Page 111 of Jagged Line Paradise

“The plan is for you and me to be together, sunshine. We’ll figure the rest out later.”

“The rest is kind of important.”

“Of course, it is.”

She huffs and grins sideways at me. “Okay, so tell me the rest.”

“We’re gonna chase paradise.”

Her lips part as wonder softens her features and she gazes at me with curiosity and awe. “Chase paradise?”

I nod. “We’re gonna start over together. Somewhere. We’ll find our own paradise. I can do my work from anywhere. You and I need to find a place for us.”

She shakes her head slowly, but not in disagreement. There’s a gentle smile curving her gorgeous mouth. She looks surprised, happy, sad, curious, in love. She looks at me and I see her love for me.

She sighs and I feel acceptance in that as tension breaks its hold on her shoulders and she relaxes a little in her seat. “Okay. Yeah. That’s…it’s a good plan.”

Fuck.

I’m so head over heels for her.

“So, then how long are we staying in Sunrise Valley? You have to finish the documentary?”

“Yours was the last interview. We’re all wrapped otherwise.”

“Oh.”

“Your interview footage won’t be used. I promised you and I meant it.”

She nods. “Yeah. Good. And I’m really sorry about that. I just…I thought I was ready. I thought I wanted to share it with the world. But…”

“Lauren Ericson’s family didn’t finish their interviews, either.” Lauren was victim number three.

“What? Really?”

“Really. They started and a few minutes into it, her mom had to stop. Changed their minds, said they just weren’t in the mental space to relive it all again. And truthfully, they may never be. It’s not unusual for victims and their families to struggle with talking about their trauma. It’s okay. When you’re really ready, you’ll know it, and I’ll be here for you.”

Tears form a sheen across her eyes, though the smile stays plastered to her face. “Thank you for saying that. I-I thought I was a failure.”

“Fuck, no.” I stand and round the small table we’re sitting at in my hotel room, dropping to my knees in front of her. “You’re my goddamn idol, Lonnie. Failure is not a term that comes to mind when I think about who you are as a person.”

She smiles shyly. “You know, you really need to work on being less charming.”

“I’m not sure you’ll think I’m so charming when I whip you later with my belt.”

She gasps, and per usual, it makes me want to fuck the cute right out of her.

“Okay,” she giggles, “we need to take a break, dude, or I might not be able to walk tomorrow.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” I lasso my arms around her waist and pull her down to my lap, “and I accept.”

She straddles my lap as I sit back on my heels. She grabs my cheeks and dips to kiss me with a deep, sweeping tongue that licks away all my fears for what tomorrow will bring. I stroke her hair as she breaks away from the kiss to wrap her arms around me and hug me close.

“I want you forever,” she whispers and my heart stops.

“Por siempre, mi amor.”

Chapter 29

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