“And I love
you even more for placing my son before yourself.” After kissing her forehead, I place a hand on the small of her back and guide her into her bedroom. I need to touch her and reassure myself she’s whole. Inside her room, I pull her to me and wrap my arms around her waist.
“Ollie?”
“Do you know how important you are to me? If anything happened to you, I’d lose my mind, Quinn. No more trying to do this on your own. I need you to promise me.”
“Ollie—”
“It’s no longer just you. It’s us.” Her eyes dilate, and her nostrils flare. “I’m in this thing with you for the long haul, Quinn. Where are you at?”
“I’m here with you.”
I fist her hair. “Then this will never happen again. I take care of the people I love, and you’re on the top of that list. I came over here convinced you regretted sleeping with me or something might have happened to you. You got anything else you’re hiding from me?” I glance down at her and study her face.
“No. I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”
“What do you expect, sassy?”
She shakes her head. “I couldn’t think. It was like everything around me paused, and I couldn’t think straight because my head was full of static. Then the paranoia kicked in, and every car was a potential stalker, and every noise was a potential break in. And I couldn’t bring that around you. Not with Rolly—”
“Did you stop to think if you’re in danger, so am I?”
She covers her mouth with her hands. “Oh my God.”
“We can’t let them separate us,” I say as I massage her neck. “I’ve got your back one-hundred percent, just the way you’ve had mine. We’re going to get your things packed and settle you in my house. Tonight we’re going to forget all this shit we have no control over, and tomorrow we’ll contact Detective Kunes and go from there. Okay?” I ask, trying to pull her back from the edge they’ve pushed her toward.
“Okay.”
I let her go and step away. “Where’s your luggage?”
“In the back of the closet on the left-hand side.”
“Okay, you figure out what you’re going to take and I’ll get your suitcases.” I make my way into her walk-in closet and whistle at the organized chaos. Shoes are piled up in boxes and labeled and clothing is color-coded. I imagine she’s got to dress for the places she’ll be working.
“This is a lot of clothes, sassy.”
“Yeah, I’ve gathered them over the years. I never know where I’ll have to go work, and a lot of my friends make clothing. I’m never going to turn down an original piece.”
“If you say so.” My mind works overtime as I think about how we’d merge our households. I’d have to get a guy to come out and do a his and hers closet. I grab her hard back silver rolling cases and pull them out of the clothing hub that would make most women cream their panties. She’s making neat piles on the bed—shirts, shorts, underwear, and bras are lining up on the edge of her bed.
“How long do you think this is going to take?”
“Until we go to trial. I don’t think you should be alone anymore.”
Her back goes ramrod straight. “This is moving in, not staying at your house for a few days.”
“Would it be so bad to live with me?”
“I’m not saying that, Ollie. Maybe one day. Now, it’s too soon.” Her tongue flicks out, and she moistens her full lips.
“Maybe for some. This is isn’t a normal situation and nothing about our relationship has been by the book.”
“This is huge. We can’t make a decision like this based on fear.”
The hell we can’t. “It’s not fear. We’ve seen firsthand what they’re capable of. This is thinking smart and being preemptive.”
“Fine. I hear the case you’re pitching.” I ignore the clipped sentence. Her anger isn’t at me. We work together as a team and fill both cases to bursting.