Twelve months later

I shut my bike off and winced as I swung my leg over the seat. The skip Van and I had taken in tonight had given us a fight, and he’d brought along several of his friends. My ribs had taken a hit by some little prick with a two-by-four. Nothing broken, but it hurt like hell.

All that pissing around meant I was late home, and I felt like shit because I’d promised my girls I’d be home by seven-thirty so we could eat together, and it was now close to ten.

I took the stairs as quietly as I could. I didn’t want to wake them if they were already asleep.

The last year had been the best in my life, so much had changed.

Willa and I had done some grief counseling; she also needed to talk to someone about what happened that night. Our losses had been huge, but talking to someone, talking about our guilt, how to deal with the way we felt, it had made such a difference. It had made us even stronger, when I thought that was impossible. And Tilly, that little girl, our little girl, had grown in confidence. Christ, she shone so bright, she lit up my world.

I’d also converted the apartment on the first floor into a hair salon for Willa as a surprise, it hadn’t been easy, but it had been so damn worth it. I’ll never forget the look on her face, her reaction. Just thinking about it still took my breath away. She’d built up her client list over the last twelve months and was now in hot demand.

Trent was back inside and would be for a long while yet. Jennifer was as well, and was never coming out. So everything right now was fucking perfect.

Well, almost perfect. I hated disappointing my girls, and with this job, it happened more than I would like.

I unlocked the door, moving too quick, and gritted my teeth when pain shot down my side. My ribs felt like someone had been playing them like a xylophone, only with a sledgehammer.

I shut the door and when I turned back, Willa was standing there, Tilly at her side, both looking at me with identical frowns creasing their foreheads.

I straightened, not wanting to alarm Tilly. She didn’t like it when I got hurt. “Sorry I’m late,” I said, kissing the top of Tilly’s head, then tugging Willa closer and planting one on her soft lips. “Things took a little longer than expected.”

Tilly rolled her eyes. “You hurt yourself again, didn’t you?”

I tried to think of something to say. “No, I was just…”

“Save it,” Willa said. “Ruby called and told me to get the ice packs ready.”

Goddamn it, Ruby. “It’s nothing really,” I said, as Tilly took my hand and led me to the living room.

Willa disappeared into the kitchen.

Tilly’s eyes narrowed. “Did you get hit by one of the bad guys?”

“Yeah, but it was a cheap shot,” I said, grinning to lighten the situation.

“Did you at least kick his ass?” she asked.

I chuckled and tugged her in for a quick hug. “Oh yeah.”

“Nice,” she said, and leaned against me. “Willa said I could stay up until you got home. Guess that means I have to go to bed now?”

Willa walked in with an ice pack. “Sure does, kiddo.”

“Fine,” Tilly said, giving me a hug, then planted a kiss on my cheek. “Night, Jude.”

“Night, honey.”

After she hugged her aunt and left the room, Willa took the spot beside me on the couch and held up the ice pack. “Where am I putting this?”

I lifted the side of my shirt, and she winced. “Ouch.”

“I hope you at least kicked this guy’s ass,” she said.

“Christ.” I leaned back and laughed. It fucking hurt, but I couldn’t help it.

“What?” she asked, grinning, while she carefully placed the ice pack over my bruises, then handed me some painkillers.

“Tilly basically said the exact same thing.”

Willa frowned. “Hmm, maybe I need to talk to her about her language again.”

I stared at her, her hair down, wearing one of my shirts, legs bare, and so damn beautiful I ached. I swallow the boulder forming in my throat. “I think my girls are two peas in a pod.”

“I think you might be right there.” Willa snuggled up beside me and rested her head on my shoulder. “Are you in a lot of pain?”

“I’ll live.”

Willa looked up at me, her delicate face pale, eyes bright. “Good, because I’m not sure what we’d do without you.”

I brushed her hair back and gently kissed her lips. “Beautiful, you won’t ever have to find out, I promise.”

We sat there in silence for a few minutes, then she stood and took my hand. “Come on, big guy, time for bed.”

“And what else?” I asked, unable to hide the hunger in my voice. I always wanted her. Always. A few bruised ribs didn’t change that.

She looked at me over her shoulder, eyes wide. “You can’t be serious. Your ribs are every color of the rainbow.”

“How about some kissing?”

She smirked. “Fine. I’ll allow kissing.”

“And touching, is touching allowed?”

“I’ll allow touching.”

We walked into the bedroom and around to the side of the bed, where Willa started stripping me out of my clothes.

“You know if I’m kissing and touching you, I’m gonna need to fuck you,” I said.

She giggled and stared up at me. “Oh, all right, if you insist, I’ll allow fucking as well.”

Willa helped me onto the bed and shook her head when I reached for her.

“Nope. Not tonight. Tonight, you get to lay there while I do all the kissing, touching, and fucking. But you have to promise to lay very still, so you don’t hurt your ribs.” The grin she gave me was wicked.

“Have I told you lately how much I fucking love you?” I said.

She laughed again, then kissed me.