"Are you trying to kill me woman?" I asked huskily.
"Not yet," she purred. "I need you to stay around for a very, very long time first. Can't have you leaving me all alone."
"Never," I growled. "I would never leave you in a million years."
"I believe you. As scared as I am about what's going to happen in the future, I know that you're the one for me." She sighed. "You didn't call me back last night, jerk. Where the hell were you?"
I smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of my neck. "You're going to kick my ass if I tell you."
"What did you do?" She questioned as she narrowed her eyes at me.
"I went to a bar and decided to get drunk. I ran into an old… friend there and we hung out all night. I went back to her place, but then all I could think about was you! Dammit don't you give me that look! I thought you'd taken off and I was all on my own again. I lashed out like a dumb kid but I swear I didn't do anything. I couldn't. I knew I loved you and I didn't want anyone but you."
Joanne glared at me a while longer. "You're sure nothing happened?" She asked as she looked me up and down. "Cause if I'm going to be here with you then you better be damn sure I'm not going to share you with anyone else, Peter. I mean it. You're mine and I'm yours and I refuse to deal with that playboy bull."
I shook my head hard. "I'm not going to be like that anymore. The only reason I even started that mess is that you weren't around and I didn't have anyone. Why would I need to sleep around when I have the woman of my dreams?"
"I'm the woman of your dreams?"
My face burned. "Shit. I guess I never really told you just how bad of a crush I had on you. It wasn't dumb puppy love, it was full-on, I wanted to be your husband since we were in middle school. I looked at you and I just knew that you were the girl for me. And I never wanted that to change."
Joanne teared up all over again. "Really?"
"Oh no, don't cry again," I laughed as I kissed her head. "Yes, I mean every word of it. I told you, you're the perfect woman to me. Rough and tumble, sexy and curvaceous. What the hell else would I want in a woman? You're my best friend and I love the fact that we just might end up being more than that."
"Might," she mused. "What if I said yes?"
"Then I could die a happy man."
Joanne bit her lip. She opened the door to her car and my heart sank for a minute. Was she going to leave? Even if she'd just admitted so much to me about how much she loved and wanted me, I still was used to people leaving. She came out with her phone in her hand and frowned at me.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing. I just thought that you were going to leave."
"Leave? Peter, you just admitted that you loved me and wanted me for me. Why on earth would I leave?"
"Every woman in my life has," I said quietly. "It's why I was so upset the other day. And by the way, I'm sorry about that shit that I said. I never meant to offend you saying that you were selfish and stuff you know?"
"You were right," she said as she started to dial. "I'm not going anywhere, so you were wrong about that, but the rest? You were right, especially about me. I was being selfish."
"What are you doing?" I asked and raised a brow.
Joanne held up a finger to me and it was clear that she wasn't going to answer that at all. I was curious as hell about what was going on with her. She never said a word as she scrolled through her contacts and then found what she was looking for. She pressed the phone up to her ear, went on her tiptoes and kissed me lightly before she went back down and waited.
"Hey, Amber. No, I'm not on the road yet. I know I was supposed to be on my way back already. Yes, I know you might fire me. Uh-huh. Look… listen… Amber!"
I jumped when she raised her voice. Joanne hardly ever raised her voice to anyone. Usually, it was when she got really quiet that you should be scared of what was going through her head. That yell though? It put me right on edge.
"Sorry," Joanne said into the phone. "I didn't mean to yell but you're not listening to me. I'm not on the road because I'm not coming back. I'm sorry this is such short notice, but I'm sure the agency will find you another nanny in no time. I'm staying here."
Things were quiet for a minute. I watched Joanne's lips as they ticked down into a frown.
Is she doing that because of me?
I was kind of worried that she was going to give up her entire future for me and I reached out for her. Joanne took my hand and kissed it.
"I don't really care what you say about me, Amber," she sighed. "I have nothing against you and I loved taking care of your kids, but I found what I wanted back home. I'm not going to give that up for anyone. Not even you. I'm sorry, but I quit. I won't be coming back."