Until You (The Redemption, #1)(86)

“You work here?” I ask, his name already lost to me as I try to understand. To believe. To hope.

He hooks a thumb over his shoulder toward the house I can’t see. “Yep. Hired last week. Came in to finish up my paperwork. Now I need to find a place to live in this . . . ” He looks around, his expression all but saying he’s not used to small towns. Not in the least. “Place.”

“Oh.” It’s all I manage to say.

“Are you here for an interview? He seems like a pretty cool guy. Like he’ll be a decent boss. Plus, he knows his shit.” He nods while my head spins over what he’s talking about. “Good luck. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Position?

But before I can respond, he eases off the brake and drives past me, allowing me to do the same.

If I owned this place, if I lived here permanently, that would be the first thing I’d do.

Pave the driveway.

Look up, Tenny.

Dare to hope.

And when I do, it’s my own strangled cry that fills the cab. Crew’s truck is in the driveway.

He’s still here.

I speed the rest of the way, honking my horn like a mad woman before pulling to an abrupt stop right behind it.

Before I can get out of the truck, Crew is jogging around the side of the house. His feet falter when he sees me.

And then I note the expression on his face. The tension in his posture. The pulse of his jaw.

Oh God. Am I too late?

And then he’s running.

“Tenny,” he cries, that hope I was holding on to flooding his voice as he pulls me against his chest and holds on for dear life. “You came back to me.”

I cling to him with hands and heart, more than grateful that Agent Halston sought me out to let me know—I’m safe.

I’m safe, and Crew is still here.

Thank God, he still wants me.

Thank God, he held out hope for me.

“You stayed,” I say, the words muffled against his chest.

“I did.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head before leaning back and meeting my eyes. There are tears of happiness swimming in his. “We did. I’m buying it from Ian. For us.” He points to the outbuilding that now looks like a completely new building. Especially with a new sign above the door that says The Force Crew. “For good.”

“You—what?” I look at the sign and then back at Crew, realizing what it means. Justin Force. Crew Madden. The Force Crew. He’s making his pipe dream become a reality. But more importantly, he’s staying here. “I’m so proud of you,” I murmur and stand on my tiptoes to press my lips against his.

“I’m terrified, but I have to take a chance. I have to try to make this work. To make us work. It’s what I want.”

“Trust fall,” I whisper against his lips.

Let me support you.

Let me catch you if you fall.

Let me love you even though you’re scared.

I don’t have to say the words because by the hitch of his breath and the tears swimming in his eyes, he already knows.

“I know,” he says, resting his forehead against mine and sniffing back his emotion.

“I’m not going anywhere. My place is here. With you. With the girls. I love us. I love what we have and what we’re going to build together.”

When Crew leans back and meets my eyes, I’ve never felt more loved. I’ve never felt safer. I’ve never felt more complete than I do right here, in his arms.

“Welcome home, Tennyson West.”

My future is here with him.

It’s always been him.





EPILOGUE


Crew


One Year Later



“The girls are waiting for you.”

I look up from my desk to see Tenny standing there. She’s in a soft yellow sundress with the sunlight at her back streaming through it. Her hair is pulled up but pieces are falling all around her face, highlighted like a halo. And her smile is there—like it always seems to be these days—shining bright just like the diamond that sits on her left ring finger.

Jesus.

How the fuck did I get this lucky?

How the hell did I go from broken and defeated to the happiest fucking guy on the planet?

It’s because of her.

That’s why.

Plain.

Simple.

Her.

“I know. I’m just finishing up reading Rhys’s notes. The poor guy’s up to his neck in diva-ness while trying to protect said diva from all the threats that come with her last name.”

“I warned you she was going to be trouble.”

“Don’t I know it. The two are like oil and water. Rhys can handle her though. He’s a take-no-bullshit kind of guy.”

“Yeah, because hardened asshole goes great paired with a combative, pretentious socialite.”

I chuckle. “Since Daddy’s paying the bills, all we care about is what he thinks of us. Not her.”

“Tell that to Rhys. Poor guy has to be gritting his teeth so hard they might break.”

I don’t have to look up to know Tenny has moved behind me. I can smell her perfume before her hands rest on my shoulders and, just like every other time she’s near me, I only seem to want more.

“He’s been through a hell of a lot worse than protecting a spoiled brat. Besides, I happen to know for a fact that his employer provides great dental insurance.”