“Kat,” I say seriously, holding her gaze as I skim my thumb over her lips, “what can I do to help? Last night… What do you need?” My voice comes out gruffly, wanting her to know I’ll do anything for her to help her heal.
“Never stop touching me. Tell me you love me everyday, and hold me always,” she whispers in a soft voice, her eyes flashing with pain. I pull her close by the back of the neck to kiss her lips so fucking gently, we’re hardly touching but she can still feel me.
“I can do that. But first, I feed my woman… I made blueberry muffins the other night when I couldn’t sleep.” I pull away from her and laugh deeply when I see her eyes widen and her mouth drop open in shock at me baking shit by myself.
Suddenly, I pick her up behind her thighs, enjoying her surprised squeal, and she wraps her long legs around my waist with a squeeze. She curls her arms around the back of my neck, playing with my hair with a pleased hum under her breath. It’s contentment.
“You made muffins? Blueberry?” I don’t know why that surprises her, but it does. I bet she’s almost afraid to eat them, because of how her birthday cupcake turned out. Still, we ate that cupcake together in bed on her birthday and she said it was the best day of her life, so my baking is the shit.
“I missed you, and it reminded me of you.” I shrug, almost dislodging her before smacking a playful spanking on her squeezable ass as I carry her into the kitchen, loving the sound of her laugh.
At this moment, I know everything’s going to be okay. Not all can be forgotten, but I have a woman who will stick by my side through thick and thin, and remind me that I’m loved with just a simple thing like a kiss and calling me a grumpy asshole. That’s true love right there.
29
Kat
Hours later, with Granger by my side and his parents behind us on the front steps of my father’s townhouse, I ring the doorbell with my hand steady for once. Granger’s parents were willing to help without hesitation and brought a team of other lawyers and movers to help the process. They aren’t bad people by all means. I think they just needed that small push in the right direction, to show them that they have a son who loves them and he needs that same type of love in return. I’m just lucky to have them all here with me, being the anchor I need to get this done. It’s sad and yet relieving to be doing this. So many years of pain could have been avoided if I only knew then of everything my mom left me, but I think this has made me who I am today.
My father answers the door in his business suit, well put together on the outside, but with a small hint of alcohol lingering on his breath and a monster hiding inside. His lips start to curl into a sneer at the sight of me before he drags his red bloodshot eyes over to Granger’s parents, who are holding the will and testament.
“Kathleen, what is the meaning of this? You don’t have to ring the doorbell to your own home. Please, everyone, come in,” he says with a tight smile, feigning politeness in front of the audience, but his gaze twitches over to me with a look that says I’ll pay for this.
“You’re absolutely right, Father. I don’t have to ring the bell of the house I own, but I’m glad I have your attention.” I turn to Diana, and she hands over the paperwork with a small nod, a sign of reassurance that they’re going to help me every step of the way. “I could never understand why you wanted me under lock and key when I was a burden, a child you never wanted, but it’s all clear now.” I give the copy to my father, and he snatches it out of my hand and reads it over, turning paler by the second before crumbling it in his fist.
I step aside and let Mr. Wilder walk through the front door with movers carrying empty boxes as they spread out through the house. He starts directing them to pack everything up and disappears somewhere in the house to make sure it’s all being taken care of.
“You can’t do this! This is my home, my stuff!” my father yells in outrage, turning an ugly shade of purple and swinging his gaze to me.
Granger steps forward with clear intent that he’ll do whatever it takes to protect me, and I watch my father gulp with fear while glancing around with wide frantic eyes as it all comes crashing down for him.
“Oh yes, she can. You see, Mr. Whitmore, I did some digging into your wife’s will and testament. You’ve been hiding a lot from your daughter, like the fact that she’s the sole heir of the company you claim is yours, and the money from your wife’s family that should have been passed down to Kat the moment she turned eighteen,” Diana says with authority, and I can see why she’s a respected lawyer—she means business.
“She has an inheritance, I’ve hidden nothing. She belongs home with me, and all she needs is here,” he replies desperately grasping at straws now.
“I never wanted anything but for you to love me. All of this is getting donated to a good cause, some sold to the cancer society, and I’m taking only the things of Mom’s that matter to me. As for the business, you’ll be happy to know I’m striking a deal with Donald. I’m selling the company,” I tell my father, looking him in the eye and I realize that he’s not as big as I
