Page 77 of Under My Skin

Melissa got up and walked over to the shoe display a few yards away. After perusing a little bit, she selected a box and walked back over to us.

“Try these with it,” she said, opening the shoebox and pulling out a pair of gorgeous silver heeled sandals. “I know you said no stilettos, but a block heel is okay, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I just would prefernotto trip over my own two feet and fall flat on my face in the middle of the red carpet.”

“Aww, you’re no fun,” she joked, playfully sticking her tongue out at me.

My text alert interrupted the conversation, so I pulled my phone out of my purse to check the message just as it went off a second time. And what I found just confirmed that all of Braden and I’s concerns were one hundred percent valid. It was a message from a blocked number containing a picture of all four of us standing here critiquing the last dress I’d tried on, which looked like it had been taken from the parking lot. Where neither one of my security team would have been able to see it happening since they were both in here with us.

And the message underneath? It made my blood run cold.

Blocked

No matter how much you spend on fancy dresses, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a lowlife whore. I WILL make you pay for stealing Braden from me. Even if you hide behind an entire army, I’ll still find a way to get to you…when you least expect it.

When I walked back into Braden’s house, shopping and garment bags in hand, I just sank down onto the couch and buried my head in my hands, trying desperately not to break down in tears.

Wasone fucking daytoo much to ask for? After everything Braden and I had been through – all the heartache that we’dsuffered at the hands of this unhinged woman – couldn’t I just haveonedamn day of peace? One day to hang out with my best friend and get to know two of the most important women in my boyfriend’s life? One day when I could just be a normal twenty-two-year-old? One day when I didn’t have to panic over how I was going to keep my son safe? One day when there wasn’t the lingering question in the back of my mind about whether my love for Braden would end up being the cause of my death?

Braden sat down next to me and pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head and combing his fingers through my hair. I melted into his embrace, sliding my arms around his waist, and for several long, peaceful minutes, neither of us said anything. He was just there. Holding me. Giving me the solace his arms had always provided. Not asking questions or demanding an explanation. Somehow just knowing exactly what I needed in this moment even though I hadn’t uttered a word.

“You’re not going to ask me what happened?” I finally sniffed.

“Not unless you’re ready to tell me.” He pressed his lips to my hairline. “Take as long as you need, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”

Taking a deep breath, I pulled out of his arms and grabbed my purse, retrieving my phone. And without another word, I pulled up the message and handed the device to him. He looked at the screen for a few seconds, then blew out a breath and tossed the phone on the coffee table before turning toward me and cupping my cheek in his hand.

“Mírame, Dani,” he murmured.Look at me, Dani.

My eyes immediately snapped to his, wide with shock. “Since when do you speak Spanish?”

He chuckled and leaned forward to brush his lips over mine. “Since I decided to start taking an online course so I could speak it with Isaac. And you. I’ve learned a few phrases outside of mylessons, and that was one of them.” His thumb stroked over my cheekbone. “The two of you are my whole world now. And I’m not going to let anything happen to either one of you. I will fight until my last breath to protect you. Do you hear me?”

I nodded and took a shaky breath as my stomach clenched with nausea. “I’m scared, Braden. I’m scared that wecan’tfight this. That she’s not going to stop until we’re dead. That she’s just waiting for one of us to let our guard down so she can strike.”

“Come here, beautiful,” he whispered, pulling me over to straddle his legs, kissing my temple, and holding me close. “You’re safe here. I promise.”

“The only time I’ve really felt safe since this started is when I’m in your arms,” I confessed. “The only time I’ve feltsanesince Amara died has been when I’m with you. Even when I tried to deny it. Even when I wanted to hate you with every fiber of my being. My heart knew the truth all along, even when my mind tried so hard to fight it.”

“Because we were always supposed to end up here,” he said softly. “I have to believe that. I have to believe that no matter what, we would have found our way to each other. And I have to believe that we wouldn’t have gone through all this shit if there wasn’t a happy ending waiting for us on the other side of it.”

I smiled, despite the tears stinging my eyes and the lump rising in my throat. “I just wish we could see it now. See what the future is going to look like when this is over.”

Braden pushed me back just far enough that he could look into my eyes. “Icansee it. I see you graduating from med school at the top of your class and becoming an amazing doctor. I see you walking down the aisle toward me, looking more beautiful than ever, and us promising each other forever. And I see Isaac having brothers and sisters one day, when you’re ready. I know it’s too soon to start thinking about most of that right now, but maybe we can take a baby step toward it. Something thatmight make you feel safer while we’re dealing with this mess and maybe help you see that happy ending a little clearer. If you’re game.”

I cocked my head to the side. “What kind of baby step?”

“I’m probably going to butcher this, but…” He took a deep breath. “¿Te mudarás conmigo?”Will you move in with me?

Letting out a watery giggle, I sniffled and wiped the tears from my cheeks, then crashed my lips to his, pouring everything I had into it. All my love, awe, fear, shock, and maybe most importantly, trust. His tongue traced the curve of my bottom lip, asking for entrance, and I immediately opened for him, letting our tongues twist and tangle around each other. Taking this one moment of pure joy amid the chaos we were living in.

“Sí,” I whispered.Yes.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

BRADEN

FOUR DAYS LATER

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