The flight to JFK airport was uneventful. Bella seemed happy with the private jet, amazed that I had one. I’d never really thought about how lucky I was to be rich before. It was just the way I’d always lived. My parents had never let my baby sister or me want for anything. Who knew why I had felt the need to rebel and screw up my life, along with Bella’s?

Once again, guilt washed over me. I’d always been given any material item I could need. Even if I wasn’t allowed to pursue art and my father was tough on acceptable behavior for a politician’s son, I still should have been grateful for what I had. Instead, I had decided that wasn’t enough for me. I’d tried to join a gang and prove I could do whatever I wanted. In the process, I’d destroyed such a lovely person as Bella.

The grin on her face as my long-time driver took us toward my parents’ home only made my heart clench further. She was so innocent. She had no clue she sat next to the bastard who’d ruined her life. At least she was strong enough to keep smiling, to continue trying to find joy in her life.

Maybe that positive attitude would rub off on me. I’d been far too concerned with my image since I started in politics, never thinking about true happiness or how I want to spend my life. I’d felt entitled to take whatever I wanted, but I’d never felt truly happy.

Suddenly, Bella’s hand found mine. “What are you thinking about so seriously over there?” Her warm smile made her eyes even more beautiful than usual. “You should look out the windows. I never knew there was so much beautiful scenery this close to New York City.”

I laughed, her exuberance overcoming my gloom. “You’re right. I don’t take enough time to enjoy this stuff. Come here.” I pulled her into my chest, twisting us in the back of the limo so we could easily gaze out the window together.

Her joy was contagious as we drove through the outskirts of different New York City suburbs and made our way across Long Island toward my parents’ home in Garden City. Even the multitude of trees thrilled her, and I remembered that LA was more of a concrete jungle compared to New York.

“I’m glad you’re so happy.” I brushed a tender hand across her cheek, drawing her attention from the window. “I always want you smiling and laughing like this.”

Her brow furrowed a bit, and I had the feeling she grew tired of my constant attention. Perhaps she had started to suspect something was wrong. It wouldn’t be a big leap, considering the way I acted.

Attempting to soften the seriousness in my own gaze, I smiled. “Do you want me to have the driver take us around town a bit, show you the stomping ground of my youth?”

Her smile returned, and she nodded. “That would be wonderful. I can just imagine little Damian terrorizing the neighborhood!” Her rich chuckle told me she was joking, but her words made me uncomfortable.

“That’s not too far from the truth, honestly,” I said. “I was such a spoiled brat and acted that way. My friends and I would hit mailboxes with baseball bats, and we also egged houses and cars.” I shook my head. If only my rebellion had ended with that. Once I became mixed up with that small gang in Queens, my teenage pranks had become much darker.

However, Bella merely smiled. “I grew up in Morris Heights. You probably already know that’s a pretty poor neighborhood in New York. We had a lot of kids doing that sort of stuff. There was never a lot to keep them out of trouble, so they created their own fun. Much to the disappointment of the other people in the neighborhood.”

“What about you?” I asked, suddenly wanting to know more about her life before she met me on the dark street that night. “Were you a troublemaker?”

“Oh, no. My parents worked too darn hard to put food on the table for me and my three brothers. There’s no way I could have acted out and caused them trouble.” She shrugged. “Mostly, I stayed home, took care of my brothers, who are all younger, and read books. I dreamed one day I’d get out of Morris Heights and make a name for myself, become someone famous and rich enough to help my parents.” She snorted. “Of course, that all changed. I just hope my parents are doing better, now that my brothers have grown up and moved on. Perhaps they’re better able to manage things.”

“You don’t know how they are?” I asked.

Bella shrugged. “We talk a few times a month, but this is the first time I’ve been back to New York since I turned sixteen. I moved in with an aunt out in California and then eventually moved in with a roommate. My dead-end job at a retail store wasn’t fulfilling, but fear kept me trapped in a rut that was at least familiar.” She glanced up, pressing a quick peck against my cheek. “Until I met you, I guess. Now, maybe all those silly childhood dreams will find some reality. I mean, you’re already treating me like a celebrity, so I’m halfway there.”

“You’ll be a real celebrity in the political world,” I promised. “Women everywhere will adore you. Heck, maybe we should take this self-defense thing countrywide and women all over can see how great you are!”

“Well, let’s start by winning the primaries and getting you a chance to run. After that, we can worry about the rest.”

She was already the perfect politician’s wife, concerned about my campaign more than her own desires. True, she might be acting that way because it was in her contract, but I really hoped she’d thought about what I said last night and was considering this a real marriage. A big part of me hoped she wanted to help with the campaign for my sake, because she was starting to like me.

James Sanders, my driver, lowered the window between the back of the limo and himself. “Sir, we’re coming up on the school you attended. I thought the missus might be interested in looking at it.”

