Page 119 of Tangled in Vows

“Thanks, Arch.”

“Anytime.”

I swallow. “I wanted to apologize for the other day. I appreciate you sticking your neck out for Olivia.”

“She deserves it.”

My mind goes back to my conversation with her before Archer interrupted. “I love her.”

Archer’s mouth tilts up. “I know you do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have run my mouth.”

“Nothing can happen to her.”

He claps his hand on my shoulder. “She’s one of us, and we won’t let anything happen to her, Hold.”

My throat tightens until it almost cuts off my air supply. “I can’t lose her again.”

“And you won’t.” He squeezes my muscles once more. “I’m gonna head back to work. There are a few things I wanted to check out, and it seemed like I interrupted something earlier. See you tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

I watch him walk across the patio and down the small path we created to the pool house. I stay until he disappears inside, and the light switches on, illuminating the space behind the curtains.

My gaze stays transfixed for another few seconds, my brain mulling over the conversation. Zeno found something. We’re meeting with him in three days. My late sister’s birthday is in two days. Tomorrow, we’re going to the club. I just told Archer I love Olivia.Loveher.

My feet move before my brain does, and I head back inside to follow her silent siren call. Stormy lifts her head briefly as I walk into my bedroom but doesn’t move from the spot on her oversized dog pillow under the window. Even she’s ready to relax after a long day of playing outside.

I find Olivia still in the tub. She’s asleep, or at least halfway there, with her tipped head on the headrest and her eyes closed.

I stand there and just watch her. She looks so peaceful. As though none of the problems we’ve been dealing with exist. Then she opens one of her eyes to glance at me.

“Do you always just stare at people when you think they’re sleeping?”

I chuckle and brush my fingers along her temple. “Someone has to make sure you don’t drown.”

“Don’t worry. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“I’d hope not. I’d bring you back from the dead, just so I could yell at you for being so reckless.”

Her expression sobers. “So we’re really doing this?”

I swallow harshly. “If you’ll have me, you’re stuck with me forever. I’d never willingly leave you.”

I hope she hears the truth in those words because I never wanted to leave her. That choice was taken away from me. Andlater, I was too afraid to face her. To tell her the truth. To be rejected. To have her tell me it’s too late for us.

Now, I wish I’d have taken the leap much sooner, but I can’t turn back time, so I’ll have to live with those regrets like everyone else.

“Good, because that’s exactly how I feel.” Olivia’s words barely leave her mouth before a yawn takes over, and she blinks drowsily.

Pure contentment and a sense of rightness radiate through my chest as I stare at her, my eyes warming with unspoken promises. We’re really doing this.

I crouch and press a gentle kiss to her pouty lips. “Let’s get you to bed. It’s been a long week, and I feel the next one won’t improve.”

“Okay.” She opens the drain and grabs the showerhead.

I snatch one of the large towels from the warm rack for her and watch the water drain, revealing her curvaceous body inch by inch.

The gleam in her eyes tells me she knows exactly what the sight is doing to me and she wants my gaze on her.

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