Page 44 of Falling for Her Protector

My fingers touch the soft edges and the lid lifts easily. I feel the tingling in my eyes as warm liquid pools on my lower lids. It’s a beautiful Claddagh ring. I’ve seen them before, and I know they mean love, but this one is more. There’s a perfect heart-shaped stone set in the center.

“It’s beautiful. It’s a Claddagh ring, right?” my voice trembles.

“It is. It symbolizes friendship, love and loyalty,” he answers before clearing his throat. “Vanessa, what I feel for you is deep and true, and it comes from a place that I never knew existed. I want you to know that I will always be faithful to you. My heart is in your hands now. I love you,” his deep voice professes and my hand lifts to my lips as small tears begin to spill.

“I love you too,” I whisper through my fingers.

I watch as he carefully removes the ring from the box and reaches for my hand, pulling it gently away from my face. The cool band slides perfectly onto my finger and I lift it, letting it sparkle in the light.

“The stone is really pretty. What is it?” I question softly.

“It’s an opal. This was supposed to be a birthday gift,” he tells me and I tip my head in question. It’s been almost two weeks since my birthday. “Remember when I told you I had one more present for you?” he asks.

I can’t believe it completely slipped my mind. I’ve been so focused on moving into the cabin, and trying to make sure that Lacey wasn’t too upset, that I forgot he had even mentioned it. I wonder why he didn’t bring it up sooner.

“I was just waiting for the right time,” he offers, as if hearing my unspoken question.

His lips drop to my neck and his strong arms close around me again. I melt into his broad chest as he lifts me easily from the floor. My legs lift, wrapping tightly around his torso as he begins to move toward our bedroom, the promise of love hanging heavy in the air surrounding us.

30

Five Years Later

Xavier

As I slide off my bike, a slight movement catches in my peripheral vision. I turn, watching the shadow move back and forth across the yard as the sweet sound of giggling laughter fills my ears. I move forward, walking past the family vehicles now filling our driveway. After five years Vanessa has finally warmed up to the bike, but I know she feels more secure in her black SUV.

I step around the corner, keeping my eyes shaded behind my sunglasses. Ruby’s two little pigtails stick almost straight up from her head and her smile stretches from ear to ear as Vanessa pushes her on her new swing set. Mikey and Stone helped me put it up last weekend, and it’s been a fight getting her off it since. Vanessa had to pull her off it kicking and screaming the first night just to feed her dinner and give her a bath. Life with a two-year-old is definitely entertaining.

My gaze moves to my beautiful wife and I feel my breath catch in my throat. I knew from the moment I met her that she was stronger than most women her age, and she’s proven it time and time again over the years. Our first year together was nothing short of perfection. We were completely consumed with each other. I still led the club and made time for my boys, but Vanessa took every other second I had to spare.

Unfortunately, her dad decided to resurface while she was already feeling the stress of planning the wedding. His attempt at reconnecting brought her trauma back to the surface, and she had to take some real time to deal with everything she had gone through before she ran to my doorstep. But this time, I couldn’t protect her. I had to sit by and watch helplessly as the nightmares haunted her. It was fucking torture. All I wanted was to take her pain away, but I had to let her therapist do the work. Thankfully talking it out in weekly sessions seemed to get her through it, and the nightmares have stayed away since.

Ruby’s arrival came a little later. I knew that Vanessa had gone off her birth control, but honestly, I think it happened quicker than either of us expected. I guess we were lucky in that aspect. Lacey and Mikey tried for almost a year before she finally got pregnant. Vanessa felt so guilty, and I had to keep reminding her that we didn’t have any control over it.

“Dada!” Ruby’s high-pitched squeal calls out as she catches sight of me.

“Hi, sweet girl. Are you swinging again?” I ask moving closer.

“Push...push...” she begs.

“I think Momma is pushing you,” I try, but notice Vanessa’s eyebrows lift.

“Momma’s been pushing so long that her arms are about to fall off. I think maybe Daddy should take a turn,” she smiles back at me.

I step behind the swing set and Vanessa takes a small step to the side, giving me just enough room to push our daughter. I slide my free arm around Vanessa's back and pull her in close, holding her against the side of my body.

“How’d your meeting go? Did you get everything done?” she asks softly against my chest.

“Smooth as fuckin’ silk, sweetheart,” I grin back before dropping my lips to cover her sweet mouth. “And what did you and the little princess do today?” I ask as we break.

“Well, we went to the library, and then to the bakery to see Diane. When we were done in town we came back here for lunch and naptime, and of course lots and lots of swinging,” she shares.

“You went to the bakery?” I question, suddenly feeling my stomach begin to ache for something sweet.

“Don’t worry, we brought you back some cookies,” she grins up at me as I give Ruby another hefty push, sending her back out into the air.

“Sounds like you had a pretty productive day,” I observe.

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