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I grab a throw pillow and swat my husband in the head with it as Lyons snickers. Jim grabs the pillow and pulls it from me, resting it on the other side of the couch. Then his gaze bounces between myself and Lyons. “I want every detail about what went down.”

Lyons and I take turns filling my husband in about how Marco, Lyons and I used to be inseparable. About what a great man my dad was. About the investigation my dad did into Santoro, and how we were all clueless that Marco was working for him until it was too late. How there was no way my dad’s shooting was random, and how we’re both convinced Marco started the fire that burned down my house. Every last painful detail, until there was nothing left inside me. All of it, out in the open.

Jim gets up and paces. “So, you’re saying you don’t think Santoro or this Marco fucker will come after Taya? How can either of you be sure?”

Lyons leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasps his hands together. “At the end of the day, we can’t be sure. That’s why I’ve been trying to keep tabs on him.”

I sit up straight and jump in to attempt to relieve some of the worry my husband is obviously feeling, judging by the wrinkles in his forehead. “There’s really no reason to believe they would. They have no idea I found my dad’s cloud storage and was able to retrieve info about Santoro and Marco from it. All they know is I turned whatever I’d found prior over to Lyons, then disappeared.”

Jim stops pacing and sits back down next to me, pulling my head onto his shoulder when I yawn. “Maybe we should continue this tomorrow night? I could bring the team in on this too.”

I jerk my head up and frown. “I thought we would go over the DVD tonight.”

Once again, Jim and Lyons perform some of that silent guy communication over my head before Lyons rises to his feet. “I don’t see what one more day can hurt. Plus, I’m all in favor of any reinforcements we can get.”

Jim nods. “Need a place to crash tonight?”

Lyons shakes his head. “Appreciate the offer, but I’m good. Already paid up on a hotel down by the water. I’m looking forward to opening my windows and sleeping to the sound of waves.”

I stand up and Lyons hugs me tight. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you. So good to see you.”

I sink back onto the couch and twist sideways while Jim walks Lyons to the door, where they exchange numbers. Jim tucks the phone back into his pocket and opens the front door. “I’ll text you tomorrow once I’ve got a time that works for everyone.”

“Sounds good. Oh and, Taya?” Lyons says.

“Yes?”

“I know you didn’t ask, but I think you did good here.” He motions his head to Jim, flips me a thumbs-up, and then strolls outside.

When the door clicks shut, Jim turns to me with his head cocked. “Am I missing something, or did your friend just give me his stamp of approval?”

“I don’t think you’re missing anything.” Lyons has always been a little overprotective, so him taking to Jim so easily is completely unexpected. I’m thrilled that my best friend and my husband seem to have an instant affinity for one another.

Jim collapses onto the couch next to me and his hand snakes down to reach for mine. “There’s a lot to process, but that’s not a bad thing.”

The uncertain waver in his usually deep baritone tugs at my heart. In all of the excitement about seeing Lyons and recounting my story, I’d never had a chance to comment on his. I wrap my arm around his waist and snuggle up next to him, burying my nose in his shirt and inhaling his warm, spicy scent. “Definitely a good thing. No more secrets, deal?”

His big body shudders before he squeezes me tight. “Deal.”

We cuddle like that for a few minutes, with his arms wrapped around me and my ear pressed to his chest, rising and lowering with each of his breaths.

He shifts his weight. Coughs. Clears his throat. “So, um, exactly how tired are you?”

With that one sentence, my body zings to life. “Not as tired, now that you asked me that question.” I press my lips to his warm neck and nip his sun-kissed skin gently.

He shivers before pushing me a foot or so away. “Hold that thought—please—but I actually wanted to ask you something else. Something important.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jim

Taya stares upat me with a combination of anticipation and trepidation. Feelings echo inside of me. I twirl around the small, velvet box in my pocket until my fingers clench around the case, squeezing the life out of it.

My wife tilts her head. “What?”

In truth, she deserves better than me, someone who makes her feel safe and cherished. Someone whom she can be proud of. I want to be that person in the worst way.

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