Page 32 of The Handler
“Let me show you what we got done.” Tyler guides me up the two flights of stairs.
My room is pristine and painted a lovely pale shade of blue. It was white before and needed an update, but it wasn’t a priority. My breath catches, and a fluttery warmth fills my chest. “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe you did all this so fast.”
“That’s what having a good Dom as your husband means. Someone who takes care of you. Knows what you need—mentally, emotionally, physically—not just sexually.”
I don’t want to cry again, not even happy tears.
He grips my shoulders, and his gaze bores into mine. “I’ll always give you what you need if you’ll let me.”
THIRTEEN
Tyler
The urge towrap Amy in swaddling protective layers and never let her out of my sight again rides me hard. She’d hate me if I tried. Releasing my grip on her shoulders, I offer her my hand instead. “Let’s go downstairs. Let the paint dry.”
She holds me the entire way down. Having her in my grasp is good, but it’s not enough. I want more. I ache for her.
The hallway is empty, and I close us into the Bluebell room where Alex was staying. The queen bed is perfectly made with little decorative pillows. I take the teacup from her hand, placing it on the coaster on the nightstand. When I open my arms, Amy steps into my embrace. I clutch her to me, savoring her closeness and her trust and trying desperately to push away my concerns for her safety. Does she realize how much worse these encounters could have been? If I had any doubts about retiring, they’re gone now. I only wish I hadn’t waited the full month because I could’ve been with her sooner. Now that I’m here, I don’t ever want to leave. I want a thousand more nights like the one we had at Pandora.
But without the interruption afterward.
“I’m so thankful you and the guys are here for me. Hopefully, the police will find Enzo, and everything can return to normal.”
“Is that what you want?” She really wants to go back to living alone? Do I fit into her version of normal?
“Of course. I love running my inn.”
“What about me?” I should release her from my hold, but there’s no way I can let her go. Doesn’t she get it? Doesn’t she feel it? This connection between us, the perfect chemistry, it’s not to be taken lightly or let go of so easily. This is a once-in-a-lifetime spark.
“More than I should,” she says softly.
I tilt her chin up, pulling her hips tight to mine. “More than you should what?”
She bites her lip, and I free the abused flesh with my thumb.
“I…like having you here more than I should because I know it’s temporary. I’m grateful, of course, but I’m also a little scared about how fast I’m becoming dependent on you.”
How can she still have doubts? How can she not see?
“It’s probably because the intensity is so high with the threats to me.”
Am I missing something? Is the risk falsely amplifying my feelings for her? I discard that argument. When she was in St. Louis, I wanted her so much I was willing to woo her slowly. Then everything went sideways when she had to go into protection. Marrying her was a desperate attempt to keep her when she wasn’t mine. I’d planned to pick up where we left off once the trial was done. I waited too fucking long last time. I’m not letting him ruin everything again. “You know we’re not going to let anything happen to you. The guys take turns patrolling the area all night. This property—you—will be guarded around the clock. I even talked to Gabe and—”
“Gabe?” She jerks her chin out of my grasp. “Why would you talk to Gabe?”
I shift my hand to her ass, a reminder to be respectful in her tone. We’re not in a scene, but I don’t deserve her hostility. “I had to explain to him what was happening and that you and Katherine had private protection for the day. He said he’d ask around to find out if any single men are renting rooms in the area right now.”
“Katherine said they’d do that too. They know a lot of people.”
“And you have a lot of people who care about you. Me, of course, but the guys are half smitten. Stone and Alex already thought the world of you before. They didn’t have a clue where you went when you disappeared.”
“You didn’t tell them?”
“I couldn’t. They didn’t have a need to know. Until they did. And now they’re here. For you.”
“More like for you.”
I stroke her beautiful hair away from her face. “Don’t you see, there’s almost no difference? We’re a team. You and me. We belong together, and the guys see it.”
