“I’m sorry, but none of this is Vanessa’s fault,” I inform them, wanting to get that off my chest immediate.
“We know, and we came to apologize to her. We shouldn’t have taken it out on her. We hoped that Vanessa would be the piece that stabilized Margie, but we were wrong.”
“How long have you been raising Vanessa?”
“Her parents died when she was eight, but we’ve been raising her on and off until they cut us from her life at six. We didn’t want her to be like her mother and father, so we kept her away from anything terrible. We tried so hard to give her the best of the best, teach her that those who did things like that we were bad. We had become so fearful about the lowlifes that her parents had associated with that we taught her to be cruel. It took until she was nearly attacked, and you rescued her for us to see that we all needed to change. Then we lost her. She wouldn’t speak to us anymore about anything.”
“She’s a great woman, and I wasn’t the only one to rescue her. It was a team of people. I hope there’s a chance to save your daughter, but don’t ruin your chance with Vanessa. One day soon, she and I will be getting married.”
Again, I shock them. “Married? You and my granddaughter?”
“Yes, I know you don’t think I’m good enough for her. You have sights on her marrying some punk lawyer, but that won’t happen.”
“Do you love her?”
“Yes.”
“You’re the town sheriff and I’m assuming you’re well established, correct?”
“Yes, I am. I’m financially able to take care of us and a family. I don’t do drugs if that’s what you’re going to ask. I rarely drink and that’s with my friends on occasion. As the sheriff, I keep law and order for a good reason.”
“If she’s happy with you, then you’re good enough for our granddaughter.”
“The guest bedroom here is good enough to sleep in for tonight. I’m going home to Vanessa. I take her safety and comfort to my number one priority and she needs that now more than ever.”
I shake their hands and walk out.
When I get home, I find Vanessa sitting on the bed waiting for me with her notes sprawled out but she doesn’t look like she’s gotten a word written. “Can’t work?”
She frowns. “I was worried.”
I come into the bedroom and close our door. “Everything is fine. They seem like good people. Misguided, emotionally broken, and very sorry, but okay people.”
“They have been through a lot.” I can’t imagine losing a child and then having another one heading down the same path.
“So have you, and they wanted to apologize for their behavior, rightfully so I might add.”
“Tomorrow. I just want you to hold me.”
“That’s perfect, my beautiful wife-to-be.” I take her work and put it on the bedside table and then I strip down out of my clothes and get back to where I was before I left.
We snuggle in with her head resting on my chest and the beautiful diamond ring on her finger right where it belongs just above my heart. I love this woman with all I am. Sleep comes easy to me tonight.
Epilogue
Vanessa
I type the final words to my latest novel and sigh. Quickly, I load it in an email to my publisher for the final round of proofing. As the message box disappears, I try to process the last five years writing this series. spinning in my chair to find my sexy husband standing in the doorway with a glass of wine. “Here you go, beautiful.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“How does it feel to finally hit the end on the series?”
“I’ll let you know tomorrow. The emotions haven’t kicked in yet.” Actually a thousand emotions have kicked in and I haven’t processed them yet.
“Well, I’ll be here for whatever feelings you have.”
“I have one feeling right now.” I raise my brows, staring at my sexy husband of four years who is still in his uniform.
“Oh, yes, my little hellcat?”
“Yes. I’m in need of a big strong man to possess me.”
“There’s only one man for the job.”
“Where’s he at?” A growl rips from his chest and he yanks me from my chair, sending my wine splashing on the floor. “Look what you made me do.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the wine, wife. You know damn well that I’m the only man to satisfy your needs.” I giggle as he snatches the glass and sets it down before flipping me over and tearing down my pants and panties, shoving them somewhere on the floor. Fuck, he’s going to get rough. I love it when he goes wild and I need this. I hear the sound of the metal before I feel the cold steel on my wrists. “You’re about to learn a lesson, little hellcat,” he growls in my ear. “Legs apart.”