“We’ll fill the closet. You’ll have dresses in every color.”

She rubbed her hand over his chest. “And where will your clothes go?”

“I don’t care. I just want to fill your life with dresses that make you smile like this one does.”

Tilting her head, she blushed. “I missed you.”

Guilt bombarded his heart, landing each and every regret. “I’m sorry. So sorry. Will you ever be able to forgive me?”

“You’ve done nothing to apologize for. I’m here, only because of you. Thank you for loving me.”

The architect and the double dipper embraced, but now as bonded lovers—no past, no future, just them right in that very moment. “I do,” he said, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Hazel.”

He breathed her in, her natural scent muted by the dark past of the last twenty-four hours. He wanted her light back. He wanted his Jude back. She was there, but he would have to unearth the woman beneath the stench of deceit. “We should go. Get you home.”

She pulled herself away from him begrudgingly, but she knew he was right. “I’m ready.”

Jude spent the trip back to Manhattan mostly quiet. She felt the drugs altering her on the inside, and through her peaks of lucidity, she fought the crazy thoughts desperate to surface. She just needed to wait them out. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she could think clearer.

Taylor alternated between watching the road and watching her. He had a ton of questions, but it didn’t seem the right time for deep conversation. By the way she leaned against the door with her head on her hand, she looked too tired. Determined to help her the best he could, he pulled over and they ate lunch at a roadside diner.

She leaned her head on him now, the two of them sharing one side of the vinyl booth. With his hand on her leg, and while waiting on their order to arrive, she asked, “Do you love me like you did before?”

Rubbing her thigh, he kept his trembling heart out of his voice. “I love you more.”

“You’re all I saw when my mind tried to play tricks on me, you grounded me to something real, something pure. You gave me a reason to fight.” Sitting up, she looked at him, then to the rings on her finger. “I’m sorry you saw me like that. I’m sorry about everything.”

“You don’t have any reason to say sorry, but I have a million.” The call to the lawyer he should have made. The phone he should have bought. Stopping her from going back… A million regrets that burdened his heart.

“You keep saying that, but you’ll never convince me.” After a heavy sigh, she let her shoulders and her guard down. “I don’t want to relive it. I never want to think about it again.”

He understood, so he nodded. They could talk tomorrow about the legal stuff, but Bleekman’s got benched for good.

Taylor’s eyes were wide in astonishment as he watched her finish a half-pound burger, French fries, and a piece of apple pie a la mode. Then he felt bad for her on the car ride home watching her rub her belly in pain. “Why did you let me eat so much?”

“I was afraid if I tried to stop you, I’d lose a hand.” He chuckled.

She didn’t at first, feigning offense, but gave in and laughed. “You might have. I was starving.” Groaning again, she said, “I can’t wait to be home.”

When they walked into the apartment, Taylor dropped his bag on the bedroom floor and Jude went straight to the bathroom and started the shower. He gave her space and waited for her in the living room. After texting his lawyer that they made it home, his lawyer replied.

Come in tomorrow at ten, so we can sign the papers to start the process.

He would talk to her later if she was up for it. If not, in the morning. Passing the time, he sat at his drafting table and sketched out a larger closet just for her in their future home, until his hand trembled. The difference this time was it was his other hand. He watched his left hand on the white surface moving just enough for the eye to catch what his body knew.

“I feel so much better after that shower,” Jude said from the kitchen.

Taylor wrapped his right hand over the other, hiding it from her. He just hoped he hid the fear he felt as well. “What?” he asked, looking over. She was the vision of the beauty he fell in love with. Her hair shone under the light, her happiness too bright to hide in her blue-green eyes. She wore his boxer shorts and college T-shirt, giving him flashbacks of the first time they were together.

She repeated herself, “I needed a shower. I smelled.” She shook her head. “So embarrassing.”

Staring at her, he said, “Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Are you okay?” She quirked her head to the side and stared at him. “You seem distant?”

Turning back to his table and the house rendering, he tried to ignore the disease that wouldn’t give up on him. “I’m fine. I’m tired. I’m sure you are, too.”

“Exhausted,” she replied dramatically, but when he didn’t respond to her antics, she walked to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. “What’s wrong? For real. What’s going on?”

Her hands were warmth and strength, reassurance, and patience. He wanted to give her the same in return, so he secured his voice and covered what he should be telling her with what he needed to tell her. “We have an appointment with my lawyer at ten tomorrow. We’ll get your rights back whether they’re granted to you or me, your family will no longer have access or control over you.”

She squeezed and gently rubbed. “That’s great news. Thank you. You’re very tense. Maybe you should take a hot shower too.”

He took a deep breath and straightened his face, holding steady. Taking her by the hips, he said, “Yeah, that might help.”

Leaning down, she took his face between her hands and kissed him. There was more than passion exchanged. There was a promise of a happy life. And Jude felt safe once again. Sitting on his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Is it bad that I’m still craving Chinese food?”

Now that made him laugh. “I can’t believe you’re hungry after that big meal, but if you want Chinese food, you’ve got. I’ll order it now.”

She kissed his head. “I knew you loved me.”

“You’re right. I do.”

Pausing, they let a quaint silence surround them as they spun to look out the window at the city beyond. “When did you start loving me, Hazel?”

“The first time I saw you.” Chartreuse dress. Red snow boots. Wrapped in chaos and breathing life into a party that was stale, and a heart that had gone cold.

“So was it the double dipping that won you over?”

“No. Although that was quite the turn-on,” he said sarcastically. “It was watching you dance to the music all by yourself.”

Her head tilted back and she laughed. “That makes me sound weird.”

“Not weird at all. Quirky, yes. But you were the most magnificent sight I’d ever seen. You were touchy and completely invading everyone’s space—”

“Especially yours.”

“You didn’t have to invade mine. I happily surrendered the moment you looked into my eyes.”

“Hazel.”

He held her and kissed her shoulder. “You smell sweet. I’m glad to have you back.”

“Not more glad than I am to be back.” She bent down to kiss his lips, then pressed them to his ear instead, and whispered, “I’ll spend my life trying to repay you, but let me start by saying thank you.”

Turning, he closed his eyes as his cheek rubbed against hers. “I’d rather you spend your life happy, free to be who you are, and with me.”

“Me too. With you. Everything with you.” She released him and stood up. “I’m going to rest until the food gets here.”

Tugging on her shirt, he agreed. “I’ll wake you when it arrives.”

Her finger traced his jaw, then tapped his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you more.”

With a smirk, she replied, “Impossible,” and disappeared into the bedroom, leaving the door cracked open.