Page 95 of Protecting Bree
Smiley knew the man was still in Southern California. He was giving Bree the time she needed to regain herequilibrium. Everyone was. They might be texting and emailing, but they were respecting their need for space by not knocking down his door.
“I thought we could go down to Aces this afternoon,” Smiley suggested.
The smile on her face when she whipped around to look at him was all the reassurance he needed that he was doing the right thing.
“Yes! I’d love that!” Bree said happily.
“You sure you feel up to it? You had that headache yesterday.” Even though he’d suggested the outing, all of a sudden, Smiley worried that it would be too much, too fast.
“Yes. But…areyouokay with it?” Bree asked with a small frown.
They were sitting on the couch next to each other, and Smiley turned so he could see her more easily. He put a hand on her cheek. “I want what you want,” he told her.
“That’s not fair,” she protested.
“I love you, Bree Haynes. I made myself a promise while searching for you that if I found you, I’d spend the rest of my days bending over backward to give you the life you deserved. And you deserve to be surrounded by friends. Laughing. Living in the moment with joy.”
But Bree stubbornly shook her head. “Don’t you get it? I can’t live inanymoment with joy if I’m worried about you. If you’re hating what we’re doing. If you’re miserable.”
“I will never,everbe miserable with you by my side. That sounds like a line, but it isn’t. Seeing you happy, your smile, that makesmehappy. Makes me want to do everything in my power to keep putting that smile on your face. If you want to eat out, we’ll eat out. If you want to go to amovie, we’ll go to a movie. If you need some girl time, I’ll give you space to do what you need to do.
“We haven’t talked about our long-term future much, but I want to marry you, Bree. I want to grow old with you by my side. I want to go on vacations with you, babysit our friends’ kids, and laugh because they’re hyper when we send them home. And I want to spoil you.”
Tears filled her eyes, but she was smiling, so he didn’t panic.
“I want all that too. But only if I get to spoil you right back.”
“Deal. And you should know…” He paused.
“Yeah?” she asked.
“Everyone’s gonna be there. At Aces.”
She giggled. “I assumed.”
“You still want to go?”
“Yes. Absolutely. We’ve holed up long enough. It’s time to get back to living. He’s not an issue anymore, right?”
Smiley knew exactly whichheshe was referring to. “I’m sure. You know that I spoke to Tex when we got home and told him everything that went down. He sent me a message this morning, after looking into the situation in Ecuador. Castillo’s compound was raided. All the women found there were rescued. They’re getting assistance from private women’s rights groups so they can get back on their feet. Those who aren’t from Ecuador are being flown back to their countries, their families. Castillo’s organization is done. You’re safe. I give you my promise on that.”
“It’s going to feel a little strange to not have to look over my shoulder all the time.”
“You’ll get used to it,” he told her firmly.
She gave him a small smile. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
“No,” Smiley said, giving her an exaggerated pout.
She giggled. “Whatever. I did too. After you made me that Tater Tot bacon cheesy casserole this morning. And when you helped me trim my hair so it wasn’t so uneven.”
“Hmmm, I don’t remember,” he teased.
Bree beamed. “This,” she said, the one word filled with emotion. “This is what I thought about when I was locked in those cages. Sitting here with you, teasing each other, feeling safe and loved.”
The reminder of what she’d been through, even the damn word “cage” brought so many visceral emotions to the surface. But Smiley tamped them down and concentrated instead on the feelings of love her words evoked. “I love you,” he whispered.
“It’s a good thing, because I think you’re stuck with me now,” she told him with another smile.
