Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,165

father.”

She’s right. “Has Dean really changed?” I ask the same question that kept me up last night.

Victoria’s hand lands on my chest, covering where my heart is. “Only this can tell you.”

Hannah rises from the chair and walks toward the door. “You know, Chelsea, when I hired you, it was between you and another woman. Do you know why I hired you?”

She stops in the doorway.

“Why?”

“You’re a fighter. I knew you’d go all in and get the job done. The same goes for a relationship. Let’s remember why we’re all divorced.”

Victoria and I say nothing.

“We’re divorced because the men we married weren’t all in. A successful relationship takes two people who will give one hundred percent. I know Dean disappointed you before, but he seems all in by everything you’ve told us. The question is, are you?” She leaves the room with a soft smile.

I look up to Victoria, whose lips are pressed together.

“She’s right. I never really did think of it like that, but she’s got a point.” She pulls me in for a hug and then stands.

“Yes, she does,” I mumble after everyone’s left.

I open my desk drawer, pulling out my jump drive. My stomach rumbles with nausea as I wait for it to load on my computer until the small thumbnail images pop up.

I click on the first picture. A selfie of Dean and I. Were we really that young once upon a time? His arm is slung around me, my lips pressed to his cheek, a million-dollar smile on his face.

I scroll forward to photos of us at his games, us at parties, out with our friends and the only constant is Dean is by my side. Even when I’m with my friends, he’s photobombing in the background. A smile comes to my lips remembering how much fun we had during those short months.

Checking the time, I see it’s eleven thirty. I grab my purse and phone off my desk.

“I’ll be back after lunch,” I say, not waiting for a response.

“Well then,” Victoria says but the door shuts and I press the elevator button before I hear more.

It’s always been Dean. I need to finally give him all of me.

I use my new key to open Dean’s apartment and I’m greeted immediately by Grover, his tail wagging and drool hanging from his mouth.

“Hey Grover,” I say, looking around for his leash. “Do you want to go outside?” I bend down and pet him, spotting his leash on the table by the front door. “Okay, let’s go.”

I drop my stuff, attach the leash and move toward the door. It opens before I can grab the knob.

Dean strolls in, his tie already loosened from his neck. A smile warms his entire face and I’m reminded of the pictures I looked at moments ago when I walked down the aisle toward Elvis at that small chapel in Vegas. I really wish I’d been more coherent, so I could remember marrying him better.

“I like this scene way too much.” Dean places his computer bag on a chair and bee-lines it right over to me.

“Grover needs to go out.”

“I pay a dog walker. He was here a half hour ago. He’s fine.” His head burrows into my neck and he lifts me into his arms, inhaling deep. “I need you more.”

“You spent all day Sunday with me.” I laugh, my head falling back, and his teeth nip along my neck.

“I need you every minute of every day.” He kicks off his shoes.

Grover’s leash slips out of my hands.

I cup his face between my hands, staring down at the man I’d convinced myself I loathed for the past five years.

My head drops, and I capture his heart-shaped lips, my tongue searching for entry. He opens as though he’s been waiting for this moment all day. Our tongues glide and explore one another’s mouth. He tastes like the mint he must have had on the way here.

He gradually releases me until my feet touch the floor. His forehead lands on mine and he searches my face, for what I don’t know.

“Something’s changed,” he says, his fingers feeling for the zipper on the back of my dress.

The zipper sliding down is the only sound in the condo while our gazes remain locked.

“Nothing’s changed.”

“The imaginary wall that was between us isn’t there anymore,” he says with a touch of wonder in his voice, like he can’t believe it.

His hands glide up my back, slowly lowering the dress off my shoulders.

“I’m just happy.” I close my