Hold On

I let out a long breath, trying to figure out if I’m a horrible person because I’m sort of happy about what he’s told me about Carver and the company. The reason I didn’t tell him I saw the creep yesterday, or about the crazy texts is I honestly think he might kill him if he ever thought he was even near me.

The violence that exploded from him that day at the office stays with me, and I know what Marshall could unleash, leaving wreckage in his path.

It’s one thing to have him be protective of me, but it’s another thing to have him commit a felony and then be sent away. I realize that even after this short time together, I need him. If he ever went away, I feel like my world would collapse.

“You should promote Bethany. She should run the place, she’s great.”

“Your friend, right??” He steps to the edge of the bed.

“Yeah.”

“I like her. Yes, I’m going there after my other meetings this morning. I’ll have a sit-down with her, see what she wants. I’ll tell her someone with influence put in a good word on her behalf.”

He reaches down with a wink and slides his hand up my bare thigh, making me shiver.

“She likes you, too. She likes that I seem happy here.”

“Are you?”

I nod. “Very. It’s just…” I pause, and Marshall moves his hand from my thigh to my cheek. “It’s like I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know? Things that seem too good to be true usually are. That’s what my grandfather always said.”

“There are exceptions to every rule, baby. And there is no other shoe to drop. I love you. Those are words I’ve never said to anyone before. I never thought I would, to be honest.”

“I love you, too.” I half-smile, and he leans down and gives me a soft kiss.

“Even Dorothy likes you, and she doesn’t really like anyone.”

“Not even you?” I grin, thinking about the meal we had with Marshall’s mom, his stepfather and his half-sister. Dorothy was indeed frightening, but once we got to know each other and she relaxed, it was like she was a completely different person. I think we might actually become friends.

Marshall laughs. “Especially not me.”

Bethany has been over a couple of times, and she and Marshall quickly became friends. Although not as friendly as she’s been with Marshall’s business partner, Connor. He was here the day Bethany went with me to the house to grab some things I wanted to have here. Marshall offered to have movers come and bring all my things, but the truth is, I don’t want everything from the house. I want to start fresh.

Besides, Marshall wants to turn the old place into a nice retreat for us, somewhere we can go at the weekends or whatever. We’ve already been in touch with contractors and architects, and I’ve seen a few plans for what they’re thinking of doing. I like the idea, and honestly, it’s kind of a relief because half the time I expect to show up to find it burned to the ground, the faulty electric finally deciding to give up the ghost.

“But then, how could anyone not love you?”

He’s such a contrast. Fucking me in the shower, he was hard and rough, saying filthy but wonderful things to me. Then the next minute, I’m his precious little doll, and he’s so gentle it’s hard to believe both sides of him can fit into one man’s body.

“Okay.” He looks at his watch. “I have to go. Couple meetings this morning, then I’ll go talk to Ruff & Purr and Bethany. I want them all to know their jobs are safe and I only want the best for the company. And you, little one…” He runs his hand down my damp hair. “Finish those forms for the university I left for you. You want to take classes next semester, my friend said all you have to do is complete the forms. You will be admitted and on your way to being a vet in no time.”

“I’ll do it. Then I’m going to take Buddha with me to the house and look around. The architect emailed us some ideas, and I want to go there and think about them. Imagine what they would look like…you know, like I like to see it in my mind and then know it could come true.”

“That’s fine. Take your phone, though. Let me know when you leave here when you arrive there and then when you head back home, got it?”

I nod. At first, when Marshall started making me tell him all my comings and goings, I was put off. But when he explained that it wasn’t a control thing, it was a loving, caring, “are you okay because I have to know” sort of thing, it made me understand and feel even safer.