Page 93 of See It Through

Laughing against her skin, I realized a broken piece of me had mended. Finding her, this woman I never saw coming, had become my home.

I kissed her cheek with all the tenderness I held for her and sighed into her hair.

“I wouldn’t dream of moving, sweetheart. Not even for a second.”

Monday morning came fast. Hannah had to go back to work, which meant we were parting. A shot of panic struck my gut, but only for a second. Then her hand slipped into mine, and I settled again.

She was stopping in to see Phoebe before heading out to the house to grab her tools. I’d been invited to join her, but my woman needed a few minutes of sister time along with her customary blueberry muffin, so I declined.

“You’re walking me to my truck, sweetheart?”

She grinned at me, resting her head on my arm as we strolled down the sidewalk together. “My mother taught me manners. I would never have my way with you without giving you a proper goodbye.”

I laughed. “I’ll have to thank Elena for teaching you so well.”

“You do, and I’ll never let you in my bed again.”

I stopped abruptly and took her in my arms, jerking her against me. “That’s never going to happen. Soon as I can arrange it, your bed will be my bed too.”

“Are you asking me to move in?”

My brow lowered. “I thought I made that clear. Dell finishes the official transfer, and that house is yours.”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t want that.”

My heart stopped. “You don’t?”

“No. It’s our house, Remi. Like Graham wanted it. Yours and mine. If I’m gonna live there with you, that’s how it’s going to stay.”

Relief swept through me, and I dipped down to crush my mouth against hers. “You’re a menace, sweetheart. Next time, lead with the good news, all right? I would love it to be ours—so long as you’re planning on living there with me.”

She giggled, holding me just as tight. “That’s a deal. Now, let’s get you back to the house so I can steal a muffin from my sister.”

We made it to my truck, which had been parked in the same spot for two days. My eye caught something tucked under my wiper, and I figured it was a coupon or flier. Giving it a look, I realized it wasn’t either of those things.

Hannah crowded in beside me. “Oooh, a love note? What’s it say?”

“Probably critiquing my parking job,” I joked, attempting to cover the dread pitted in my stomach as I unfolded the paper.

You lie with dogs, you get fleas.

Told you she’s a slut.

Too bad you didn’t listen.

Too late for you now.

“What the hell? Who would write something like that?” Hannah cried. “And what does it mean they told you?”

Carefully folding the note, I tucked it in my pocket and faced her. “I got another note like this a while ago and put it out of my mind. I’m sorry you had to see that, sweetheart. That was my mistake.”

She glanced around us as if looking for the author. “I don’t get it. Why would anyone—do you think this was Christine or Cleve?”

“I’d guess so, yeah.” I took her in my arms and kissed her forehead. “You go ahead to Sugar Rush, be with Phoebe. I’m going to take this to the station.”

“I can go with you.”

“No. You don’t need to be a part of this. I’ll take care of it.”