Page 80 of Love Finds Home

I yank her to me, kissing her with everything I have. I pour all of my feelings into that kiss. The sadness, the fear, the longing. The love.

When I pull back, I stare into her eyes. Eyes that know me. That see me. “Joker said Mom’s not sick,” I tell her, referring to the text that woke me up.

“I could have told you that. Your brother might be alright looking since he’s like a mini-you, but he’s not too bright, is he?”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“I get to be the judge of that, now don’t I?”

“I’m terrified something is going to happen to you and I won’t be there to stop it.”

“I know.” She leans forward and kisses my cheek. “And I promise not to do anything stupid.”

“I love you.”

The world stops. The only two people that exist are Elle and me. I wait for the panic. The sweats. Anything that tells me I just fucked up. But it doesn’t come, and I smile.

“I fucking love you,” I say again, laughing.

It’s Elle’s turn to cry, but the happiness radiating out of those eyes makes me smile even bigger.

“I love you too, you asshole,” she giggles. “So fucking much.”

And then there’s no more talking. But what a way to wake up in the morning.

Chapter 29

Elle

Ranger had to goout on a job tonight. Some quick thing to catch a thief or something. He wasn’t really open about it. He doesn’t talk about his PI stuff very often. I sometimes forget he does it. But he did take me on a stakeout last week and that was fun. Making out in the truck was even better. And at the end of the night, he had his cheating husband caught red-handed and a soon to be ex-wife vindicated. All in a day’s work, right?

But the former asshole can be a sweet man, too. He didn’t want to leave me alone or dump me at Davis’s or Tiny’s house, so he arranged for Ginny to come hang with me tonight. He called and pre-ordered and paid for the pizza, made sure there was Diet Coke and beer in the fridge, and I think if I look hard enough, I’ll find some of my favorite coconut rum in the cabinet. The man even called Ginny himself to make the arrangements.

Before he left, he asked if I’d be okay here, at the apartment, said he’d cancel the job if I didn’t feel safe. There hasn’t beenanything happening. It’s been over two weeks since the studio incident. Joker reported they didn’t find anything and that they still have a man on Stefon, just in case. I’m starting to wonder if it was a big joke from someone I know, or a party guest who got a little too drunk that night.

With all that in mind, I told him I’d be okay at home as long as Ginny is with me. I don’t mind the apartment these days, but Ranger has pretty much been glued to my side for weeks and I’m never here alone. He also knows that the minute Ginny decides to go home, if he isn’t back yet, I’ll sneak over to the studio where I feel safe. I’ve also given him shit about never going to his place. He’s got a whole ass house! His ears get red and he cuffs the back of his neck in the cutest motion and tells me it’s not up to my standards, but he’s working on it. I don’t know what my standards are, or what he thinks they are, but I just roll my eyes at him and move on.

We invited Trish and Lottie, but they are both still firmly in their newlywed phases and declined. I’m not upset, I’ve seen this before. This is the phase of life where friendships either fall apart or become stronger because you cherish the time you get together more. I mean, Trish is about to be a mommy for the first time! I don’t blame her for wanting to spend all her time soaking up the pampering from Davis. And Tiny has Nat to dote on now, and who could ever tell that little girl no? I know I can’t. And now that I’m the official cool aunt? She’s going to be spoiled rotten. I have to believe that Tiny’s paying all the attention to Nat or I get sick to my stomach. I’ve seen what him and Lottie get up to, and I never need to see it again. Ever.

Even Ginny is moving into a different phase of her life. She’s got a ring and is looking at the future. And me? I’m blissfully happy right where things are. I don’t need them to change right now, or anytime soon. Hell, I don’t know that either of us will ever want to get married again. After what Ranger went through,I don’t hold that against him at all. I wouldn’t want to step into a position where I could be hurt like that, even if I’d never be the one to do it. I hope he knows that.

When the doorbell rings, I throw open the door and there’s Ginny with a bottle of rum in hand. She knows the way to my heart. Bonus, I’ll still have mine in the cabinet. Con, she wants something and is using the rum as a bribe.

“Fuck.” I hang my head and sigh. “What do you want to know?”

Laughing, she shakes her head as she walks through the door. “I brought it just in case we need it.”

“Do we? Need it?”

“I might.” She shrugs her shoulders.

There’s definitely something going on with her.

“Well, come on then. How about we start with pizza and beer?”

“And Ranger information,” she adds, pulling plates from my cabinet as I open the pizza boxes.

We load our plates with the cheesy, saucy goodness and I look from her to the table to the couch and back again.

---