Valorous(7)

“Trust me,” Flynn says, “I’ve got lawyers all over it. If there’s any way to make it happen, we’ll get Natalie her job back.”

“Good. Try to get some sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Thanks again for bringing Fluff.” At the sound of her name, my beloved dog raises her head to see what’s going on before she goes back to snoring contentedly in my arms.

After Leah is gone, I return my attention to Flynn. “Thank you for letting me have Fluff here.”

“You can have whatever you want. Don’t you know that by now?”

“Still… She’s not very nice to you, and now she’s in your bed.”

“So are you. If I have to take the bad with the good…”

Despite the attempt at humor, he looks so sad and undone. I hate being the cause of that. I take hold of his hand and link our fingers. “It’s not as bad as it was before.”

“What isn’t?”

“All of it. The last time my life blew up in my face, I was very much alone. This time, I have you and Leah and Addie and everyone you have helping us.”

“You’re far from alone,” he says fiercely, his brown eyes shimmering with love and intensity. “I’d kill for you, Natalie.”

“Please don’t do that. I need you right here with me, not doing hard time.”

He raises our joined hands to his lips and runs them over my knuckles. I love the feel of his stubble against my skin. He’s so fierce and beautiful, and he’s shown how much he loves me with the way he’s cared for me tonight.

“Come to bed with me.”

Fluff’s low growl is full of warning, and I can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous she’s being.

“It’s nice to hear you laugh.”

I pick up Fluff and move her to the side he’s currently occupying. “I think it’s safe.”

He gets up and goes around to the other side, takes off his jeans and gets back into bed.

Fluff starts barking frantically when he snuggles up to me.

I find the whole thing ridiculously funny and can’t stop laughing. And then I’m crying again as I recall that I have nowhere to be tomorrow, that my kids won’t understand why I’m not there, that the entire world is hearing about my sordid past and dragging Flynn’s name through the mud, too.

“Nat,” he says with a sigh. “Come here.”

I leave Fluff to her rage and turn toward Flynn. As much as I love Fluff, I need Flynn’s comfort the most right now. He wraps his arms around me, and I make myself comfortable in his embrace.

Then he jolts and lets out a cry of pain. “Shit!”

“What happened?”

“She bit me. Again.” He holds up his hand to show me the red marks, but fortunately there’s no blood this time.

“Fluff! No! No biting!” I sit up and turn to my obstinate little dog. “No, no!” She gives me a look that tells me she isn’t sorry and she’ll do it again if the opportunity presents itself. “I’m so sorry.” Turning back to Flynn, I find him laughing.

“What is so funny?”

“She totally gave you a ‘f*ck you’ look.”

His accurate assessment makes me laugh, too. “She’s awful! You shouldn’t have to be worried about getting bit in your own bed.”

“So much I could say to that…”

“Flynn! I’m being serious. She’s out of control.”

“She’s protective of you. I respect that.” He holds out his arms to me. “Come back.”

Pointing a finger at Fluff, I use my sternest voice when I tell her, “No biting. Or else.”

“I’m incredibly turned on right now. Will you chastise me sometime?”

His irreverence makes me laugh, and I forget, for a moment, about the nightmare my life has become.

Back in his arms, I try to settle the turmoil inside me so I can rest. At some point in the last few days, his scent has become the scent of home to me. His chest has become my favorite place to lay my head, and wrapped up in his embrace, I find my happy place. Even in the midst of my worst nightmare, I feel safe and loved because of him.

The medication the doctor gave me is dragging me under, but I can’t sleep until he knows how I feel. “Flynn?”

“What, honey?”

“I just want you to know… I’ve been afraid of this happening for so long, I don’t remember not being afraid of it. But being here with you… I’d be losing my mind if it weren’t for you telling me it’s going to be okay.”