We’d tried to keep our wedding off the radar. Only about twenty people were attending, in addition to the wedding party. But somehow, the danged reporter who never stopped harassing Griffin had gotten wind of our engagement. It might’ve been the massive rock Griffin had planted on my finger a week after my release from the hospital. Or, she might’ve started digging after the police report of my incident was released.

Griffin had been cleared of any wrongdoing, and Darryl Kidman would be in jail for a very long time. The police had found my father buried in Max’s backyard, and we’d been able to put both my parents to rest in a cemetery on Shelter. There would never be simple feelings when it came to them and the events that had transpired, but we were healing together as a family. And having this wedding to focus on had helped so much.

Will opened up to Griffin as they worked on the house, letting his guilt and fear flow. Griffin was there every step of the way, encouraging and being a shoulder to lean on.

Mia had been struggling with nightmares, but we were there every time she called out. It helped that she and Ava shared a room, and that Luci never left her side. I swear that cat had become my little sister’s fiercest defender.

Ava processed the way she usually did—quietly and with deep thought. We’d spent a lot of afternoons walking the property, just the two of us as I slowly got my strength back. And my girl opened up to me over time.

We were all going to be just fine.

Ava and Will bounded out of the house. “Hey,” Crosby called, “we need your hands to unload flowers.”

“I can help, too,” I said, starting to head in that direction.

“Actually, Griffin wants to see you. He’s in his office,” Will said.

I stopped and turned back to the house. “All right. I’ll be out to help as soon as I’m done.”

I made my way inside, moving through the kitchen that had become my favorite place in the house and down the hall into Griffin’s office. “Hey, handsome.”

He looked up and grinned, those blue eyes sparkling. “Come here, gorgeous.”

I crossed to him, and he tugged me onto his lap. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

“Hmmmm,” I said, tapping my lips with a finger. “I think you might’ve mentioned it once or twice. But I never get tired of hearing it.”

He trailed his lips up the side of my neck. “I love you.”

“Griffin.” His name was more of a pant. “There are half a dozen people outside.”

He chuckled, the sound sending shivers through me. “I’ll be good. I promise.”

“I hate that you have to be.”

He squeezed my legs. “Trust me, I do, too.”