“Sweetheart, I’m…I’m blown away you’d have done that for me.”
“Not just for you. For both of us.”
“So you don’t want to break up with me anymore?”
“I never did. I was just angry. And you’re right. We both have issues to own up to. My track record on relationships is just as spotty as yours, and I did wonder if ending it would’ve been easier.”
He stroked her cheek. “But not anymore?”
She shook her head. “Maybe easier, but I could never do it.”
Ivan smiled. “Why?”
“Because I love you too damn much—I have for a long time.”
“That’s good, because I love you too damn much to ever let you go.”
They sealed their new declaration with a kiss. Over her tirade, Tiffany hugged him.
“I’m glad you tried again.”
“You’re worth it. So how should we celebrate my homecoming and an end to our skirmish—dinner, dancing, a movie? Making love right here, right now?”
“Unless you’re hungry, we can order in…later,” Tiffany told him. “Right now I want you all to myself.”
He kissed her neck. “I can handle that.”
Tiffany led him into her bedroom. She made quick work of undressing him. After his pants were gone, she unbuttoned his shirt. When she slid it off, she gasped at seeing the discoloration on his chest and ribs.
“I’m okay,” he said quickly. “Completely on the mend.”
Tiffany pointed to the bed. “Get in.”
She sat cross-legged on the bed and inspected his wounds. “Tell me everything.”
He relayed the story of how they got ambushed and the attempted burglary that ensued. “None of us sustained serious harm. Our client and my employees,” he clarified. “I didn’t care that we knocked around the bad guys pretty good.”
“Did you break your ribs?”
“No, just bruised. I fell down a flight of stairs.” He grinned. “Well…more like jumped.”
She swallowed hard. “Jumped?”
“Yes, one of the perpetrators was getting away. Don’t worry, he broke my fall.”
“Do not try to make me laugh right now,” she cautioned. “I’m still a little mad at you.”
His hand slid under her T-shirt. “How mad?”
“Go to sleep, Ivan,” she commanded. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
“So do you. Come here.”
Tiffany climbed in next to him. She entwined her fingers with his. Seconds later, they were both sound asleep.
Chapter 21
Ivan asleep past eight in the morning just wasn’t heard of. Tiffany was shocked. That had never happened since she had known him. Not once.