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Layla patted him on the chest as she made her way out, but his eyes were locked on me. “You’re up, bossman. Try not to mess it up this time.”
“Paisley.” Hearing my name falling from his lips lit a fire under my ass, and I was up and moving.
Chapter Eight
CROW
Ididn’t know what to expect when I agreed to Layla’s demand to come with her to P’s apartment.
Having Paisley run and throw herself into his arms wasn’t it, though. Not that I was complaining. We’d only been apart for two days, but it felt like an eternity.
“Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay,” I whispered into her hair when I felt her body shake against mine. I hated when she cried; it tore me up inside.
Tightening my arms around her, I kicked the door closed and duck-walked to the couch.
There was no way I was letting P go now that I had her back in my arms, but I had things I needed to say — things she needed to hear.
I spun around and fell back onto her sofa with her body still attached to mine, then dipped my head to breathe her in.
My eyes closed on their own accord as her scent anchored me. God, I’d missed this — the feel of her curvy body pressed to mine and the way she always smelled of pears from her shampoo.
“I’m so sorry, baby. Please don’t cry.” She nodded, then tipped her head, giving me her eyes. Using my thumbs, I brushed away her tears, hating that I was the reason for them.
“I should have told you the truth sooner, but I was afraid. I couldn’t risk it.”
Paisley’s brows pulled in. “Risk what?”
Heart thundering in my chest, I looked down at my hands and tried to explain. “I was scared you’d want a divorce. I mean, we were drunk when we tied the knot, but the second I saw that paper saying you were mine—” I shook my head, still struggling to believe I was lucky enough to have her for a wife. “— I knew if given enough time, that I could earn your love. That I could convince you staying with me was a good bet.”
“Nathan?”
“Yeah?” I lifted my head.
Relaxing into my hold, she burrowed deeper into my chest. “I forgive you.”
My eyes closed as relief washed over me. “Thank fuck.”
“I missed you,” she added quickly. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear those words. Being without her had been misery.
“I missed you too.” I kissed the top of her head. “Let’s make a deal. The next time you get pissed off at me, do it from another room, yeah. Not another house.”
“You plan on pissing me off often?” I chuckled. Paisley and I had a history of bumping heads. I knew it was only a matter of time before she was ready to punch me in the nuts.
“It’s bound to happen,” I told her truthfully.
“True,” she giggled. “You got yourself a deal.”
I was glad we were able to compromise because I didn’t think I could survive being without her again.
Epilogue
PAISLEY
“Has he put her down at all?” I looked up to find my brother and Zo standing in the doorway with their eyes trained on Crow, who held a sleeping V against his chest. Following Max’s line of sight, I turned to my husband and daughter and smiled at the sight.
Crow’s eyes were closed, but I knew he wasn’t asleep.
I didn’t think that would change until we were home, and he could stop stressing about “strangers waltzing in and out” of my room. They weren’t strangers, they were nurses, and it was their job to check in on us.
