Page 90 of Love Me Gently

“You do.” He quieted me with his words, and his thumb switched to his whole palm cupping my cheek. My lips parted in surprise at the way he touched me.

So tender and gentle. Soloving.

“Tonight, I sat across the table from you, a woman I’ve always loved, with the girls who have the rest of my entire heart, and I loved every single minute of it. I know you feel guilty for what you’ve done, and I was angry at you for a long time, but I have June and Ella, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. In a way, you gave me that gift, too. So thank you.”

“Cole…” I trailed off, because not only could I think of anything wise to say, or an apology that made it all right, but also because he was leaning closer, closing his eyes.

And then his lips were gently brushing over my forehead, freezing me to the floor beneath my feet. Hekissed me, with a softness and care I hadn’t experienced possibly since I walked away from him. A warm shiver cascaded down my spine, making my body tremble, and then his lips were gone, his fingers brushing my cheek.

“Think about that tonight, too, while you’re worrying, okay?”

Like I had a chance of thinking of anythingbutthat, now.

“Are you okay?”Valerie whispered through the phone. “Cole called Kip earlier. Kip’s freaking out with Jonathan there.”

At least I didn’t have to tell her about the morning. As soon as I heard her voice, the strength I’d tried to hold on to all day started to crumble.

“I don’t know how I feel about this. He’shere, Val.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t know. Kip didn’t even know he was out of town, but we’re not all that surprised.”

“What? Why? I mean, outside his anger, anyway.”

There was a pause and then, “We’re working on some things here. I don’t want to get your hopes up, and I’m not going to tell you what’s going on, but there are plans in the works to get Jonathan fired.”

“Val, you can’t tell me that and not tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t, honey. But I swear it’s for your benefit and protection. Trust me.”

I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see it.Knowinghelped me know how to prepare.

“Just, listen,” she said, and her voice was barely above a whisper which only scared me more. “There’s been information given to Kip, from reliable sources, and things have been snowballing this week. I don’t even know if he told Cole earlier but trust me. What we’re working on has the potential to send Jonathan away for a very long time.”

My head was spinning. “Val…”

“Honestly, if I could tell you more now, I would. But trust me that I’m truly thinking of you right now, and I’ve never steered you wrong before. You’ll learn everything when you can but until then, we can’t risk Jonathan finding out. It just might take some more time, but if he’s suspicious of anything, it doesn’t surprise me he’s there to get you. Stay strong though, and trust Cole and Kip and I.”

That I could do. I was at least learning how to trust Cole. “Promise you’ll tell me when you can.”

“Absolutely, honey. I swear it.”

It went against every instinct I had to let it go, but Valerie had been the only person I could trust for years.

“Okay, I’ll try.”

“Good. Now, Kip talked to some of the men who handle his private security. He’s used them before… remember when we had that stalker?”

“Youhad the stalker,” I grumbled, because it was the truth. Some man started sending her pictures, inappropriate ones where you couldn’t see his face, just his unclothed hip area wearing nothing but his birthday suit.

“Regardless, Kip wants to send Jim and some of his men up there to keep an eye on you. They can do things that a man of the law can’t. If you get what I’m saying.”

“You’re not exactly speaking in code.” I picked at the duvet covering my lap, and Valerie chuckled. “I’m scared. The bruises everyone can see are finally gone, but I’m broken inside, Val, and I can’t… I had dinner tonight with Cole and his girls, and all I kept thinking about was that he should have another.”

“Don’t,” Valerie said. She snapped the word quietly but firmly. “Don’t go down that road. He’soverit, Trina. He’s over it, and the only way you’ll truly be able to move on is to forgive yourself. You were young, and you had plans. You made choices, and there’s nothing you can do now. You can’trightthe wrong, but you can start living with some happiness.”

Man, she was really getting good at this advice stuff.

“It feels so overwhelming to try.”

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