Page 102 of Crimson Love

He’s already packing up his gear. “You did great. Sounds like I might be back.”

Jett pulls me into his arms. “I’m in awe of your bravery. Now we sit back and see what he does. There’s no more hiding out in the shadows for Reed Shaw. The world knows what he’s capable of, and his days of ruining people’s lives and his freedom are numbered.”

We’re in Harlow and Devon’s family room again. This place really is the most private on the resort. Devon walks into the room through the door and looks right at me. “You did exactly what you needed to do. I watched it live on my cell on my way up here. Ozzy has expanded his surveillance to every number that has contacted Reed. If your father is communicating with them through another line, we’ll find him. This was exactly what we needed to do to flush out the bastard.”

I press my front to Jett’s side and wrap my arms around his waist. “I hope so. The sooner this will be over the better.”

Devon pulls a key fob from his pocket and slings it through the air at Jett. “You’re just like your sister having a new auto hand-delivered like it’s toilet paper. Only your sister likes Jags to your all-American pickup truck.”

I look up at Jett as he catches the fob in midair. “You bought a new truck?”

He shrugs like he’s embarrassed by the news. “My other one had almost a hundred and fifty thousand miles anyway. I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade. If for no other reason, I need a way to visit the pets. Panther and Smoke will never forgive me if I go another day.”

Harlow rolls her eyes at Devon. “I’m surprised you didn’t take it for a spin like you did when I bought a new car.”

Devon smirks. “You were about to leave me. Desperate times call for desperate measures, baby.”

“Take me for a ride,” I demand. “It will get my mind off of this. And I haven’t been out of the manor in days.”

Jett tosses the fob into the air and catches it. “We’ll test out the four-wheel drive in the fresh snow.”

Despite just sitting down with a national news desk and spilling my sordid life details, I’m surprisingly excited to go for a drive. My smile spreads across my face. “I’ll grab my coat on the way down. I can’t wait.”

We’re almost through the atrium when the door man calls for Jett. “Mr. Cross—I have a delivery for you. It just arrived.”

We walk over to the concierge’s desk where an enormous gift basket sits. It’s exploding with bottles of wine, cheeses, meats, and all kinds of sweets. I peek at all the goodies. “This is gorgeous. Who’s it from? If you have a secret admirer, I just may have a jealous side that I never knew about.”

Jett plucks the card off the top and reads it aloud. “Welcome to Stonebridge. We’re happy to have you as a part of the team. It’s signed from the corporate office.”

“I’ve never gotten a gift basket before.” I pull out a bag of chocolate covered cookies that are drizzled with caramel. “I was so nervous for my interview, I haven’t eaten all day. Can I open these?”

Jett stuffs the card back in the top. “Have all you want. There’s not one thing in this basket that’s on my I-almost-died-from-bum-kidneys diet. And since things are looking up for the first time in years, I’m dedicated to the cause. Consider it yours.”

I’ve already bitten into a cookie and talk with my mouth full. “Oh my gosh, this is so good. It’s filled with hazelnut. I’m going to make it my mission to eat more desserts.”

Jett pulls out a beautifully packaged bag labeled lemon bars. “Here, have at it. What’s mine is yours.”

I wave another cookie in his face as I finish off the first one. “I’m pretty sure your organs can handle one cookie, Jett.”

“I’ve got too much to live for.” He smirks and kisses me on the forehead before turning to the doorman. “Could you please have them put this behind the desk for us? We’ll get it on our way back in.”

He picks up the over-flowing basket. “I can bring it up to your room for you if you’d like?”

Jett puts a hand at the small of my back and waves him off. “Don’t bother. Remember, I’m not a normal guest. The less anyone serves me, the better.”

The doorman smiles. “It’ll be waiting in the backroom in the fridge when you return. Enjoy your evening.”

I break open the bag of lemon bars on our way out the door. I’m mid-bite when I come to a stop in front of a shiny, black truck. I wonder if they washed it right here in the circle drive after they delivered it. There’s not a water spot or spec of sludge on it from driving it through the snow.

We both stand and stare at it as I swallow my first bite of lemon bar. “It’s huge. And very clean.”

Jett pulls in a deep breath but doesn’t move to open the door. “I’ve never had a new car before. At least not a brand new one. There are moments where I feel like I’m living a weird parallel life that I don’t belong in. Some days I don’t recognize myself in the mirror. A new kidney. New family. Stonebridge.”

I turn to him. “You deserve every bit of your new life. No one deserves it more than you.”

He turns to me. “And you. More than anything, I found you.”

I pull in a deep breath and try to shake away the warm gooey feeling that runs through me. “I feel the same way.”