Page 104 of Take The Risk

​There were so many more words that needed to be said, but none of them were necessary right now. Not when all the things we needed to say were in this moment, in each look, each caress of his hand on my face, each beat of his heart beneath my fingertips.

​Words would come later. Right now, I relished the fact I hadn’t just woken up. Looking into Ty’s eyes, I knew I’d come home.

Chapter 39

​“You’ve just moved in, huh?” Dad came to stand beside me, a beer in his hand.

​People were milling all around the house. All of Phoebe’s friends and family were here except for the party’s mastermind. It was typical Alex to drop dozens of people in our lap and then scram back to the city.

​I wasn’t too mad. She was going to sort out Phoebe’s publisher, so my scribbler didn’t have to worry.

​“Even if I have to fight her,” I reminded him of the advice he’d given me what felt like a lifetime ago.

​And I had to fight her. For a woman who was so afraid to have people know who she was, she had no problem letting me know exactly who she was and what she wanted. Like me finding a second opinion when her doctor told her that she’d have months of restrictions, some of which may be permanent. Oh, and she wanted to come home now. An extra two-week hospital stay was overrated according to her. Either I helped her, or she’d find a way. I didn’t. I’d kissed the pout right off her, grateful I could kiss her. I kissed her a lot. Then I dared her to try, knowing Satan’s little minion would be on my side with this, and Phoebe was stuck.

​I had a feeling when she found out I’d just moved in and transferred the money I’d saved to buy this place in the first place to her that she’d want to fight. I wasn’t about to live in a house my wife paid for and not contribute equally to the place that was our home. I couldn’t wait. It would be weeks before I could have Phoebe in the way I craved. In the meantime, I found fighting with her just as stimulating. Her cheeks turned my favorite shade of pink, even in anger.

​“Good luck, son.” Dad laughed at me.

​“She’s looking good.” Wade pushed through the group of people near the door and dropped a casserole on the table that was already overflowing.

​I hadn’t taken my eyes off her since I was forced off the couch by Helen, Louise, and Abby, Alex’s sister, so they could give her a break from me.

​I snorted. She didn’t need a break from me. Still, I could see she needed the reassurance that they accepted her. I only went as far as the formal dining room where I could watch her.

​“She’s beautiful.” There was nothing on this planet that compared with her.

​Lock gagged, reaching for a piece of fried chicken. “You make it so gross.” He winked at me and I chuckled. Shoving a piece of chicken in his mouth, he nodded to his mother. “She knows, by the way.”

​The three of us turned to him. He froze, a piece of chicken in his mouth.

Scarlette rounded the table, flicking his ear. “What he means to say is he made sure Phoebe knew he was happy you were going to be living with them and promised you weren’t going to take Lock from her.”

​“She needed to know I was willing to share.” Lock frowned at Scarlette.

​I looked back at Phoebe. She gave me a saucy wink, and I shook my head. Life would never be boring with these two.

​“Yo.” Rowdy poked his head in. “You better get out here. There’s a…” He looked at Phoebe. “...development.”

​Dropping our plates, we headed outside. It was strange how easily Rowdy seemed to fit into our group. Now I knew the truth; it was hard to hate him.

​“You aren’t coming in.” Jesse stood defiantly, feet braced apart.

​“What are you doing here, Mom?” I went down the porch only to change direction. “You get the hell off our property.”

​Jeremy, the dirty weasel, gave me a haughty look. “I’m here to see my wife.”

​Did he—? I cracked my knuckles. Wade and Rowdy flanked me, Dad staying with my mom.

​“Ty, let me handle this.” Wade stepped forward, reaching for the badge he always kept in his pocket, even when he wasn’t on duty.

​“No, boys. I’ll handle him.” Phoebe’s dad, Chester, made his way over. “It’s time me and this little toad had a chat.”

​“Chester.” Jeremy gave him a curt nod. “I’ve come to—What the hell?”

​Jeremy went flying back, not seeing the punch coming. Chester looked over his shoulder at us. “Is there a reason you’re still standing there?”

​“Oh, leave him.” Erin, Phoebe’s mom, came down from the porch. “Chester won’t kill him.”