Chapter 49

Peering from our bedroom window, Jonathan climbs into the back of the cab he had waiting outside. I hold my breath as I leave the room, unsure of what condition Scottie will be in. Padding down the stairs, she’s still at the door, watching the car drive away.

Standing behind her, I wait patiently. “He agreed to the divorce,” she whispers. I cup her bicep, turning her into my chest and wrapping my arms around her in a bear hug.

“It’s still hard, ya know?” she snivels.

I nod. “I know, baby.”

“And you—you did all that for him. To keep me here. I don’t even know how to process that. How do I thank you?” She’s blubbering. I give her the time she needs to get it out, rubbing her back and standing in the bare entryway with her. After a minute, she sucks in a restoring breath, releasing it with a shudder.

“Is—is that what you talked to him about the other day?” She steps back, sweeping her palms over her face to clear her tear-stained cheeks.

I shove my hands in my pockets and shrug. “I did a little research and found a program that I thought might help. I wasn’t willing to let you go but knew that you would only be happy if Jonathan was safe. So I did what I needed to do. We may have briefly touched on the topic of divorce.”

“Briefly?” She sniffles.

“I had to talk to him man-to-man. Both of us care about you, and… I wanted to make him understand my intentions.”

“You have intentions?”

“I do.”

Even with rosy cheeks from all the crying, she flushes a darker pink as she blushes.

“I’m not saying now,” I clarify. “We’re going to build some stability first. Better ourselves like we talked about. Obviously, things have escalated, but yeah, after that… when the time is right…” A small grin curves on her lips. “I’m coming for you, Prescott.”

Her smile grows. “I’d like that.”

I thread our fingers, guiding her toward the stairs. “Know what I’d like?”

She chuckles, following me up the steps. “I’ll bet I can guess…”

Leading her to the bedroom, I drop her hand and find my pack in the closet, unzipping it and bringing forth the item I hope will cheer her up.

When I spin around, she is tugging her sweatshirt over her head. It drops to the floor in a heap, and her gaze catches on the gray plastic Battleship game in my grasp, causing her to break into laughter. It’s the best sound after witnessing her fall apart downstairs.

“Wait! Is that—” She struggles to speak through the giggles.

I take in her topless body. I’ll never get over how irresistible she is.

“Stripping down before we even begin, babe? I like your enthusiasm. ”

She points at the game boards. “You stole the game?”

I shrug. “Wanted a souvenir.”

Her smile grows. “I’ll never let you win.”

Tossing the boards on the bed, I say, “Then let’s save time and get down to business.”

Her laughter is cut off by the doorbell. I hate the way her body stiffens, but when she looks toward the window and sees the pizza delivery car idling at the curb, her shoulders relax.

“Figured tonight called for an easy dinner.” I plant a kiss on her cheek.

“I like the way you think,” she says, bending over to grab her sweatshirt off the floor. Damn. My impulsive thoughts win, and I swat her ass as I slip out the door. “I’ll meet you in the dining room.”

We’ve been interrupted twice tonight, both for good reasons: divorce papers and pizza. However, now that we’re no longer expecting visitors, I’m disconnecting that damn doorbell.