Wrong Place, Right Time(119)

“The watch that I gave you. It’s mine. I want it back.”

My jaw drops open. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious.” He has the grace to look uncomfortable, at least.

I’m whisper-yelling now. “Did you seriously break into my house so that you could steal the watch you gave me for my birthday two years ago?!”

His jaw tenses up. “I didn’t break into the house, Jenny. I used to live here. I still have a key.”

I shake my head. “Well, you shouldn’t. I’m changing the locks. Don’t ever come in here again without my permission.”

I walk away, because I don’t trust myself not to get physical with this man. He’s obviously got a screw loose, and he doesn’t realize he’s about to tangle with a Bengal tiger on her front lawn. In her territory. I will use my claws on his sorry ass.

His tone changes. Now he’s trying to sound pitiful. “I’m a little short on cash, Jenny. I need that watch.”

I laugh bitterly. “Why don’t you get a real job, Miles? Then you won’t have to worry about stealing jewelry from your ex-wife.” In typical fashion, he probably decided that his one week of commissioned sales should be enough to last him for the month and he’s slacked off and spent every last dime he made that week. God, I’m so glad I’m not married to that sloth anymore.

The kids are all inside, but the door is still partway open. I walk up to the porch and shut it before turning around to face the couple below me. They’re both looking up at me. “Chastity, I don’t know you, but let me give you a little piece of advice: If you’re as smart as you are pretty, you shouldn’t settle for a guy like Miles. Trust me. You’re better off without him.”

“Fuck you, Jenny,” Miles spits out.

I smile and nod at him. “Nice. Classy. Just what I would expect from a guy like you.” I walk into the house and shut the door behind me, locking it for good measure. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and send myself an email.

Dear self: Change locks immediately.

Not that I could forget anything like that. This incident will be swimming around in my head for at least the next month. I cannot believe he actually broke into my house to steal my watch! Wait until I tell May. She’s going to go ballistic.

Dev is standing in the entrance hall waiting for me. “You okay?”

I nod but don’t trust myself to speak. It’s so embarrassing that he witnessed that. Will he judge me a loser because I married one?

He takes me into his arms and hugs me, somehow knowing exactly what I need. His kindness, gentleness, and understanding, his knowing that I just need the space to handle my own problems . . . it blows me away.

“How did I get so lucky?” I ask.

“Lucky?”

“Yes. Lucky to have you in my life.”

He kisses the top of my head. “We both got lucky. And I think we can thank your sister for that.”

My sister and fate. Fate is what locked me up in that panic room with Dev two weeks ago. I thought I was in the wrong place at the right time, but I was wrong. It was definitely the right place to be and the right time to be there.

The kids are in the kitchen, no doubt with their candy poured out all over the table. I can hear them commenting and exclaiming over the awesome things they collected in the neighborhood.

I pull back from Dev and look up at him. “Thank you for being so cool.”

He smiles, pointing to his body. “Yo, lady. I’m a green bean. It doesn’t get any cooler than this.”

Even with that stupid green outfit on, I can see his muscles underneath. I’m inspired. “I think I’m ready to start my training now.”

His non-eyebrows rise as his face lights up. “Really? That’s awesome. We can start Monday.”

I walk down the hall with him toward the kitchen to join our children. “Should I be scared?” I ask.

“Yes. Be very scared.”

I stand at the entrance to the room admiring the kids and the happy camaraderie they share. When I first got divorced from Miles, I yearned for the simplicity of a child’s life. I didn’t want stress, I didn’t want worry, I didn’t want all these responsibilities. But now that I’m with Dev I have a different outlook. I like the complications. I like the excitement. I like steamed-up windows and random sex in the parking lot. I like being with a guy who’s seven feet tall and bold enough to go out on Halloween dressed as a green bean.

Dev steps up behind me and leans his chest on the back of my head. “Happy?” he asks.

I nod. “Yes. Very.”





CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Life could not possibly be better. I’m headed into my second week of work at Bourbon Street Boys, I have a new boyfriend who’s way better than any I’ve ever had before in my entire life, and my kids are happy. What else do I need?