Epilogue
Tiffany stared out the passenger window as Thomas parked the truck and looked over at her. “You all set?”
“Yup.” The quadrangle in front of a set of wide stone steps was awash in people. Young people marching about like they knew where they were going and what they were doing there. She swallowed and rubbed her palms on the legs of her jeans.
“You got your lunch?” Thomas asked.
She held up her Louis Vuitton mini tote. “Yup.”
“You know, you could buy something on campus.”
“I could.” She dredged up a weak smile. “But that would be over five dollars every day, and you know I’m on a budget now.”
“I know, baby.” He leaned over and took her hand. He gave it a warm squeeze that she felt all the way to her churning tummy. A pretty blond girl laughed and chatted over her shoulder at another pretty blonde. So young and eager and full of life.
Who was she kidding? She must be mad. “Remind me why I’m doing this.”
“You know why you’re doing this.” Thomas lifted her limp hand and gave it a kiss. “Want me to walk you to class?”
Very tempting, but no. She shook her head. “I’m going to do this on my own.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Right.” She blew out a long breath and reached for the door handle. She stopped and turned back to him. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful,” he said. “Always.”
God, she loved this man. Tiffany launched herself at him.
Thomas caught her against his chest, his hand coming up to grip the back of her head.
The rush of heat took her by surprise every time. Tiffany gave herself a small moment and let the taste and feel of him wash over her. She broke the kiss and brushed her fingers over the pillow of his bottom lip. “Save that thought for later.”
“You know it.” He gave her the bedroom eyes that shot straight into her pants. “Your place or mine tonight?”
“Mine,” she said. “I’ll probably have homework.”
“I’ll bring dinner.”
“You’re on,” she said. “But no more pizza. I’m heading toward bigger jeans at a scary rate.”
“Looks good on you.”
Such a dog. Tiffany rolled her eyes and opened the door.
“Love you, babe,” he called.
“Love you, too.” And she stepped out of the truck.
* * *
Thomas watched her walk away. She looked about eighteen in her jeans and T-shirt, her backpack thrown over one shoulder. His chest grew tight. He was so fucking proud of her it hurt.
Even her stubborn insistence she keep her own place made him want to glow with pride. She wanted her own place. She wanted to experience what it was like to be independent. As much as he wanted her under his roof, tucked in next to him all day, he understood. Tiffany had tackled some major changes in the last year. They spent every night together anyway. That would be enough for now. But he had plans and she knew about them, and she was totally on board. Another of his partners was working out of Zambia while Thomas managed the business side from Chicago. As soon as Tiffany got her degree, they would head that way together. She wanted to focus on those countries that had been receiving assistance from the former Soviet Union.
After that, who knew? Wherever life took them next, and whatever new adventure was waiting. As long as they went together.
His gaze tracked the sexy swish of her ass as she climbed the steps. He had no idea how he’d gotten so damn lucky. A group of young dickheads lounged around the base of the steps. And they had their leers on his girl’s ass. He rolled down the window. Time to make his presence felt.
“Oh, my God.” The pretty blond girl who was talking to her friend dashed up the steps after Tiffany. “Excuse me?”
Tiffany stopped and turned.
Thomas leaned forward to hear what happened next.
“I, like, love your shoes,” said the girl.
A smile spread across his face.
Tiffany tossed back her mane of glossy black hair and smiled back. “Thank you, but they’re so last season.”
“Yeah, but they’re Jimmys, so that totally doesn’t count.”
His smile widened into a great goofy grin.
“Are you new?” the blonde asked.
“It’s my first day.” Tiffany smiled, looking so adorable and unsure of herself, he nearly sprinted out of the truck and tucked her into his arms. He was learning to control this desire to pick her up and bundle her in silk every day of her life. It had taken her this long to get away from her father’s suffocating brand of love, the last thing she needed was Thomas taking up where he’d left off. Her dad was coming around. He’d sulked for a few months, and that had been hell on Tiffany. But she’d held to her line, and when Carter finally got around to calling, she’d given him love and understanding. She also held firm on not taking any money from her father.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” the blonde said. “You’re going to love it here.” She turned and yelled to the group of boys, “Hey, guys, come and meet”—she stopped and turned back to Tiffany—
“Tiffany.”
The horny little shits got up those steps so fast they could get altitude sickness. Thomas suppressed the desire to bang their heads together.
“Is that, like, your boyfriend?” Blond girl motioned over to him, and Thomas waved one hand.
His lady turned and looked at him. Her beautiful face split into a smile that, honest to God, made his chest hurt.
“Yes,” she said. “That’s my man.”