Page 73 of Deceit & Desire

“Zoe,” he said sharply, his voice cutting through the noise of the reception. He looked back at me, shaking his head. “This is—this is too much. I can’t take this.”

“Yes, you can,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze. “You earned it, Rick. If it weren’t for you, Cody would’ve gotten away that night. I wouldn’t even be standing here. You saved my life.”

He shook his head, taking a step back, his jaw tight. “I was just doing what anyone would’ve done.”

“No, you weren’t,” I countered, my voice soft but unyielding. “You did what the right person would’ve done. And this isn’t just about what you did for me—it’s about what you’re going to do for yourself. From what Roman told me, you’ve talked about that garage and towing service for years. It’s time to make it happen.”

Rick’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his hand tightening around the envelope. For a moment, his usual confidence faltered, replaced by something raw, vulnerable.

“It’s a lot of money, Zoe.”

“And it’s worth every penny,” I said without hesitation. “Take it. Consider it a wedding gift to me, if that helps. Or just call it a thank you. But don’t walk away from this.”

He looked down at the check again, his expression conflicted. I could see the wheels turning in his head—the pride that told him not to accept it, the dreams that told him he couldn’t afford not to. Finally, he let out a long breath, a small, grateful smile tugging at his lips.

“You’re something else, Zoe York,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank you. Really.”

“You deserve it,” I said simply, placing a hand on his arm. “But Montana and Alabama are a hell of a long way apart, Rick. Just promise me you’ll stay in touch, okay? And if Roman and I are ever in Bay Minette, we’ll stop through and see you. For sure.”

Rick’s lips twitched, his expression softening into something almost boyish. “You’d better. You’ll have a free oil change waiting for you, no matter how far apart we are.”

I laughed, the tension breaking as I gave his arm a squeeze. “Deal.”

As I turned to rejoin Roman, I caught Kat watching from across the yard, a knowing smirk on her face. She raised her glass to me, and I shook my head with a smile. She knew. She always knew.

The music swelled as I reached Roman, his hand already outstretched to pull me into a slow dance. The world seemed to fade away, the chatter of the crowd and the twinkle of the lights blurring into the background. He twirled me under the string lights, his eyes never leaving mine, and for the first time in years, I felt something I’d almost forgotten—peace.

Tonight wasn’t just about me and Roman. It was about all of us. About Kat, with her sharp wit and fierce loyalty. About Rick, finally taking a step toward the life he deserved. About finding our places in the world and holding on to them, no matter how hard the storms tried to take them away. And as I rested my head against Roman’s shoulder, I couldn’t wait to see what came next—for all of us.

Chapter29

A Claiming

PLAYLIST: “YOU ARE THE REASON” BY CALUM SCOTT AND LEONA LEWIS

ROMAN

The reception buzzed around us—laughter,music, the clink of glasses—but all I could hear was the sound of Zoe’s breath against my neck as we swayed under the string lights. My arms circled her waist, pulling her closer, and I could feel the steady beat of her heart against mine. For a man who spent most of his life feeling like the ground could disappear beneath his feet at any moment, this was the closest thing to solid I’d ever known.

Zoe’s head rested against my shoulder, her body soft and warm in my arms, and I caught a faint whiff of the wildflowers woven into her hair. She looked like something out of a dream tonight, glowing in the soft light, her laughter weaving through the air like a melody I wanted to wrap myself in. My wife. I still couldn’t believe it.

I leaned my head down, my lips brushing the shell of her ear as I whispered, “How soon can we get out of here?”

She pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at me, her green eyes sparkling with amusement. “You’re the groom,” she teased. “You tell me.”

“I’m telling you I need you all to myself,” I said, my voice low and rough. “Now.”

Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile, and damn if that didn’t make my pulse skip. She reached up, her fingers brushing the back of my neck, and her touch was so light, so familiar, it sent a shiver through me.

“We’ve got a whole crowd here to entertain,” she said softly, though her voice had that edge of mischief I knew all too well. “You think they won’t notice if we disappear?”

“Let ’em notice,” I murmured, my gaze dropping to her mouth. “I don’t care. They’ve had you all night, and I’ve been patient. But you’re mine now, Mrs. York. Every inch of you.”

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, and she bit her lip, a little laugh escaping her. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“For you? Always.”

The music changed to something slower, softer, and I took the opportunity to pull her even closer, my hand sliding down her back. She fit against me like she was made for it, and I felt her fingers tighten slightly against my shoulder.

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