Page 79 of Tangled in Vows

I know this doesn’t mean she’s forgiven me, or that she’s entirely mine, but it’s a step in the right direction. Having her this close, protecting her, has got to be enough for now, even though it hurts not to have her fully.

Until then, I’m the anchor I promised to always be for her.

And I can pretend to be the man she deserves for a few stolen moments.

If I were a better person, I would have found a way out of this. I could have had Archer work his magic and void this marriage, or I could have walked away and let someone else keep her safe.

But it took mere minutes alone with her to turn me into a selfish bastard. In the blink of an eye, I forgot why I should stay away from her. The need and instinct to protect her, to be the one to keep her safe, took over. She consumed me in seconds, and I knew someone would have to pry me from her side because I wouldn’t leave willingly.

The same way I didn’t leave willingly the first time, but she still doesn’t know that.

Coldness seeps into the car, and I shift Olivia around in my arms, keeping one hand on her back and putting the other one under her butt. “Hold on, Hurricane.”

Olivia tightens her hold around my neck and waist, and with careful maneuvering, I get us out of the SUV and into the house. The second I step from the mudroom into the kitchen, Stormy is on us. I’ve always been convinced dogs have a sixth sense, which only proves it once again. They’re pretty much angels in disguise.

She runs around us, jumping, whining, and barking, sensing something is going on with Olivia. Olivia knows it too, and slowly disentangles her death grip on my neck to reach down to Stormy with one hand.

Turning her head to the side, she speaks to her pup in a hushed voice, “I’m okay, sweetie. All good.”

I stride from the kitchen to the living room and sink into the soft leather couch with Olivia in my lap, the cushions yielding under our weight. Stormy immediately jumps next to us, getting close enough to lick our faces. I try to reassure her by petting her head, while also trying to push her back for some room.

Olivia smiles at her, and eventually, Stormy gets the message and settles down beside us, with Olivia brushing soothing strokes over her head.

Then, Olivia finally turns her head to look at me. Her mouth curls up at the corners into a small smile, but one that never reaches her eyes.

“Talk to me, Hurricane.” Reaching out, I brush her hair back and cup her cheek. “How are you holding up?”

She tilts her head toward my hand as if my touch comforts her. Her throat bobs on a swallow. “I . . . I don’t even know what to say. It all feels like a nightmare I just woke up from. Because Idon’t understand why someone would try to kill us. I mean, this kind of stuff doesn’t happen to normal people, right? I mean, shit. That was so scary.”

I nod. “I’ve never been more excited that we switched to armored vehicles last year. Insanely expensive, but so worth it.”

A shiver rolls through her body. “I can’t even imagine how different tonight would have gone otherwise. I’m so glad no one got hurt.”

I shift my gaze away from hers. “Considering what happened to my sister, I should have gotten them sooner. Before something bad happened.”

This time, her hand goes to my cheek as if it’s her turn to offer comfort. “Not a single thing that happened was your fault. Not with your sister, Phoenix and Evie, or with me. Holden, you’re the reason I’m here right now without a single scratch on me, so thank you.”

Her thumb moves over my lower lip for a split second before she leans in and presses her lips to mine.

Chapter 25

Olivia

Pieces of me are now broken and misunderstood.

I’m kissing Holden.

I’m kissing my husband.

I don’t know if this is some post-traumatic response to what happened in the car, but if it is, I don’t care. I’m so tired of resisting my attraction to him. Is this smart? Possibly not. But something inside me clicked tonight, and I just don’t care anymore.

Maybe it was the near-death experience, but I’m tired of letting my brain lead instead of my heart.

Right now, I just want to feel.

I want his lips to remind me that I’m still alive.

At first, he doesn’t react, but after a few torturous beats and a growled, “Hurricane,” he kisses me back.

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