Reaching up, she cupped his face, her eyes a hopeful light green color. Yet he could see she was holding something back. “I’m just scared,” she whispered.

“Why? You’ll never be alone when I’m right there. I promise, it will go off without a hitch. If they ignore you, fine, means I get all of you, and we both know I won’t be complaining.”

A grin pulled at her lips. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“And if they’re in our face, then we’ll be together. If that’s what you still want.”

She nodded as she ran her thumb along the coarse hair of his face. “It is.”

“Then we’re solid. Get through the next two weeks, you’ll get the money, split it with Wells, and we’ll pay off all that debt that is freaking you the fuck out, buy us a pretty house, a vacation house, and a college fund for our little no-name kid.”

Her grin grew as she chuckled. “He does need a name.”

“Badly,” he decided with a shake of his head. “But it’s fine. No one will ever suspect anything, okay? The money is yours.”

But she shook her head. “I don’t care about the money,” she whispered, and he wanted to be elated. He wanted to throw his hands up in the air and fucking know he had won, but then her eyes started to cloud with tears, and his heart stopped.

“Whoa, Wrenya, what’s wrong?”

Looking away, she sucked in a breath while she shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m just nervous.”

But he knew she was lying. “Wren. Don’t lie to me.”

As her lips trembled, she sat up, wiping her face. “It’s nothing. Just insecurities.”

Before she could get away, he pulled her down into his lap, wrapping his arms around her middle as his lips pressed into her neck. “Baby, look at me.” She hesitated, but then she did as he asked, her green eyes floating in her tears. “Tell me about these insecurities. How can I ease them?”

But she shook her head once more. “It’s nothing.”

“Tell me.”

Swallowing hard, she bit her lip before she blew out a breath. “I don’t know what to say.”

“The truth.”

“The truth is…” She paused, laughing soullessly. “I’m a fucking hot mess, and going home and seeing… Fucking fuck, Jensen, it’s… Fuck.” She came undone, clinging to him, and he held her tightly, his lips by her ear as she cried into his neck. “I just don’t want you to leave me, and that place brings out the bad in me.”

“Oh, Wren, no, it doesn’t. Baby, it’s okay,” he whispered, rubbing her back. “That won’t happen. I promise.”

Before he could say more, though, her mouth was on his, moving feverishly as she clung to him, her belly pressed into him. Her need for him was apparent as she shook against him, holding him as tightly as he held her. Pulling away, she whispered against his lips, “Just kiss me, Jensen, please.”

Meeting her gaze, he knew she was holding back so fucking much, but he did as she asked.

He kissed her.

Because he loved her.

And he didn’t question her anymore. Not after they packed or even after they said goodbye to his parents where she cried like they were dying. She didn’t want to leave, he got that, he didn’t want to either, and it was obvious she had fallen in love with his parents. It was beautiful, and he was so thankful for that. But her silence to the airport, and even on the plane, made his body hurt. He didn’t understand it, but he didn’t want to question her about it. He didn’t want to push, but deep inside, he was worried.

It concerned him, though, because pushing could lead to her shutting down completely, and she was finally opening up to him. He couldn’t mess that up because it could turn into a slippery slope with her. Though the anxiety she had caused with her earlier concerns was eating him alive, he was patient, he was kind, and he just loved her. Even when she tried not to let him, he did it anyway. It had been working thus far, and he wasn’t one to mess with something that worked.

He just needed her to shut off her damn brain.

Reaching for the bags and putting them in the back of the rental once they landed in Colorado, he glanced over at his wife as she was busy on her phone. Her silence was killing him, and he worried she had already shut down. Shaking that thought from his brain, he reached for her door. “Baby.”

She looked up. “Thanks, told my mom that we just landed.”

“Oh, good,” he said as she got in and before he shut the door. Walking around the car, he exhaled harshly. He wished he’d never left home. He liked his wife way better in Canada.

As he got in the car, she said, “I texted your mom too, and she says she misses us, that the house is quiet.”

He smiled. “Yes, the guilt-tripping is strong with my mother.”

When he looked over at her, she smiled, a true smile that took up her whole face. “I told her we’d be back sooner rather than later, and she sent me a kissy-face emoji.”

“Good,” he answered, moving to start the car as his heart pounded in his chest. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t hold it back. Unable to bring himself to start the car, he shook his head. “Stop it.”

When he looked up, she was staring back at him oddly. “Stop what? Texting your mom?”

“No, please don’t ever stop that. I mean this. You’re being weird.”

“I am?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. “No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. You haven’t spoken more than yes or no to me the whole way here, and I can tell your whole demeanor is off. Please don’t do this, Wren. I can’t, okay? You’ve fucking spoiled me with the girl I had in Canada. And I get it, you’re nervous to be here, but believe me, I’m here with you. Nothing will happen.”

Her lips pressed together as she reached out, lacing her fingers with his. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just don’t want to be here.”

He nodded. “I understand that, but don’t take it out on me.”

Her eyes softened as she pursed her lips at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

He swallowed hard. “I just want you to be happy, and I know being here isn’t doing that. But we have to be, and we are. So, let’s make the best of it.”