Page 194 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Great. I’ll confirm the reservation.” I pushed off the counter and pulled her into my arms, relishing the feel of her body against mine. “I love you. More than anything.”
She tilted her head back, her hazel eyes shining with emotion. “I love you, too. Thank you for being so patient with me. You’ve been my rock through all of this.”
I lowered my head, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. I pulled back slightly, my hands still resting on her hips. “There’s one more thing. I asked your mom if she’d be willing to stay with Ro tonight, give them some bonding time together.”
Zoey’s eyes widened in surprise. “You did?” She bit her lower lip, uncertainty flickering across her face. “I don’t know. I mean, I trust my mom, but Ro’s been through so much already...”
“I get it, babe. But your mom loves him, and he needs to spend time with his grandma. He has to know he’s got a whole family who adores him.” I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering on her soft skin. “Plus, I think it’d be good for you to have a night off from being Super Mom.”
She chuckled. “Well, you seem to have it all arranged. I’d love to go out with you tonight.”
“Yeah?” I grinned, excitement buzzing through me. “There’s just one condition.”
She arched an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”
“You have to promise me that if you start feeling tired or overwhelmed, you’ll tell me. No trying to push through it for my sake. We’ll leave right away, no questions asked.”
Zoey’s eyes shone with gratitude and love. “I promise.”
I pulled her in for another kiss, pouring all my love and devotion into it. Tonight, I would make sure she felt cherished, adored, and safe. Even if only for a few hours, I wanted to give her a glimpse of the life we could have together once George was no longer a threat.
When we finally broke apart, I murmured, “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you happy, Zoey Lester. You can count on that.”
She smiled, a real, genuine smile that lit up her entire face. “I already am happy. Happier than I ever thought possible.”
This wonderful woman amazed me. Even after everything she’d endured, she was still open to letting joy and light into her life. To letting me bring that into her life. It was a gift I would never take for granted.
A knock signaled Bridget’s arrival. I watched, amused, as Zoey immediately switched to Overprotective Mom mode the moment she opened the door.
“Okay, Mom, remember Ro’s bedtime is 8:30 sharp. Don’t let him convince you otherwise. And he’s allowed one sugary snack, but that’s it. Oh, and make sure he brushes his teeth for a full two minutes...”
Zoey rattled off instructions as Ro peeked out shyly from behind her leg, studying his grandmother with cautious curiosity. Bridget listened patiently, but I could see a flicker of exasperation in her green eyes.
“Zoey, sweetheart, I do know how to take care of an eight-year-old,” Bridget said gently when Zoey finally paused for breath. “I did raise two children, remember?”
Zoey’s shoulders stiffened. Her relationship with her mom was complicated, with a lot of unresolved hurt. But Bridget seemed to be trying, in her own way.
“I’m looking forward to spending some one-on-one time with my grandson.” Bridget’s gaze shifted to Ro. She held up a brightly colored box. “I even brought a new board game I thought you might like. Do you want to see?”
Ro perked up and inched out from behind Zoey, moving closer to Bridget to inspect the game. I gave Zoey’s hand a reassuring squeeze, silently reminding her that it was okay to let go a little.
Zoey took a deep breath, then knelt and hugged Ro. “You be good for Grandma, okay? I love you.”
“Love you, too, Mom,” Ro said against her shoulder.
As Zoey released him, I held out a fist to Ro. “Hold down the fort, buddy. I’m counting on you.”
Ro bumped his fist against mine, his chest puffing up a bit with an eight-year-old’s bravado. “You got it.”
I could see the tension still lingering in the set of Zoey’s jaw, the furrow between her brows as she watched her mother and son get into the car. Gently, I brought her hand to my lips, brushing a kiss over her knuckles.
“Hey, it’s going to be fine,” I said. “Your mom seems to be trying, and Ro’s a smart, resilient kid. He’s going to be okay for a couple of hours. One night.”
Zoey sighed. “I know. I just worry. Old habits and all that.”
“I have my best men watching them. So, tonight, let’s just focus on us. On giving you a break from all the stress and enjoying some time together.”
Her lips quirked into a smile. “Okay. I think I can manage that. Thank you. You always know exactly what I need.”
