Page 16 of Absolution

He shook away the wry voice in his head as he changed lanes and headed deeper into the city. Whatever happened at Osbourne’s, he resolved not to take their growing intimacy for granted.

“Iamhappy.” The conviction in her voice surprised him. “I mean, we’ve not had a conventional start, but… this thing we have… it feels right.”

“Oh, I agree.” He glanced her way, his heart swelling as their gazes collided.

For a man who’d never much believed in the concept of relationships, let alone the idea of falling in love, her words were like fire to his blood. That a woman like Ella could evencontemplate being with him when she was his captive was mindblowing, but the notion that she chose to of her own free will was too much to contemplate.

How could an old devil like him possibly have ensnared her?

How can I deserve her?

“I’ve never been as happy as I am right now.” As the admission escaped his lips, he realized it was the truth.

Every other chapter of his life had been about endurance and tribulation, about getting through and, if possible, getting stronger. The only exception had been his time in the forest, which had been about self-discovery and contentment, but he couldn’t recall life in the cabin bringing him as many highs as the time he and Ella had spent in his city hideout. The last few days had been perfection.

“Perhaps we should write to my dad and thank him for bringing us together.” She snorted at the idea, shaking her head as she glanced out of her window.

“Yeah, maybe.” Though when he ran into Bennett again, Tucker would certainly have a few other things he wanted to get off his chest before expressions of gratitude. “But let’s not let your father ruin our day.”

She nodded, he presumed entirely in agreement with his thought process. They’d already had a volatile start to the day, and while that matter was resolved, he, for one, wanted the meeting with her mother to be a smoother process than his ingenious punishment had been.

Not that he regretted his plan. He smirked as he glanced in his side mirror. Seeing Ella degrade herself that way at his command had easily been the most electrifying high of his life, and knowing that they’d both relished her performance made it all the more scintillating. By contrast, he wanted their time at Osbourne’s to be as uneventful as possible.

He glanced in her direction. “Do you want to go over the plan at Osbourne’s again, little girl?”

They’d discussed every moment in detail at the apartment, but he wanted to be sure they had every base covered. Nothing could go wrong once she left his side.

“Okay.” She clutched at the matching purse he’d bought for her. Not that she had much to put in there, aside from her new phone, which she kept forcing into her pocket. There was no need for his little girl to carry cash, and she didn’t yet have access to whatever credit cards she’d been used to spending with. Tucker would be taking care of the tab at Osbourne’s. “Let’s do that.”

“So, there are two tables booked for us.” He’d repeated this part so often it was starting to feel as though he was talking from a memorized script. “One for you and Susie and another for me.”

She blew out a breath, as if resolved. “Yep, I understand, sir.”

“I’ll make sure I’m sitting somewhere close to keep an eye on you both,” he went on as her narrowed gaze slid to him. “Not likethat,” he reassured, although in truth, it was a bit likethat. He wanted to have eyes on her at all times. “I only want to make sure you’re safe, and with Bennett’s men on the loosesomewhere, the best way I know to manage that is to be there with you.”

“Okay.” Her suppressed smirk suggested she was less than convinced by his passionate self-defense, but she didn’t say anything more.

“I’ll give you and your mum some time to catch up.” His heart raced as if he was the one meeting his mother for the first time in what surely must have felt like an age to Ella.

Fat chance.He sighed. His mother wouldn’t be coming back from the dead to meet him.

“Order whatever you like and enjoy the time with her, little girl.”

“And then?” She turned to him, prompting him to elaborate on what was unquestionably the most precarious moment of his careful planning—the moment he introduced himself to the mother of the woman he’d held at his cabin, the moment he came face to face with Susie. “You’ll come and join us, sir?”

“That’s right.” He worked hard to keep his tone even as he answered. He didn’t want to evidence the nervous energy swirling in his chest. “I’ll introduce myself and try to reassure your mum that I’m taking care of you.”

“Taking care of me?” She bit back on her laughter. “It’s that what you call it, sir?”

“Excuse me?” Feigned disgust echoed in his voice as he focused on the road ahead. The restaurant he’d selected wasn’t far from his place, but the city traffic lengthened every journey. “Do you have a problem with my approach, MissBennett? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve sought your assent to almost everything since we arrived at my apartment.”

“Busted, sir.” She definitely laughed that time. “Yes, I’ve agreed to most of it, and yes, I’ve loved it, but you cannot say ordering me to eat eggs from a plate on the floor constitutes taking care of me!”

“Hmmm.” His delight at seeing her so relaxed overtook any angst he might have at her reply. “Well, maybe that is a stretch, but I’m helping you to grow and learn about your own needs. I think that should be applauded.”

“Oh, absolutely.” She smiled. “I’m just not sure I’ll be sharing the details with my mum.”

“Yeah, maybe not,” he admitted. “It might not give the best impression of me.”

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