She flashed him one of her sunny smiles as she tapped in a number and then put the phone to her ear.

She loves me. The knowledge was still sinking in. And he was almost afraid to believe it. The idea that he might get Piper, that he could have everything he’d ever wanted…it was a little scary. He was afraid that something would happen. Something would go wrong. Because no one got a happy ending, right? That didn’t work in real life.

Just in books.

“Mark? It’s Piper.” A pause. “Yes, I’m using Eric’s phone because the cops still have mine. Listen, I just—I wanted to check on you. Make sure you’re okay.”

He’d killed a man. Eric doubted that the guy was okay.

“You’re at the shop already?” Surprise had her eyes flaring as she looked over at Eric. “Yes, I’ll come see you. All right. Yes, I—um…” She frowned down at the phone.

Eric eased closer to her. “Everything okay?”

She handed him back the phone. Bit her lip. “He’s already back at the tattoo shop. Said he can see the crime scene team coming and going from the gallery.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Tugged on the lobe. “He sounded funny. Stressed, but I guess that’s to be expected, isn’t it? After everything that happened?”

“Yes.”

She swallowed. “He wants me to come and see him. Said he had something that he needed to tell me.” Her breath blew out. “I’m going to run by and then I’m supposed to go meet the insurance adjustor at my house so that we can get started on the repairs.” She hopped off the barstool. “I need to—”

His fingers closed around her wrist. “Stop.”

Her head tipped back and she looked up at him.

“I love you.”

The shadows immediately left her eyes. She smiled at him. “I love you, too.”

Good. Wanted to make sure that hadn’t just been one awesome-ass dream. He kissed her. “You don’t have to do all that stuff alone. I can go with you. I can—”

“The bad guy is dead, remember? I don’t need twenty-four seven protection any longer. It’s all clear. Call off the level six protection because I am good to go.”

So it would seem. He kissed her again. “How about this…I’d like to go with you. Because I enjoy being with you. And I’m still scared as shit because of everything that happened. It would make me feel so much better if I could tag along with you.” He flashed what he hoped was a charming smile.

She frowned suspiciously at him.

He kicked the smile up a notch. “I’m also really, really good with insurance adjustors.”

Piper gave a light laugh. God, he loved that sound.