“I get that now, I really do. I’m not upset anymore, but damn, it was a lot to digest.” She gives me a tiny nod and lowers her gaze to the ground. “Then Audrey took me to meet Lucas. Fuck, I wanted to hate him. But I changed my mind within minutes of meeting him, and all I could think about was how to help him … how to help you.”

Her fingers run over my knuckles and the side of her mouth twitches. “So you hired a lawyer to put the smack down on the Landrys?”

I chuckle and tip her chin to meet my eyes. “Oh, I didn’t have to hire anyone. You see, Tink, there is someone who loves you almost as much as I do. And the old geezer took exception to anyone messing with his girlie—his words, not mine.”

Her eyes dance with laughter, and she beams. “Sarge,” she whispers.

I nod my head. “Yep, Sarge. Leonard Benson III is a high-priced ambulance chaser here in Providence. He’s a bit slimy, but he’s known for making a splash in the headlines whenever the mood strikes him. It turns out he owes Sarge a favor. Way back in the day, Lennie lost his toupee to Sarge in a poker game, but Sarge chose not to collect. This earned Sarge big points in Lennie’s book, and he was all too eager to pounce on the Landrys like a rabid panther.”

Celia scrunches up her face. “A toupee?”

“Don’t ask. I know I didn’t.”

We both silently watch each other, and the tiniest smile plays on her lips. She reaches out and curls her fingers around my belt loops.

“So, Lucas broke up with me today.”

She pulls on the loops, inching me closer.

“Damn right, he did. I’d have to kill the little fucker, otherwise,” I grunt, pulling her knees forward, bridging the distance between us even more.

“We haven’t been together in a very long time, but it’s still freeing to get everything out in the open. And the thought of Lucas getting the help he needs, maybe even getting out of that place? I can’t find the words.” She drops her forehead to my chest and breathes deep. “Thank you,” she whispers.

I kiss the top of her head. “While I love being the hero in this scenario, I may have had an ulterior motive. The image of a tiny fairy letting me have my wicked way with her may have been the driving force behind my actions.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Definitely.”

She tips her head and catches my bottom lip, sucking gently. She pulls away and loops her arms through the straps of her dress, but holds the material to her chest. Flushed skin and mischief on full display, she raises an eyebrow and purses her lips.

“Are you liking this image? Is it wicked enough for you?”

“Don’t play with me, woman. Drop the dress or I go into full-on attack mode,” I growl, only half joking.

“Oh, I’m counting on it,” she says, then drops her dress and crashes her lips to mine.

Frenzied arms grasp and pull. Dueling tongues slide and explore. I can’t get close enough. I wrap her legs around my waist, leaving her dress scrunched up around her waist. I lose my shirt somewhere along the way, and her hands fumble with the button of my jeans.

A fat drop of rain splashes on my cheek, and I lift my head to the sky. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and another raindrop hits my shoulder.

“A storm’s coming,” I say, my voice breathless and ragged.

Her hand dives into my jeans, and her fingers wrap around my dick. My head falls back, and I groan when she massages me, root to tip. The drops continue to fall, the water cooling my heated skin.

“It’s about time.” She pulls me to her and licks the water from my lips before plunging her tongue into my mouth.

Yes, she’s right. It’s past time for the rain … the thunder … every bit of the storm that is Celia.

“I can’t go slow,” I tell her between kisses as I toss my rain-soaked wallet into the truck bed after finding a condom. “It’s been too long … I’ve missed you too much.”

She rips the condom from my hands while I drop my jeans below my hips. She smirks as she rolls it all the way down my shaft.

“Commando, huh?” She smirks and squeezes me. I can’t help myself from pumping into her hand. She pulls me close and gives my ear a playful bite, then a seductive lick. “I want you hard and deep. I’ve missed you, too.”

The words barely leave her lips before I drive into her in a long, swift thrust. The feel of her body pulsating against my cock nearly does me in. The rainfall quickens as our bodies move together, each hungry—fucking starving—for what we’ve missed.

I whisper to her through ragged breaths and powerful thrusts. “If you leave me again, I won’t give you space. I’ll love you harder and deeper than ever before.”

“Never again.” Her body bows to mine, and I feel her gripping me, edging closer to the precipice. She pulls my forehead to hers and burns me with her gaze. “My heart will never allow it.”

Slicked skin and entangled limbs tremble as we watch each other with every roll, every thrust. I see the clouds form in her eyes just as the haze rolls over me as well.

And we fall head first over the cliff … together.

“I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles

Present Day

“WELL, BOY WONDER decided to wake the hell up. It’s about time, don’t ya think?” Sarge bellows as we climb the front porch steps, fingers laced and lovesick smiles in place.

“Who me? You better take a look at your tiny friend right here,” I say with a chuckle as I kiss the top of Celia’s head. “I’ve been wide awake for a long time, old man.”

Sarge grunts and points at me. He shakes his head and turns to Celia. “Is that any way to talk to your grandfather? No manners, that one. No respect.”

“Christ,” I mutter under my breath, and Celia giggles.

“Come sit with me, girlie. You and I have a date with the past.” Sarge pats the rocking chair next to him in invitation.

“It’s so good to see you, Sarge.”

Celia leans in for a long hug, and Sarge holds on tight the entire time. I faintly hear her whispers of gratitude, and he pats her back gently in response. She curls up in the rocking chair next to him and kicks off her shoes. I sit down, too, half expecting Sarge to send me away. I get the feeling he’s territorial about his time with Celia.

Sarge grabs a notebook off the side table and hands it to Celia, along with a pen. “What memories should we visit today?”

“Hmmm,” she says softly as she looks between Sarge and me with a mischievous smile. “Why don’t we talk about your memories of Cain? Since he’s here, he can help fill in the blanks.”

“Well, I’ve been there since the day the doctor slapped his lily white ass and hollered, ‘It’s a boy!’ and there were days I wanted to wring his damn neck … and there were some I never thought I could be so proud.” Sarge beams at me, making my jaw go slack.

As much shit as the old geezer gives me, it floors me to see pride in his face. The old Sarge, before Alzheimer’s? Absolutely. But now, it’s hard to believe. Most days, he wouldn’t show me the flow if I were a gutter. He rides my ass all day long.

“Let’s talk about a time you wanted to wring his neck,” Celia says primly, pen perched in her fingers ready to write one of my finest moments.

“Thanks, Tink. Much appreciated,” I mutter, crossing my arms across my chest and rolling my eyes.

She levels me with pleading eyes, silently begging me to be patient. Fine, I’ll keep my opinion to myself, but it doesn’t mean I’m happy.

“Ha! Boy wonder here has given me so much to choose from over the years.” Sarge lets out a raspy chuckle and grins. “But if I have to choose just one, a certain Halloween comes to mind.”