, making her look like an angel come down to Earth.

She turns down the music and looks over at me. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?”

I take her hand in mine, drifting my thumb over her knuckles. “As nice as it has been to stay with your family over the last few days, I thought it was time to head home.”

Ava tilts her head back and closes her eyes. “Home sounds nice. I’ve missed home.”

I take in the fading bruises on her face as we come to a red light.

My chest clenches tight each time I look at them.

Those bruises are a reminder of what I will never allow to happen again.

Ava is mine, and I’ll be damned if anyone ever tries to put their hands on her again.

Oregon is safe for us.

I bring her hand to my lips, kissing the back of it. “I thought that you would have called Tennessee home.”

She shakes her head, shifting to tuck her legs beneath her on the seat. “No. It stopped being home when I moved to Oregon with you. Once we saw those redwoods, I was sure that Oregon was home.”

As soon as the light turns green, I head down the road and take a right turn toward the highway.

Ava rolls up her window and leans her head on my shoulder. “I’m going to nap for a thousand years once we get home.”

“I don’t think Zoe is going to let you do that. She’s going to want you to call her as soon as we get there.”

Ava’s full lips press together in a thin line. “She’s going to keep blaming herself for Declan kidnapping me. I’ve tried to tell her that it wasn’t her fault probably a hundred times already, but she won’t listen to me.”

“She’s not going to.” I squeeze her hand, trying to offer her what little reassurance I can. “She’ll get past it, though. She’ll wake up one day and finally be ready to put that behind her.”

“I know.” Ava shifts, moving her head off me and glancing out the window. “I thought we were going home. Why did you just take the exit?”

I let go of her hand to mime locking my mouth shut.

Ava laughs and settles back in her seat. “And here I thought you hated messing up a plan. Which, speaking of plan, did you remember to grab my things in your leave-Tennessee-without-warning plan?”

“Zoe loaded up your bags before we left. She thought that getting back to Oregon and putting all of this behind you would be good too.”

“Of course, she did.” Ava’s slight gasp rises above the music as I turn into a small town. “Now we’re taking an even bigger detour?”

“You wanted to do some exploring the first time we went to Oregon together, and we didn’t have time. I was thinking that this time could be different. I’ve booked a hotel in town, and then several others along the way. We can spend as much time exploring as you want.”

Her smile is worth the hours of planning this trip took. It makes the butterflies in my stomach erupt, sending my heart racing.

It’s the same way I always feel when I look at her.

It’s a feeling I know will never fade.

When we come to another red light, Ava leans over and kisses me. She nips at my bottom lip before her tongue slides into my mouth, tangling with mine.

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