Page 76 of Rio's Release

Trust

Shelby—

My eyes flutter open. Hazy morning light filters through the blinds. Rio is pressed to my back, his arm around my waist, the sound of his steady breathing in my ear.

What happened last night plays in my head.

I was pacing the room when he came back up, ready to have a fight, but when he walked through the door and his gaze flicked over me, he deflated my anger with one sentence.

“Okay, you get your way. This time.”

My shoulders slumped, and I went into his arms, hugging him tight and pressing my head to his chest. “Thank you.”

He kissed the top of my head. “Last thing I want to do is cause you any more pain. I won’t end his life, but I want you to know from now on, you don’t get to question my methods of protecting you and keeping you safe. You’re the most important thing on this earth to me, Shelby.”

And then he showed me, making love to me so tenderly it brought tears to my eyes. He didn’t say the words, but I felt his love radiating off him.

Hours later, I felt him slip out, kissing me and quietly leaving the room.

He was gone so long; I feared he’d lied to me and gone to take care of Carson in the middle of the night.

When he returned, slipping silently into the room, I sat up and turned the light on. “Where were you?”

“I had some business to take care of, babe.”

“You promised me you wouldn’t kill Carson.”

“And I kept my word. That wasn’t what I was doing.” He leaned over me, bringing his face to within inches of mine, his fists on the mattress at my hips. “You gotta trust me, or what we have isn’t worth a damn, babe.”

I searched his eyes and saw no deception there.

He kissed me, then stripped and climbed in bed, too exhausted to do more than spoon me. “Get some sleep, angel.”

With that, he was out like a light in minutes.

Today is Monday, Labor Day, and I have to get home to Bella. I promised I’d be there by lunchtime.

Lifting my head, I reach for my phone on the nightstand to read the time. It’s almost ten already. After all the worrying last night, I overslept. I meant to be on the road by now.

At my motions, Rio shifts and yawns, then tries to drag me tighter against him. I can feel his morning wood against my buttocks, but soon squash whatever plans he has in that department.

“I’ve got to go. I told my babysitter I’d be home by noon. Bella will be expecting her momma.”

He goes up on one elbow, his hand cupping my hip. “I want to meet her.”

I slip from the bed and begin dressing. “I’m not so sure about that.”

He shoves the covers off and stands. “Are you not sure about me? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Before you meet her, I have to know this is going to last. I don’t want to bring a man into her life who doesn’t end up sticking around.” It’s blunt, but needs to be said.

“You think I’m not sticking around?” His voice has an edge to it.

I whirl and meet his eyes. “Are you?”

He flings an arm at the bed. “Last night, I thought I made that pretty clear.”

“I guess I’m unclear on what exactly you want. What do you see our future being? We live in two different cities, and that’s not about to change.”

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