“But still, it feels like my reputation has been tainted. It’s basically my word against his as far as the police are concerned.”
“And your word is golden. Everyone knows that. Have faith in who you are, sweetheart. I sure as hell do.”
She was quiet for a second, before saying, “I miss the people there already. They were like family.” Tears slipped from her eyes. “And I have no idea how I can ever face Darren again. He must hate me.”
“He can’t hate you for being his son’s victim. The truth about Alan will come out, Chloe. Have faith in that.” He brushed her tears away and said, “Do you think there’s any chance Darren knew what Alan was like? Do you think he’d cover up for him?”
“No. No way,” she said in a stronger voice. “Darren’s old-school, a gentleman. He treats women with the utmost respect. I don’t believe he’d look the other way if he knew. But I didn’t see what Alan was doing, and I was in the thick of it. Darren was probably as blindsided as I was.”
“You put a lot of faith in this Darren guy.”
“I do, and I know you probably doubt my ability to judge right now, but he’s always been fair and stood up for all the right things.” She sighed heavily. “This is so hard. Maybe it’s best if I just quit and move on.”
He wasn’t going to let that happen. “First of all, I don’t doubt your ability to judge people. Chloe, what happened was an anomaly. You have excellent judgment.” Vying for a smile, he said, “You chose me, right?” His words finally earned the smile he missed. “Seriously, sweet cheeks, you’ve worked too hard to get where you are, and for the people who live there, to give Rogers the power to take them from you.”
She rolled onto her back and gazed up at the ceiling. “Can we go back in time to my birthday, when I woke up to balloons and life was blissfully happy?”
“I’ll fill the bedroom with balloons every day if it would make you happy.” He kissed her shoulder, then trailed his fingers up her belly. Goose bumps rose beneath his touch. Her smile finally reached her eyes.
“I don’t need balloons. I love my work, and I wish I felt okay going back, but I could survive working someplace else.”
“You’ve spent enough of your lifetime just surviving. Hopefully you’ll find a way to feel at peace going back to the people and the work you love.” He kissed the swell of her breast and said, “Let’s give it a few days and see how you feel. We should get out of here and take a walk, clear our heads.”
“That would be nice, after you kiss me some more,” she whispered.
The longing in her voice made him ache to help her become whole again. He lavished her breasts with sensual kisses, and soon her desires took over and she was moaning and bowing up off the mattress. He lowered his mouth over one taut peak, and she pushed her hands into his hair, holding him there. She writhed beside him, brushing her softness against his hard length.
He rained kisses up her neck, moving over her, and said, “You okay, baby?”
“Yes.” Lust and love intertwined in her needful eyes, and she said, “There’s only one thing I can’t live without.”
“What’s that, darlin’?” He skimmed his hand down her hip, and as their bodies came together, he saw their love pushing all of those unsettled thoughts away.
She gazed up at him with clearer, loving eyes and whispered, “You.”
A DOUBLE DOSE of Justin and fresh air was exactly what Chloe needed. After loving each other senseless, they’d eaten breakfast and taken Sampson for a long walk in the woods. They held hands and talked about their future, which had seemed a painful subject about an unattainable dream just a few hours earlier. But Justin had a way of clearing the clouds and helping her see things more clearly. By the time they came through the woods on the back side of the property, she felt a lot better. The late-morning sun shimmered off the inky pond water. Sampson slowed to sniff something on the ground, and Justin leaned in for a kiss.
They walked along the side yard, making their way toward the front of the house. “You’ve been home with me for days,” Chloe said. “I appreciate it, but I’m sure Blaine needs you.