He chuckled and took the spatula from her hand and set it on the counter. The stir-fry was burning, so he turned off the stove even as she yawned and burrowed against him. "Let's get you to bed, love."
"What about food-" she began sleepily.
"I'll eat tomorrow."
"What about Cade-"
He swung her into his arms and began to carry her toward the bed. "He can go get a hotel room."
He thought Violet would protest, but she only buried her face in his neck and began to lick and suck on his skin there. He groaned with need. "Hurry up and kick him out, then," she murmured as he pushed open the door to the bedroom and laid her in the rumpled bed.
Jonathan pressed a kiss to Violet's forehead. "I won't be long."
He wasn't; Cade discreetly emerged from the back of the penthouse once Jonathan shut the bedroom door behind him and adjusted himself. "You know," Cade said, "I think I'll just head out, if it's the same to you."
"Perfect." Jonathan grinned at him in understanding. "You're a good friend."
"I might swing by the Lyons offices in a few days," he said thoughtfully. "Thinking about getting a customized car for a friend."
"It'll be on me," Jonathan said. Just leave in the next few minutes.
Cade nodded, seemingly distracted. "Catch you in a few days, then, man." He clapped Jonathan on the shoulder. "Got keys I can borrow?"
"My roadster's keys are on the hook by the door. It's yours."
Cade grinned. "I'll see myself out, then. Tell Violet I said good night, and that it was lovely to see her."
"Will do," Jonathan said, and waited for Cade to leave. A few moments later, the blond man was gone and Jonathan went through the apartment, turning off lights and picking up Violet's shoes so she didn't trip over them in the morning. He tossed them into a nearby chair and then headed to the bedroom, stripping off his jacket.
Violet was already fast asleep, her cheek tucked into one palm. That was fine; he'd be perfectly happy cuddling his woman as she slept. Just touching her was pleasure enough. Jonathan stripped out of his clothes, turned off the lights, and climbed into bed.
Automatically, Violet turned toward him and he pulled her against his chest. She yawned when he pressed a kiss to her forehead and settled back into sleep.
At least, he thought she was asleep. A sleepy voice rose from the darkness. "This weekend, I think I want to visit my father's grave."
"Whatever you want," Jonathan told her, pulling her closer against him. He admitted to himself that he was curious about what was in the old man's grave, and if his treasured stele and Dr. DeWitt's journals were hidden there, great. But finding those had been less important than getting Violet back, and he was content to wait until she was ready to approach the task again.
Good things came to those who waited, and ten years of patience had won him the best prize of all. Kissing Violet's forehead again, he closed his own eyes, utterly content.
EPILOGUE
That Saturday, the skies were blue and the sun was out, the weather lovely. It was the kind of day that was made for picnics and walks in the park, not visiting a grave. But now that everything else in Violet's life had somehow lined up, this was the only question still unanswered, and Violet wanted closure.
Even if the prize at the end of this treasure hunt was just one of her father's silly notes or a research journal, at least she'd be able to move on from this. Hopefully, Jonathan's stele would be enclosed there, and he could move on, too. No more manipulation from Dr. DeWitt from beyond the grave. She liked the thought of that.
"You look lovely," Jonathan told her as she pulled on a plain black sweater.
Violet stepped into her black flats and gave him an odd look. She'd skipped makeup that morning, just in case she got emotional at her father's grave. On top of that, she was wearing all black. Her lips twitched with a nervous smile; God, why was she nervous? "Lovely, huh? Why is that?"
"Absolutely." He moved to her side, dressed in a black jacket. Instead of his normal T-shirt and jeans, he wore a collared black shirt and slacks out of respect for her father's grave. His hand tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and he gazed into her face. "It's the look on your face this morning. I can't take my eyes off of you. You're strong, and resolute, and every time you look at me, I see love in your eyes. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
An emotional knot threatened Violet's throat and she tilted her face back, silently asking for a kiss. For comfort.
He brushed his lips over hers. "Shall we get going?"
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
Hand in hand, they went out to the parking garage and Jonathan drove his roadster while Violet navigated with his tablet and a maps application. The graveyard was all the way across town, and they drove in relative silence, the only sounds Violet's quiet driving directions.