Page 63 of Redemption

Shep turns and looks at her. “Are you okay if I leave?”

Is she? Part of her wants to say no. She hasn’t been alone, in close quarters, with her husband since the night she begged him to spend the weekend with them. But the other part of her knows she has to prove to herself she can do this. Even if every fiber of her being wants to jump his bones and find the release she hasn’t had in ages, she needs to prove everything will be okay.

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

“If you’re not, just call me. I’ll be here in less than five minutes. And I’ll be ready to kick some ass.”

“Get the fuck out of here,” Colt snaps. “I got this.”

He laughs. “Yeah, that’s not exactly a believable statement there, bud. But whatever you say.”

Just as he steps onto the porch, Colt grabs the door. She reaches her hand out. “Don’t slam the-”

The door slams hard, and Calla screams.

“Door,” she finishes.

His eyes widen. “Shit, I’m sorry, Lex.”

Hanging her head, she turns and sighs. “It’s fine. She never got her bath anyway.”

He follows her to the bedroom where their daughter sits in her toddler bed, shaking in fear. “Sorry, baby girl.”

“Da-da?” she asks, her screams quieting.

Lex’s heart melts. The time he’s spent with her has made a difference, and she feels safe rather than alarmed around him. It’s what she wanted, and he finally did something right.

“Yeah, Daddy was being a dum dum,” he says and hits the side of his head, making her laugh. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Dad?” Noah asks from the doorway. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey, buddy,” he says and looks at their son. “I just need to talk to your mom.”

He rubs his eyes. “Did you slam the door?”

“The wind caught it,” she says, suddenly unsure why she lies. “He didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to bed, baby.”

“Will you be here in the morning?”

The hesitation and disbelief in their son’s voice reminds her the decision made was the right one. It needed to be done, and it’s in their best interest.

“I will,” he assures.

Her heart races, and it hits her like a ton of bricks. The club’s on lockdown, and she’s stuck in close quarters with her husband. Soon-to-be ex-husband. And she hasn’t had sex in so long her body quivers at the thought of him being here all night. Great.

“Goodnight,” he says and hugs his parents before heading back to his room. “See you in the morning.”

“I love you,” Colt says.

“Love you, too.”

Hearing the words of affection choke her, and she fights back a sob. If she were alone after hearing that exchange, she’d be rocking in the fetal position, crying like a baby. This is all she wanted. Months ago, she would have been over the moon, but Colt was incapable. Now that they’re not together, he’s able to do everything he couldn’t before. Maybe it really was her fault.

“Come here, baby girl,” Lex says and takes Calla from Colt. “We’re going to get into the bath.”

“Bath time!” she shouts and claps her hands.

“Will this get her back to sleep or make her more excited?” he asks with a laugh.

---