Salvation (Surrender 3)

“I thought I held the title as best birthday surprises, but seems you beat my ass.”

“Better up your game then.” Robbie chuckles.

“I hate to tell you boys, but I don’t think anything in the world could outdo tonight,” I add.

For the first time in my life, I feel lucky, loved, and completely safe.

Chapter 28

I’m Trash

Ember

My arms and legs tighten around Robbie as he guides his bike into the empty parking spot in front of my townhome. When he cuts the engine, I reluctantly peel myself away and hop off. We both remove our helmets, and I run my fingers through my hair, trying to tame it.

“That was so exciting!” I squeal.

“You say that every time, babe.” He laughs.

“Each time we go out, it gets better. Can we go again tomorrow after work?”

“Probably have to wait until next weekend. I have to work a few nights this week. The insurance project we’re working on is almost wrapped up.”

“That sucks.” I try to hide my disappointment but fail.

“Come here.” He tugs my wrist toward him. “You’re adorable when you pout.” One hand cups my cheek, forcing me to look at him. “Next weekend, we’ll go away. As soon as you get off on Saturday, we’ll ride until we feel like stopping.”

“I’d really like that,” I say truthfully, wanting to spend some time away and alone with Robbie. Not that we don’t sleep together every night, but the last three weeks since my birthday have been hectic.

The day after my party, Robbie finally found the reporter responsible for the slanderous article about Raven a few months back. He was hiding out. As the drama unfolded, we found out it was actually two employees of Sayge’s record label that leaked the false information. They were fired immediately, and action was taken. Then Raven and the band left for the summer tour.

Then James put Robbie on a large project involving insurance fraud that has him working long hours. The shop has been busier than ever after word leaked that we did provide the formalwear for Raven’s wedding. Even though it was three months ago, the increase in business started after her reception in Nashville.

On top of all that, Jenna and Evelyn, have kept me busy with requests for sketches.

In the last five months, my life has changed so dramatically that I sometimes wonder if I’m dreaming. Robbie’s opened my eyes and my heart to complete happiness. If someone ever told me that I would be this in love with a man who treats me like the most precious thing in his world, I would have laughed.

True to his word, he’s taken care of me. I’ve come to depend on his bossy ways and overprotective acts. I’m hardly ever alone in the store anymore, even during the day. Somehow, if my dad or Cruz isn’t with me, one of his friends just happens to ‘pop in’. Last week, when I had to close late,

Jimi and Abbi showed up to discuss their wedding attire. Long after they decided on their tuxes, they hung around until my last appointment left, and then Jimi walked me to my car. When I mentioned to Robbie it was ridiculous, he shrugged and ignored my protests.

My dad may have been shocked at the depth of our relationship, but he’s grown to respect Robbie in the short amount of time he’s been home. He explained to me that he could see how much I cared for him when we visited him in prison, but he didn’t understand the level of devotion. But watching us together over the last three weeks confirmed my love for this man.

“Ember?” Robbie’s deep voice brings me out of my head as his hands slide up my neck, gripping my scalp. “What’re you thinking about?”

“Replaying the last few months in my head. Thinking about how happy I am.”

“That’s the goal, babe.”

“What about you?”

“Am I happy? Is that what you’re asking? Because if so, I can tell you that happy isn’t even in the same category as the way I feel. My nightmares are gone, my guilt is fading, and I wake up to your beautiful face every day. Those are things that I thought were impossible. But, you, you make everything possible. If you think I’m ever letting that go, you need to think again, because you’re mine.”

He pulls me to him and brushes his lips across mine softly. “I fucking love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“You wanna pack a bag and follow me to my place, or we staying here tonight?”