It Wasn't Me - Lani Lynn Vale Page 0,62

you.”

Pace’s lips tipped up into a grin. “He’s a likable asshole.”

“I know!” I said. “He’s a likable asshole. Once you get to know him, though, he’s super sweet. Right, Jonah?”

He snorted.

“Right.”

I popped him on the belly with the back of my hand, then tugged free of his arms and turned around to turn the Roomba off.

“Guess I need to add this area to the ‘no go’ zone on my app,” I muttered darkly when I stood up straight. “I can’t believe I did this to y’all. I’m so sorry.”

Jonah’s hand went to my hair and tugged loosely on my already messy curls.

I hadn’t gotten a chance to add my usual amount of goop to my hair, so it was drying in a riot of curls that went every which way but the way I wanted them to.

Jonah loved it. Me? Not so much.

“Don’t worry, baby,” he said. “After the initial terror finally dissipated from my veins, I was quite excited to come home and see you in my uniform shirt. Though just sayin’, you may want to take another shower. I got pissed on yesterday by a small baby.”

I laughed and pushed him away from me, turned to Pace, and then said, “I have donuts if y’all want them.”

Jonah growled under his breath, causing me to smile widely.

“I love donuts,” Pace said. “But only the chocolate ones.”

I glanced at Jonah. “I only bought two chocolate. Those are Jonah’s least favorite, but he still likes a variety.”

“Then I’ll take you up on the offer.” Pace paused. “For the two chocolate.”

I pulled free of Jonah once again and walked to the bedroom, gathering the donuts that I’d yet to take to the kitchen. Once I had them, I turned to find Jonah standing in the doorway.

“What?” I asked softly.

“I was terrified on the way home,” he said as he walked forward and pulled the donuts from my hands. “Scared to death of what I’d find when I arrived.”

I swallowed hard at the emotion that was pouring from him.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated for the millionth time. “I’m so sorry.”

He dropped his mouth to mine, giving me a sweet kiss.

“I love you.”

I drew in a deep breath, stealing the breath right out of his mouth.

“You…you love me?” I squeaked.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “I’ve felt this way for a while. It was just on the ride over today that I realized I should probably share that with you.”

I felt tears prick my eyes as I tried to get my emotions under control.

“I love you, too,” I murmured. “I don’t know why I waited either, to be honest. Just that I didn’t want to scare you off. It’s hard because I’ve wanted to say those three words to you since the first day that we were married but…I didn’t want to seem like some psycho.”

He snorted and pulled away from me.

“I have to go,” he murmured. “I’ll probably have to skip lunch now.”

I dropped my lip and pouted. “Bummer.”

He tugged my curl one last time. “I’ll see you at dinner, though. Will you remember to grab me a change of clothes?”

I nodded. “Of course I will. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

He pulled back, then pressed a single finger to my belly, his eyes going soft.

“Shit, I’m so screwed,” he whispered.

Then he left, making me smile.

The man was right. He was so screwed.

And that’s exactly like I liked him.

Chapter 17

I gotta get my life together. This damn heat made me realize that I can’t go to hell.

-Piper to Jonah

Piper

My luck seemed to hold true, too.

I was driving to the dog groomer to pick up my babies, lost in my own world, and heading down the street just past our driveway. I wasn’t paying attention as closely as I should have, otherwise I would’ve seen the accelerating lifted truck that was half in, half out of the road.

I cursed and tried to stop, but it was no use.

Instead of doing any damage to the truck and having to pay for their damages, too, I chose option B and swerved into the ditch.

The Jeep bounced and bobbled, and then all of a sudden, it was on its side, and I was staring at the world sideways.

I tried to get out, but the seatbelt was stuck.

I let my head rest against the seat next to me for a few seconds before realizing what I would have to do.

I wasn’t even off of our road yet, and since Jonah and I were one of three other houses that lived