Page 24 of Darling Bride

“Allison and Cash?”

He jerks his head in a nod. “Yeah. It’s good.”

“Yeah,” I say. “It’s good.”

We walk out to his truck. The moon hangs low and the stars glitter the way they do over Sovereign Mountain. We grew up together in these mountains. We shared our blood, sweat, and tears over the last three decades. It fits that after all this time, our kids are sweet on each other.

Sovereign gets in his truck. “See you.”

I lift my hand. “Later.”

He backs out and stops. “You tell me if Cash doesn’t get her back at a reasonable time.”

“Will do.”

He peels out and I go back inside, sliding the lock down. Diane is in the kitchen, I can hear her radio going. We’re alone for the night, at least for the next few hours. I hang up my hat next to River’s in the hall and head into the kitchen. She’s wiping down the table.

“Come here, darling,” I say.

She looks up, frowning. “What’s this?”

“I said, come here, darling.”

She sets the rag aside and comes, hesitantly. I reach behind her and turn the radio up. It’s Hank Williams, a slow tune. Her face goes pink as I slide my hand around her waist and pull her near. She was so pretty when I met her all those years ago, but somehow, tonight, she’s the prettiest she’s ever been.

“What’s gotten into you?” she asks.

“Nothing,” I say. “I’m romantic like this.”

She snorts. “No, you’re not. But I do like it.”

I weave one hand through hers, her soft, small hand covered in mine. We sway slowly and deep inside, I know this is what it was all for. All the darkness, the brokenness. The violence that left behind a permanent stain on my hands. It all came down to this moment, where I hold the woman I’ve loved for over a decade and a half in my arms. And all is right for tonight.

The radio crackles. The signal is poor out here some days. She sighs and sinks deeper and I rub her upper back in slow strokes.

She’s safe. She’s happy. She got to choose her future.

She turns her head to look up at me. “I honestly thought you were going to just throw me on the bed the minute the house was empty.”

“Well, hold on,” I say. “The night is young.”

The song tapers down. There’s a lull in the music and I reach back and turn it off.

“Now it’s time for me to throw you on the bed,” I say.

She steps back and that look steals over her face. My stomach swoops and the front of my pants go tight. Quick as a flash, I snag her arm, but she turns and dashes up the hall. It takes me two strides to wrap my arm around her waist and another stride to toss her over my shoulder.

We might have been married for over a decade, but we still know how to make the bed frame slam into the wall. I work my way from her feet to her head, leaving kisses and bite marks all over her perfect skin. Just when she thinks I’m all done, I take her for a second round.

It’s about eleven when the front door opens. I’m shirtless, in my sweats, propped up on the headboard. Diane is in her slip and dressing gown, rubbing cream into her face just inside the bathroom door.

We both freeze and our eyes meet.

“Should I go say goodnight?” she whispers.

I shake my head, then nod. “Yeah, I think so. If it didn’t go well, she’ll probably want to talk.”

She adjusts her clothes. “Do I look like I just had sex?”

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