I lay in his arms, content and complete. If I closed my eyes, I could pretend that nothing was wrong. That there was nothing waiting for me outside my front door. That everything would turn out okay.
I squeezed my eyes shut harder, and pressed my cheek to his chest.
“Thank you,” I whispered into his chest. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Always,” he whispered back. My heart skipped a beat, wanting to believe him. I wanted to believe this was an always. I could imagine a future with him that was bright and wonderful.
I opened one eye and looked up at him. He looked sexy as hell with wet and wild hair and stubble from the day. I pressed my palm into his cheek, feeling the rough hair on his jaw press into my skin. Just looking at him made my body want more.
“Why are you so good to me?” I asked.
He frowned slightly, as if he didn’t understand my question. “What do you mean?”
“Why are you so wonderful? You bring me dinner, you wash my hair, you let me cry, you make me feel better.” I ticked off fingers as I listed the wonderful things he had done for me just this evening.
He kissed my cheek before smiling at me. “You have no idea the way you make me feel. You don’t treat me like anyone else does.”
It was my turn to frown. “I treat you just like I treat everyone,” I said. “Although, not with the sex. That is special to you.”
He chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest and directly into mine. “And you have no idea how much I enjoy it.”
I just frowned more.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” he said. He licked his lips and for one second, the ever-present confidence faltered.
“You can tell me anything,” I said softly. He smiled with his mouth but his jaw tightened.
“Aria...” He swallowed hard. “This is harder than I thought it would be.”
I hated seeing him like this. Nervous wasn’t his style. Besides, I was so happy right now. I didn’t want to know. The only things I could think of that he would struggle to tell me would be bad things.
I had enough bad things for tonight.
“Are you married?” I asked. Apprehension filled my chest. Finding out that he wasn’t really mine and that I was the other woman was the worst thing I could imagine. “Or engaged or anything like that?”
He shook his head, his blue eyes full of honesty. He smiled and touched my cheek. “No. You’re the only one.”
A flood of warmth entered my chest that I was his one. “I am?”
He smiled and kissed my forehead. “Yes.” He lowered his chin, his eyes serious as he looked into my soul. “Am I yours?”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Very much so.”
His smile lit my world. We were a couple.
“Will you say it?” I asked. “Say I’m your girlfriend.”
“You’re my girlfriend,” he said, his grin for me only. His expression became protective. “And you are all mine.”
“Good.” I kissed him. “I don’t want to be anyone else’s. Just yours.”
He held me to him, his strong arms wrapping around me. I closed my eyes and let myself be enveloped by him. In his arms, I was safe. I was wanted.
“Then you’re all mine,” he said, tucking his face into my shoulder and holding me to him.
For the first time all day, I felt like the world was going to be okay. With Henry by my side, I could get through this.
And with his arms keeping me safe, I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 17
Henry was gone when I woke the next morning, but he’d made coffee and left a heart on a piece of paper underneath an empty cup. It was a good way to wake up and bode well for the rest of the day.
At work, I did everything in my power not to read a single document. I knew it was futile, but it was the only thing I could do that didn’t give Audrey power over me.
I scanned and probably misfiled half the documents, but I didn’t want to know what was on them. If I knew, then I would have to tell my stepmother. If I honestly had no idea, then I couldn’t tell her.
It was a flimsy excuse, but at the moment it was all I had.
Guilt about everything clung to me, smothering like smoke.