Page 137 of The Wrecked One

“I didn’t know you all existed,” I explained as I moved away from the doorway so Oliver and the detective could join us. “I found out a few days ago.”

“It’s really you.” Adelina covered her mouth before unleashing the tears, and when she lifted her hands up, I spied the Glock holstered at her side.

“It’s me.” I broke into tears again, and went to her since she’d yet to budge, wrapping my arms around her. She finally loosened up and hugged me back.

“We kept our house here hoping one day you’d come back,” my mom said from behind me, her thick Italian accent music to my ears. And I’d swear a distant memory reached through the chaos in my mind. A memory of her singing to me as a child.

Once Adelina and I untangled ourselves from our hug, I looked over to see Oliver blotting tears from his face, eyes red. Then I turned my attention to my parents and hiked up one shoulder. “I finally made it home.”

54

MYA

TWO WEEKS LATER

My stubbornness must have been as much nature as nurture, because my parents didn’t give a damn about their safety, refusing to let me out of their sight after I’d shared my story with them. Unable to go to their home, Oliver had made arrangements to set my parents and sister up at our safe house, and I’d spent the last fourteen days getting to know my family.

Having Oliver there with me for this journey had been incredible. And while I hadn’t inherited my mother’s incredible cooking skills, she’d ensured we were all more than well-fed every single night, and Oliver never once grumpified as a result.

Oliver came up behind me, circling his hands around my waist, taking in the view of the vineyard outside our window from the second floor of our safe house. As far as safe houses went, Carter had really hooked us up with one of the most romantic ones.

I lifted my chin to catch his mouth over my shoulder for a kiss, then asked him, “How’d your call go?” Returning my attention to the window, Oliver set his chin on top of my head, continuing to hold me.

“I think it went well. She says I’m a quick study. I guess that’s a good thing.” He lightly laughed, the sound physically moving through me.

“No nightmares in five straight days. How many more days until you’ll sleep in the same bed with me? Ballpark guess?”

“As many as it takes, missy, until I’m sure you’re safe next to me,” he said in a playful voice.

I’d set Oliver up with my therapist, Doctor Riley Logan, nearly the day after my family decided to bunk with us. I didn’t want him to postpone his healing because of our current situation. He could get better while I did as well. We didn’t need to take turns. We were in this together.

“Sure it’s not a little fear of my dad’s reaction to you corrupting his daughter that’s keeping you from sleeping in the room with me?” I turned into his arms, and he held on to my waist while tipping his head to meet my eyes. “Kidding.”

“Sure you are, buttercup.” He leaned in and softly kissed me. “And I’m actually terrified, to be honest.”

“Sure you are,” I returned, which won me another kiss. This one with tongue, and a promise of what was to come later in bed before he ding-dong-ditched pre-midnight and went to his room.

The fact I could joke like that in my head without missing a beat had me feeling hopeful I was truly on the mend. I was becoming myself again. Well, the real me now that I knew who I was—Mya Cattaneo.

“Guess who interrupted my call with some news, though.” He brought one hand to my face, his knuckles tracing the line of my cheekbone before he swept my hair behind my ear. “I have a stepmother.”

“What?” I gasped.

“Dad decided life is short, and he and Cindy eloped.”

“Um.” I frowned.

“What?” Why was he so casual about this?

“Are you okay? I mean, I assume you’d want to be at their wedding. Just making sure you don’t feel, well . . .” You know.

“I’d be grumpy about it if he didn’t ask me if I was okay with him eloping first. He was willing to wait if I asked him to. I agreed with him. Said life is short and go for it. They promised we’ll have a real celebration when we make good on our promise to come back to visit, but as a couple staying at Vanessa and Malcolm’s inn.”

“So, Vanessa finally convinced him to turn it back into a B and B?” I slung my arms over his shoulders, drawing myself closer to him, and was my guy aroused? I chewed on my lip, dropping my eyes between us to seek out confirmation.

His linen pants—a new look for him courtesy of my dad insisting upon it—left nothing to the imagination. They rarely did when it came to erections.

Oh yeah, you’re turned on. “Thinking about how we’ll spend our time in their suite, are you?” I teased before he could answer me.

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