FIFTEEN
Realization
DRIFTING HIS HAND lazily down Nora’s arm, Ryan let his mind wander. Her breathing evened into soft puffs, and in that moment, holding the woman he loved, he’d never been so content. Smoothing her curls down, he kissed her head, feeling her snuggle a little closer into him. She gave a quiet sigh that he echoed a moment later, and she squirmed and shifted. He looked down at her and saw her blinking her sleepy brown eyes.
“Hi,” her voice rasped.
“Hi,” he replied, bending his head to kiss her.
“Did I sleep long?”
“No.” His hand trailed down her cheek. “You just closed your eyes a second ago.”
“I’d never have believed the worst day of my life would lead to this,” she mused, nuzzling his chest. “Is it crazy I can’t help but feel grateful Detective Vance thought I was guilty since it brought me here?”
“What do you mean?”
She kissed his chest, her lips lightly slipping across his skin. “I mean, if Vance hadn’t jumped to conclusions, I’d never have been a suspect in the school shooting. If I was never a suspect, I’d never have called Legal Aid. If I’d never called Legal Aid, I’d never have met you, and we’d never be here. Now. Like this.” Her cheeks flushed.
“Oh.”
“It’s worth all of it,” she went on, leading him to believe she hadn’t noticed his reaction. “The job stuff. Dr. Murray. I’ve never been so happy in my life, Ryan. Isn’t that crazy? And amazing?”
“You’re not mad at Detective Vance?”
She lifted one slim shoulder, and he had to kiss it. “I wouldn’t say that. He really scared me, and things like finding a job feel almost impossible, but it’ll happen.” She put her hand on his chest and propped her chin on it, looking up at him. “I didn’t tell you. At CCSL, I met this guy; he was giving tours, and I don’t know who he was, but everyone else did.”
“A guy?” he teased, and Nora rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, he was a student there. And something like what happened to me, happened to him.”
“Like what happened to you?” His entire body tensed.
“I don’t know the story. He said to Google him, but I didn’t. Felt too intrusive, you know? It’s his story, if he wants to tell me, fine, but I’m not going to Nancy Drew it.”
“Nancy Drew?” He chuckled, loving the way she defended her choices.
She kissed his chest, her lips turning upward in a grin. “Hardy Boys?”
“Harriet the Spy?”
“The point is”—she pinched him—“here’s this guy who, while he’s giving the tour, people are looking at each other like, ‘it’s him!’ But what does he care because he’s in law school and he’s moving on with his life?”
Something about her story bothered him. She saw the change in his countenance and sat, pulling the sheet to cover her. “What, Ryan?”
“What was his name, Nora?” He pushed himself to sitting and reached for her, cupping her cheek.
Her eyebrows drew together. “Beau.”
Every muscle in his body froze, but his brain whirred, putting pieces of the puzzle together: the waitlist, the committee. “Well, that question’s answered.”
“What do you mean?” Beneath his hands, she trembled. “Ryan?” Her wide, worried eyes focused on him, taking in every nuance of his expression.
“Why I got waitlisted. I know why.”
“I know.” Looking down, she held the sheet to her chest like a shield. “I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. If you hadn’t helped me, they’d have let you right in.”
Lost in his own thoughts, he nodded as she first began to speak, but as she went on, he shook his head. “Nore, it had nothing to do with you.”
“The morals clause, Ryan.” She canted her head, her face pale. “You helping me was against the morals clause.”
“No.” Shit. She’d been going around thinking it was her fault. Pulling her into his arms, he buried his face in her neck, smelling her salty scent and Apollo’s body wash. “Nora. It had nothing to do with you. If anything, helping you helps my case. It has everything to do with my past.”
She tightened her arms around him. The sheet tangled between them, and he ripped it away, pulling her into his lap so she straddled him. He leaned back, lifting her chin so he could see her eyes while he spoke. “Do you understand? This had nothing to do with you.”
Her dark eyelashes fanned over her cheeks, and she nodded. He tilted her chin, forcing her eyes up. “Nora?”
“Are you sure? You’re not just telling me that to make me feel better?”
He kissed her, and she responded immediately, her lips clinging to his. “No. But now I know for sure why I was waitlisted.”
“Why?” She held onto his shoulders and slid her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Because of Beau.”
“What?” Her body trembled and tensed.
“Beau. Beau Rice? He’s the guy I sent to prison for two years. The one who was innocent.”