Page 69 of Rain or Shine
I move from my spot and scoop Dash into my arms. "I'm moving him to his bed. Then taking you to ours," I whisper. The need to hold her in my arms is nearly overwhelming, but I’m not doing it on the couch. I want to stretch out without feeling uncomfortable. Not that I would be in the living room, still, the bed sounds way better to me.
Delaney huffs, relenting to the fact that I wasn't giving in.
Taking Dash to his room, I cover him with a light blanket. I know he won't be out for long. It's still early enough in the day, but a nap right now is good for him.
Stepping out of his room, I glare at the woman walking my way. "I was coming back to get you. The doctor said you need to take it easy."
"I am," she whispers, walking right into my arms.
Grunting, I hold her close, guide her to our room, and lay down next to her, pulling her into my arms. "Scared the shit out of me today."
"I'm sorry. I should have listened to you," she utters against my chest, letting out a ragged breath. "She was the one who burned down my house."
I close my eyes and sigh. "I hope she doesn't get out anytime soon. I'll kill her if she does."
"You heard what I told Sheriff Holloway."
I heard her giving her statement to the Sheriff. It'd been after Dr. McAlister finished her exam of Delaney and she'd gotten her stitches.She'd told him everything. I sat there listening quietly, seething over it all. Megan had some warped illusion that we were hers and Delaney was taking us from her. My woman had done everything she could to protect Dash, including sending him to her truck to lock himself inside.
"I'm sorry she burned down the home you grew up in. I can't tell you how much I wish I could fix it."
Delaney lifts her head, fresh tears in her eyes. "None of this is your fault, Tyler. She should have never been let out of prison. That's on them, not you. What she did to me is on her. It's not like you asked her to set the fire. You didn't hit me with a shovel. And you didn't aim a gun at me."
I squeeze my eyes shut at the mention of the gun. I don't know how Megan got hold of the damn thing, but Delaney risked herself being shot, all to keep Dash safe.
God.
This woman is everything.
Opening my eyes, I curl a hand around her neck, meeting her gaze. "You know how much I love you?"
Delaney's eyes grow wide, and her lips part on a gasp. "You love me?"
"Damn right, I love you. So much. More than you'll ever know."
I lean into her, claiming her mouth in a tender kiss. As much as I want to deepen it, now isn't the time. What I need more than to be inside her is to hold her close and know she's right next to me.
Whole and breathing.
Right where she'll stay for the rest of our lives if I can help it.
Epilogue
Delaney
Three Weeks Later . . .
"Do you really think he'll be excited?" I ask, nervously, fidgeting my fingers together.
"I know he will be," Tyler says softly. "The doctor confirmed for us again that everything is going well. It's time."
I swallow and nod. "Okay."
"Trust me, sweetheart, he's going to be thrilled to find out he's going to be a big brother." Taking my hand in his, Tyler brings it up to his lips and kisses my knuckles. "Now, let’s get inside and tell him."
Again, I nod. I know I told him weeks ago we should tell Dash, and at the time he'd been against it. I understood at the time, and now that it's happening, I'm scared that Dash will hate the idea of adding to his little world.
We've been able to overcome the Megan ordeal after it happened. The whole thing had confused Dash at first. The first few days, he clung to Tyler and me, not wanting to be away fromeither of us. Mostly he clung to his dad more. This I understood completely. I kind of did the same thing. We both went with him to the barn. But where I'd go about helping with little things, Tyler took Dash out with him on Onyx.
