Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
“Pack what you need for AJ,” I said to her. “I’ll grab some things for you.” I glanced to the sofa. “He can sleep through anything, can’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t wake him up. I’ll carry him down in blankets. We’ll take his coat.”
“Asher,” she said, pausing.
I cupped her cheek, feeling the coolness of her skin. “What, my love?”
“Thank you.”
I bent and kissed her. “I’ll always come for you, Rosie. Now get your stuff so I can get you warm.”
Twenty minutes later, I had them in the Hummer. Rosie was in my overcoat, her wet outer garment still hanging in her bathroom. I made her leave it, planning on getting her a new one. Overstepping and I were about to become best friends.
I wasn’t going to let her and AJ do without any longer. I had been patient enough.
The car seat I owned was in one of my other vehicles, so I laid AJ on the back seat, managing to get a seat belt around him. He barely stirred. The two small bags Rosie brought were tossed on the floor. I lifted Rosie into the passenger seat, fighting against the wind that threatened to slam the door on me, then hurried to the driver’s side and slid in. I cranked up the heat for all of us, grateful the vehicle was already warm. Rosie held her shaking hands over the vents. I peeled off my gloves, doing the same thing. Even outside for only a moment, I was chilled.
“Can we get to your place?” she asked, nervous.
“Without a doubt.”
I eased back onto the road, driving slowly. We barely spoke on the trip, and I sighed in relief as we got to my building, the garage door closing behind us and the lights on the parking level still glowing.
“You have power,” she said.
“And heat. How long was yours out?”
“About three hours. Maybe more. The heat before that. My cell didn’t work either.”
I gathered AJ in my arms, and she grabbed the bags. Upstairs, she followed me into AJ’s room, and we tucked him in. He stirred, his eyes opening. “Asher,” he muttered sleepily.
“I’m here. You and your momma are safe. You’re back in your big bed, bud. You sleep well, okay?”
He made a little noise of contentment, already slipping back into sleep. I made sure his teddy bear was tucked close.
I took Rosie’s arm, heading to the primary bedroom. Turning on the shower, I stripped off her clothes, then did the same, pushing her into the warmth. I followed her, wrapping her in my arms and holding her until the shaking stopped and her body warmed. I needed to hold her as much as she needed to be held. I had been so worried I wouldn’t be able to get to her. That she would be on a bus that broke down or unable to get home. I feared the power outage the radio talked about, certain it would affect her older building. All sorts of terrible scenarios had played through my head on the drive.
That she was safe and here helped me relax.
Until I realized she was crying. Rosie never cried.
“It’s okay, my love. I have you. AJ is safe. Everything is fine.”
“I got fired today,” she wept. “Because I left to get AJ.”
Fury tore through me. “Wells?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“We’ll figure it out.” I tilted up her chin, meeting her tear-filled gaze. I hated to see her green eyes clouded over with fear and worry. “You will be fine. You have me, and I won’t let anything happen to you or AJ. I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
I could see her struggle. “I know you’re independent, Rosie. I love that. But it’s okay to accept help from someone who loves you and only wants the best for you,” I said, holding her gaze. Letting her see the adoration in my eyes.
She blinked. “You love me?”
“Yes.”
“You. Love. Me.”
“And AJ.”
She flung her arms around my neck, sobbing hard again. I held her and let her cry. She needed the release. She’d had to be strong for so long, and today was the proverbial last straw. I rocked her, letting the heat and my closeness soothe her. When her tears stopped, she rubbed at her eyes, staring up at me.
“I love you too,” she whispered. “So much, Asher. You’re incredible, and I feel so much, I can’t even express it.”
I bent and kissed her. “Good. Then together, we’ll figure everything out. You’re not alone anymore, Rosie. Never again.”
She nestled into me, and I smiled, finally relaxing.
They were here. They were safe.
And she loved me.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ROSIE
I woke up feeling hot. Bundled in so many blankets I felt like a burrito. Asher was gone, his side of the bed cool, so I knew he’d been up for a while. He obviously wanted to make sure I was warm without him. I preferred his hot skin next to mine, but it was still nice to wake up and have my first thought not of being chilled.