“How mad is Parker at me?”

“What?” I frown, and she tries to sit up once more, but I hold her down then smile when she growls and blows out a frustrated breath. “Why would Parker be mad at you?”

“Um… because he found out his brother’s new wife is a lunatic.”

“Baby, Cara hates Isla and has refused to have anything to do with her or her family. If anyone understands what happened to today, it would be Parker.”

“What, was Isla fake-engaged to Parker too?”

“No, smartass. Isla tried to hook Parker up with one of her friends right in front of Cara. That did not go over well.”

“I bet not,” she murmurs, and I grin, running my finger across her brow that is no longer holding the tension it was earlier.

“Are you feeling better?”

“I think so. I still don’t like the way I let Isla get to me.”

“I understand that, but please don’t pull away from me. I hate seeing you upset, and I really don’t like when you hold yourself away from me when you are.”

“I just needed some time alone to think.”

“I get that, which is why I left, but I won’t always be able to do that. Leaving you goes against everything I believe in.”

“You weren’t gone long.”

“I didn’t tell you I would be able to stay away,” I mutter, and her lips twitch as she sits up. “Are we good now?”

“Yes.” She ducks her head and drops her eyes to her hands. Seeing her spin the simple gold band around her finger, I shake my head, wondering why the fuck Isla brought up Mom’s wedding ring.

“Parker gave Mom’s ring to Cara,” I explain softly, and her eyes meet mine as she swallows. “My mom wasn’t big on jewelry, so that was the only thing of hers that she left us, and Parker, being the oldest, got it.”

“Dillon—”

“I know I should get you something that you can show off, something that everyone can see. But this ring”—I grab her hand, rubbing my thumb over it—“this ring represents the moment we started, the moment you became mine, and that makes it more valuable than anything I could ever afford.” Tears fill her eyes as she throws herself against me, wrapping her body around mine. Holding her, I let out a breath and feel a weight lift off my chest.

“Tell me you love me,” she whispers, and I bury my face in her neck, absorbing her scent of vanilla into my lungs.

“I love you, baby. Don’t ever doubt it.”

“I love you too.” Her soft words seep into my skin and fill in the parts of me that have been missing since I lost my parents. I always knew I would find someone to share my life with, but I never even dreamed she would be perfect for me in every way.

“Did you eat breakfast?” I ask her after a few minutes of just holding her, knowing she wasn’t up this morning when we all ate. She has a tendency to forget about food unless it’s right in front of her.

“No, I came in here to think after you left, and fell asleep.”

“Come on, I’ll make you something.” I pick her up and carry her into the kitchen, where I set her on the island. “How about peanut butter and jelly?”

“I don’t think I’ve had one of those since I was ten.” She grins, and I lean in, wrapping my hand around her jaw and kissing her softly before pulling away.

“Well, let me remind you how good they are.” I reluctantly step away from her and go about making her a sandwich then hear her phone ring. Watching her hop of the counter and walk across the kitchen, I see her pick up her cell and put it to her ear.

“I was going to call you,” she says with a smile. Then frowns and asks, “No, what happened?” Resting her palm against the counter, her head drops between her shoulders as she speaks softly. “We drove by there last night. I saw the police and news trucks.” She shakes her head, and I move toward her. “Yes, at first I thought it was an accident until I saw a CSI van. Do they know who it was?” she questions, looking at me. She replies, “I won’t be anymore” to whatever the person on the phone said.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Michelle. They found a woman stabbed to death in Oaks Park last night.”

“Jesus.” With Parker, Cara, and the kids showing up last night, and Isla showing up this morning, I completely forgot about driving by there and seeing the news vans and police. “Do they know who it is?”

“Michelle said no. She just saw the story on the news and thought of me, since she knows I run there on occasion.”

“Not anymore,” I growl, thinking of her running there alone with her ear buds in, oblivious to any threat, and someone attacking her.

“Definitely not anymore,” she agrees, shaking her head then dropping her eyes, and I know Michelle is saying something to her.

“Yes, next Saturday, and no, there will not be strippers,” she mutters, and I use my hand under her jaw to pull her face up to gain her eyes.

“I swear to Christ if naked men show up at your bachelorette party, I will spank the shit out of you when you get home.” Her eyes widen and her pink tongue comes out to touch her bottom lip as she nods. Seeing the flare of desire in her eyes mixed with trepidation, I wonder if I shouldn’t just spank her the next time I have her naked in front of me to see what her reaction is.

“Shut up, Michelle,” she grumbles. Then she whispers, “Yeah, bye.” Before I can grab her, she pulls the cell phone from her ear, tossing it onto the counter, and scoots past me. “This sandwich is delicious.” She grins around a mouthful, and I shake my head while walking toward her.