Page 66 of Smitten with the Single Dad

“I’ll see her to the gate,” Dom said, walking briskly as Myla drove slowly toward the closed gate.

“I’m going to come back over tomorrow too and check on everyone,” Justine said. “In the meantime, ibuprofen for aches and pains, but not on an empty stomach.”

Vica and Wyatt nodded.

After a few more hugs all around, Vica, Wyatt, and the boys headed into the house. He’d never been so freaking happy to be home in all his life. However, the thought of having to sleep on an air mattress sat uncomfortably at the back of his mind.

“Even though Griffon doesn’t have to shower, I certainly want one,” Vica said with a yawn. Her gaze landed on Wyatt’s. “You’ve been through a lot.”

“So have you.”

“Yes, but …” Her lips twisted. “You should have your bed. I do not want you sleeping on that inflatable mattress with how sore you will be tomorrow.”

It’s like she could read his mind. This woman was so incredibly sweet, it was unbelievable.

He shook his head even though his body tried to argue with his brain. “I’ll be okay. I can always go crash on the couch.”

“No, Wyatt,” she said, her voice holding some authority to it that he quite liked. “I won’t take no for an answer. I will sleep on the couch. You take your bed. Please. We are in this mess because of me, it is the least I can do. Take your bed. Even if you don’t, I will sleep on the couch anyway.” She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the most adorable, stubborn little glare.

He chuckled. “Go shower, Vica.”

“Then, I will come and sleep on the couch.”

“Not if I’m sleeping there first.”

The whole time the boys were standing there watching them, their eyes bouncing between Vica and Wyatt like they were watching a tennis match.

“Well, I want to shower,” Jake finally said.

“You go first, Jake. I can wait,” Vica encouraged.

Jake nodded and headed upstairs with Griffon hot on his heels. “I just want a cloth and the sink,” Griffon said, his fingertips bright orange.

“Need to hose that child off,” Wyatt murmured.

The kids got busy doing what they needed to do upstairs, which just left Vica and Wyatt standing in the living room. He reached for her, needing to touch her,and thankfully, she went to him without hesitation. Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed his nose to the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered against his chest, and that’s when he realized she was crying. Her body gently trembled and her words came out as choked sobs. “I never meant for any of this to happen. The boys … you …”

He took her by the shoulders and held her away from him just enough that she could look him in the eye. “Listen to me, this isnotyour fault. You got that? You are a victim. And now, we all are. There are some bad people trying to get away with some really bad shit and they’re getting desperate. But we’re not going to stop trying to bring them down. You were right not to take the settlement. We need to fight this. And now that you’re my wife, I’m going to do everything in my power to protect you. Understand?”

Her throat moved on a swallow, and she blinked spiked lashes at him.

But she didn’t nod.

He shook her a little. “Tell me you understand that this is not your fault, Vica. That nobody here blames you for what happened tonight.”

Her bottom lip trembled, and all he wanted to do was capture it between his teeth and tell her to knock it off. To stop feeling guilty.

After a moment and a gentle shudder, she nodded. “Okay.”

That was enough for him and he hauled her back against him, wrapping his arms tight around her body. “When I heard those gunshots …”

Her cry was muffled in his shirt.

“You’re not giving up the bed,” he said, pressing his lips to the top of her head. “I won’t let you.”

“You’re not the boss of me,” she argued.

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