Such a good man. I hadn’t even told him yet that we wanted a tour of the town, but he thought of it on his own. “Thanks, Sanders. Let’s take her on a quick ride. It’s not a huge city, but she wants to see where I grew up.”

“Very well, sir.”

As we resettled against each other, I rested my chin on top of Bella’s head, pointing out the various places. Everything that came to mind, I told her. It would be important to our future that I shared as much of my life as possible. Hopefully, that would stop her from ever digging deeper and finding out I was the man who’d cut her.

“Oh, look!” she exclaimed, moving our clasped hands as she pointed out the window. “Did you play at that park? The children on the swings look so happy. I never played on a swing set before.”

“You haven’t?” Looking at the park, I noted an entire row of swings without anyone using them. “Sanders, pull over, please.”

Without question or reminding me about the pending dinner appointment with my parents, Sanders pulled the car to the curb and hopped out. As he opened the back door, Bella turned to me, a beautiful sparkle in her honey-flecked eyes.

“What are we doing?”

I grinned, shooing her out the opened door. “We’re correcting a grave mistake of your youth. Everyone should have the joy of playing on a swing.”

She giggled happily, grabbing my hand when I climbed out, practically skipping along beside me while I led her across the park.

I patted the black, flexible seat of one of the swings. “Sit here. I’ll give you a push.”

She flashed a flirtatious smile, flipping her straight, long hair over her shoulder. “Isn’t this also called pumping? So, husband, are you going to pump me in the park?”

Her question startled a laugh from me. “If I’m honest, pumping is when you do it yourself.”

She let out a delighted squeal at that, clapping her hands while she took a spot on the swing. “Well, I guess pumping will have to wait until later. I’m not into doing it for myself, so you have to help.”

Thankful none of the children were close enough to wonder just what we talked about, I leaned close and kept my voice down. “I’ll pump you so hard later. It’ll be the ride of your life, baby.”

Not giving her time to respond, I pulled the chains on either side of her, drawing her upward as I walked back before letting go and watching her zoom away. Realistically, pushing her from behind would be easier, but I wasn’t sure if that would provoke the spells of panic which made her go somewhere else for a while. That scared me the most, the way she’d totally checked out when I’d hugged her from behind, fear overcoming her and seeming to freeze her up. Pushing from the front might be less convenient, but I’d do what it took to make her feel safe when she was with me.

“This is fun!” she claimed after I’d pushed her for a while, getting her pretty high so that I didn’t have to try and push her every time she swung my direction. “You should get on next to me. I’ve never played with anyone like this.”

“Reliving our childhood, huh?”

“Yes!” She swung her legs, figuring out how to pump despite her claims earlier that she wouldn’t. “Hurry. Play with me!”

“Such a tempting request, but I told you that had to wait until later.”

She laughed again, swinging past me. “Come on, Damian. I’m sure we need to leave soon to make it to dinner. Get on!”

Unable to say no, I jumped onto the swing next to her, remembering in no time how to make myself gain speed and getting myself in sync with her. The hair streaming behind her every time we went forward along with her happy smile helped settle my heart and the guilt I struggled with. I could make her happy. She was such an easy person to please. Somehow, I had a feeling she could help me figure out how to be a better person too.

I’d been striving for that goal ever since the night I’d cut her, but I’d never quite felt like I’d achieved it. Sure, as an assemblyman I did what I could for the people in my district, but it still had never made up for my mistakes.

“Damian?” Her questioning tone pulled me from my thoughts, and I realized I’d stopped swinging, my feet dragging in the dirt beneath my seat. “What’s wrong? Are you worried about seeing your parents?”

Forcing a smile, I shook my head. “Not at all. I was just thinking about what a beautiful person you truly are. I’m not sure I deserve you.”

Her brown eyes widened. Then, slowly, a pretty blush rose up her cheeks. “That’s not true. First off, I’m not beautiful. Second of all, you’re a wonderful man. I keep thinking maybe I should pinch myself. I’m so lucky you picked me out of all the women there.”

I hopped off my swing, grabbing her feet to stop her motion, then pulling her into my arms as soon as I could safely remove her from the swing. “That’s not true.” I held her in a bone-crushing hug, unable to stop myself. I needed to feel her warmth. She was so special, I didn’t deserve her, but I wanted to be with her, I wanted to fix my mistake. “You are beautiful. In just a couple days, I’ve already decided my life is richer with you in it. I think I’ve been searching for you ever since I tried to turn my life around. Who knew I had to travel across the country to find you?”

She gave a gentle caress to the hair at my temples. “I think it’s too early to feel that way but thank you. There’s something about you as well. When I’m with you, I start to think I might be able to overcome all these weird things that are wrong with me. You could help heal me.”

“I’ll do whatever I can to heal you. We’ll help each other.”

She grinned. “It’s a deal. Now, let’s hurry to your parents’ house before we’re late. I’m nervous as it is, I don’t want to give me a reason to hate me.”