Page 64 of The Guardian

“Whoa,” he laughs, stepping backward, his hands coming to rest against my back as I start to cry. “Hey, hey, what’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, nuzzled against his shirt, “I’m sorry I was so rude to you about the Mick thing.”

He pulls me back, his palms on either side of my face as he smiles at me. “No, I’m sorry I tried to fix things for you—that I lied to you.”

“Lied to me?” I step back, my stomach dropping.

“By making you think that testifying wasn’t an option. It was. I just thought it would be easier to do it my way, but I was wrong.”

“So, did you ask him to testify? Is that why he showed up at my office today?”

“I did . . . well, I didn’task,”he laughs. “I told him that’s what the new plan was, and that we’ve found a way to offer him protection—a way back home. Is it going to work?”

I can’t keep the smile off my face. “Itdidwork. They accepted our offer at the mere mention of him testifying. At first, they acted like they had no clue who he was—said it was all made-up lies—but Mick looked right in Terry’s face and told him he had everything documented. Apparently, Mick’s dumbass contact at the law firm was Terry Dune himself!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Nope, that’s how arrogant that moron is. Part of the deal is that Mick won’t testify, but after the meeting, Steinberg called me into his office and said he was reaching out to the bar and reporting Terry . . . soooo pretty sure he’s going to get disbarred.”

“Oh, shit, you sure you want to make him your enemy?”

“I thought about that,” I say as I slowly drag my finger down Alex’s chest, “but then I’ve got you to protect me,” I say softly against his lips as I lift up onto my tippy toes and kiss him.

“Is that right?” he says, backing me down the hallway toward my bedroom. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“Maybe.” I reach for the buttons on my dress, undoing them as I walk across the room and into the bathroom.

“What about Chloe?”

“Make it quick and be quiet.” I close the bathroom door behind him.

“I can make it quick, baby, but I don’t think you know whatquietmeans.” He grabs my hair, pulling my head to the side as he kisses my neck, his other hand pushing my dress off my body.

I do in fact stay quiet . . . for the most part. After our quick shower, we head downstairs to make dinner together, something that has weirdly become a routine for us. Chloe sits at the counter, working on her math homework as we talk about her day.

“Can you hand me the large knife?” I point to the knife block next to Alex as he marinates the shrimp.

“Here you go.” He leans over to hand it to me, and without a second thought, I lean in, kissing him quickly.

“Thank you.” I pause, realizing what I just did. He looks at me then turns back to Chloe, who is furiously erasing something on her paper.

“I saw that,” she says without looking up.

“Saw what, sweetie?” I try to play it off, turning back to chopping the spinach as Alex attempts to stifle a laugh.

“K-i-s-s-i-n-g,” she sings as I feel my face turn red. “It’s okay, you guys are in love, so I’m not surprised.”

I drop the knife and it clatters to the cutting board. I can feel Alex staring at me, but I’m speechless. Part of me wants to burst into laughter—the two of us sneaking around, thinking Chloe had no idea—but the other part of me wants to ask him if it’s real, because it feels real. I don’t know how we could be living together, sharing space and time so intimately, and connecting with our bodies the way we have night after night without there being something between us.

“Well, with a woman as amazing as your mom, it’s hard not to fall for her. She’s a pretty special lady, am I right?”

“The best.” Chloe smiles. “Are you guys going to get married now?”

“Dinner is going to be ready in about 20 minutes, Chloe, so finish up your homework and then wash your hands, okay?”

“Okay.” She turns back to her homework, completely moving on from her question.

“You good?” Alex murmurs as he leans down to put the chicken in the oven.

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