Page 151 of Dark Surrender

Abby looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes. “I buy flowers from her shop sometimes. I think she knows it’s me, but she doesn’t say anything.”

Well, shit, that’s not what I expected. Regardless, she can’t be actin’ like this.

To set boundaries once and for all, I gently push her off of me. “I meant what I said, Abby. You can’t say that kinda shit.”

Bobbing her head, she wipes her eyes. “I know. I… I’m…Ugh… jealous. That’s all it is. I shouldn’t have said that.”

I hum in agreement. It was wrong. “We’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay.”

“I know.”

Grabbing my cane, I stand, and she walks me to the door, where I wrap her in a one-armed hug and peck her forehead. “Give me a few days, then I wanna show Lily where I’ll be staying. I got her a cat.”

“Okay,” she mutters, eyes downcast as I push the screen door open.

“If you need anything, just ask. I mean it. I’ll be getting a new phone soon. Until then, you can talk to Pops, Kali, or even Iris. They’ll know how to get a hold of me.”

Shoulders slumped forward, Abby nods once and sees me out. It sucks leaving her like this, but there’s nothing I can do to fix it. Sure, I pay most of her bills, and shit like that, but that doesn’t do much for torn-up insides. Those take time to heal.

When I return to the van, I find my daughter and father in the back, but no Kali or Iris.

“They went for a walk,” Lily says and pats the spot beside her for me to sit.

Gritting my teeth through the ache, I climb in and kumbaya with my kid and our new cat. Lily chats our ears off, and I’m happy for it. It’s been too damn long. Pops must be feelin’ the same way when he flashes me a small smile as Lily goes on about that same girl from the pool she had issues with last year.

Before too long, our women return, and we all head inside without Sal. Kali offers to let us stay for a movie, and we spread out in the living room. Iris in my lap on the chair, Kali and Pops on the couch with Lily. We eat popcorn and watch The Princess Diaries. Apparently, Lily loves it, and while it might not be my thing, having most of my family here is the perfect ending to the day.

Iris passes out by the end, and Pops helps me carry her out to her truck so I can drive us home.

When we pull into the driveway, I do my best not to wake her as I struggle to carry her into the house. I swear a lot. The pain is unreal. But I make it, just barely, and lie in her bed where she cuddles against her pillow.

I lean over and kiss her temple. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

Iris’s soft, mumbled reply has me grinnin’ as I pull the blankets we forgot to wash over her. I guess we’ll need to get to that tomorrow. Just as I plan to make us breakfast. Then figure out what’s next for me, for us. Maybe Iris will let me move in. Maybe she won’t be ready.

Needing another shower, I hobble into the bathroom and take my time under the hot spray. I don’t bother getting redressed, given that I didn’t bring my clothes with me from the van, so I dry off and slip into bed beside my woman. She cozies up to me, and damn if it doesn’t do crazy shit to my heart to have her here all warm and soft.

“Dark?” she rasps in that adorable, sleepy voice.

Settling down in the bed, I rest her head on my pec, right over the scar she made the day she stabbed me with those damn chopsticks. “Yes?”

Iris nuzzles her cheek there. “I’m glad you’re home.”

“Me, too.” Hugging her up tight, I kiss the top of my woman’s head. “Now get some sleep. I’m not goin’ anywhere. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She yawns.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Dark

Bending down, I scoop my sexy woman up under her ass and set her on a counter in the back of her shop. Her little squeak of surprise has my cock nice and hard. Not that he isn’t that way all the damn time now. The asshole is relentless and can never get enough.

I’ve been home a little over a week, and you’d think he’d be tired by now.

But nope.

Which means Iris gets to christen her floral shop.