The officer straightens in alarm. “What the?—”
“I’m fine,” I say.
Lola is shaking. Vibrating with an anger so hot I can feel it radiating off her skin.
“How dare you?” she spits. Her eyes are blazing with tears. “How dare you even suggest that?”
I stare at her.
“You think that little of me? Our vows meant nothing to you?” Her voice is cracking, but her eyes are ablaze. “Because I made a promise to stand by your side. Whether it’s at the ranch or in this room or fighting for your freedom. It doesn’t matter. I chose you. I knew the risks. Don’t make out I’m stupid, Hunter Sterling. And I made a promise to your son. I promisedI wouldn’t leave him. That I’d look after him if this exact thing happened. You think I’m going to break that?”
“Lola—”
“No.” She cuts me dead. “You don’t get to decide what I can handle. You don’t get to push me away because you think you’re protecting me. Love isn’t just about protecting. It’s about being a team. Loving each other no matter what happens.”
She leans across the table and rests her hand on the cheek she just fully pelted with a slap.
“I love you, Hunter Sterling.” Her voice breaks fully this time. But the fire in her eyes doesn’t. “And you didn’t kill her. Which means you’re getting out of here. So stop acting like this is the end of the story. Stop staying stupid shit you don’t mean, and that you haven’t even thought through. I’m Wyatt’s legal guardian now. Your wife. So shut the fuck up. Okay?”
Something tight in my chest loosens. I’ve killed a lot of people. But I’m not going down for the one I didn’t commit. And this woman dragged my head back out of the dark hole it was going down.
“You hear me?” she demands.
I nod slowly. Angry Lola is terrifying. And devastatingly, inappropriately hot. “Yes, ma’am.”
She wipes her eyes furiously. “Good boy.”
Jesus fucking Christ, all my blood rushes south.
She leans forward and presses her forehead gently against mine. “You’re not doing this alone, so stop pretending that you are. You have a wife now. And that means something.”
I close my eyes and breathe her in. Shampoo and perfume and the salt of her tears. The smell of everything I refuse to lose.
“You’re right, I’m sorry,” I murmur.
Her hand squeezes mine. “I’m going to spank you so hard for that outburst when you get out of here, cowboy,” she says softly.
I almost laugh. “You already slapped me once.”
Her cheeks redden. “Yeah… sorry about that. Sort of.”
I press a kiss to her cheek. “Nah. It was sexy. No complaints here, baby.”
She pulls back, and that glimmer is in her eyes again. “I’ve got you, cowboy.”
“I know you do, firefly. I know you do.”
I glance at the guard, and he checks his watch. “One more minute.”
“Gimme a kiss, Lola. Come give this criminal some love.”
She bites her lip. Then presses her mouth against mine. Soft and fierce at the same time. A kiss that tastes like the kind of stubbornness that refuses to let go.
“Do you think I could pay that guard off to get us some more time alone?” she says quietly against my lips.
I wouldn’t trust them not to be recording this. So no. Not happening. None of these assholes gets to see my wife.
“How about we role-play this scenario out when I’m home, baby.”