Page 92 of Vow of Revenge
“I know.”
“You deserve to find someone else. You’ll find happiness again, one day.”
“Not yet. It just feels too soon.” His voice strained. “I still miss how she wrapped me around her little finger with just a bat of her pretty lashes. I would have given that woman anything she wanted. I miss everything about her.”
“Me too.” A lump began to swell in my throat, and I felt his breathing quicken like he was holding back. “Thanks for helping him move in.” I squeezed his arm.
“I didn’t have a choice. He’s quite persuasive.”
I laughed lightly. “Quite?”
Tilly darted inside. “Daddy, Uncle Kaleb said you’ll take me for a milkshake. Will you, Daddy, will you please?”
Brett stood back from me and scooped his daughter up into his arms. “Sure thing, Shortie. Let’s go now. I fancy extra whipped cream on mine.” He grinned.
Her small hand pressed to his cheek. “I like it when you smile, Daddy.”
The buzz of sadness turned my knees to jelly. Then Kaleb’s hand was on me. Tight, firm and right where it needed to be. “Do you want a milkshake, Freya?” I felt his lips press down on my head.
I loved hearing him say my name. “No, I’d rather stay here and organise the house.”
He reached across to Tilly and nipped the tip of her nose gently. “Right, little one. See you tomorrow. Make sure you bring Champ with you.” Kaleb leaned in and kissed her rosy cheek. Then he hunkered down and rubbed the dog’s furry face. “Miss you, big guy. Thanks for watching over her.”
Brett and Tilly left us alone, in our home. Kaleb had moved the last of his belongings into my place home. It was his idea to move in with me, after all, I’d already moved a few times.
“I hope Calvin doesn’t think he’s going to pick up the rent for this place now that I’ve moved in?” he said slicing the tape from another sealed box.
“Now that you brought that up.” I looked at him cautiously. “I’m only doing freelance work at the minute, so I don’t have the cash to throw at this place. What I earn goes towards food bills, heating and all the other grown up bills.”
A smile graced his beautiful lips. “Are you serious, Freya? That’s the last thing you need to worry about now.”
“Why now?” I sauntered over to him because he was mine to hold whenever I wanted.
“Because this is the big world now, we cohabit. I’ll pay the rent - and the rest.” His fingers traced my jaw, spreading the familiar volts of electricity to my core.
My giggle was muffled by his shoulder. “Cohabiting means joint. We’re a partnership. I don’t want to live off your money.” The smell of his skin never failed to make me think of home and sex and that night we danced until our bodies ached.
“Calvin warned me about this.” I felt his sigh. “If you won’t take my money, then we’ll just have to live off yours,” he said softly, shrugging.
“Reverse psychology? Did you learn that from Dr. Frank?” My hands slid down to his tight ass.
His arms fell away, leaving me to stand alone. Rummaging in his back pocket, a wide smile lit up his sexy face. These days he laughed and talked like freedom was a welcomed friend. His vengeance was in the past. I loved watching the weight of his memories lift from his shoulders as each day passed.
“Freya, you’ll have all the money you could ever need, if you marry me. It will be ours, together, in our home with our stuff, with our memories and our past – together we can accomplish anything, even eternal happiness. I love you so much it hurts. Like physically hurts, my stomach aches and my head pounds when you’re not with me. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what it is.”
“A hangover, maybe?” I joked until he held out a solitaire diamond ring in the palm of his hand.
“Please, say yes?” He cocked his head.
My eyes almost crossed, gazing down at the engagement ring, in Kaleb De Courcy’s hand, my boyfriend. “I thought you were joking. I’m going to faint. YES!” I screamed, snatching the ring and lunging into his open arms.
His tender lips kissed the crown of my head, and he mumbled into my hair, “I have something else for you.”
I backed away, feeling lightheaded. “What is it? You know I hate surprises.”
“Wait there. Don’t move an inch.” Kaleb jogged into the hallway and returned with a cardboard box punctured with holes on the top.
He held it forward. “This is for you. I had to bribe Tilly not to tell you about the secret present. She picked it for you.” He grinned sheepishly as a lock of hair tumbled over his forehead in a sexy suggestive movement.
