Page 52 of Adrian

“He’s not going to let this go. He’s going to report some nonsense back to my parents, and they’re going to cause trouble for your family.”

“Our family, and let them try, princess.” I cup her face. “They will not win.”

“They could send reporters or lawyers or—like William said—someone to fucking have me committed.” Her voice squeaks.

“No one is going to have you committed, baby. I promise. Over my dead body. They can send whoever they want. It won’t change anything. Instead of waiting for them to make a move, we’ll get ahead of them. I’ll call our family lawyer right now and get the jump on every possibility.”

She gasps. “That will cost a fortune.”

I narrow my gaze at my wife. “Blair…”

She sighs. “I get it. You have money. But I don’t want you to spend it on legal fees to keep me safe.”

“Blair Gallant. I would give every dollar I have to keep you safe. Don’t you get that? No one is getting near you.”

She sniffles. “I don’t like that I’ve put your entire family in danger.”

“Oh, princess. No one is in any danger. I’m certain Asher has already contacted the security firm we use. They will send people up here to block the road. No one will drive past them again.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“This could go on for months or even years. I don’t think my parents are going to take no for an answer.”

I lean to one side and pull my phone out of my pocket. A few taps later, and I’m holding it to my ear.

A receptionist answers on the first ring, “Evans and Son. How can I help you?”

“Hi Amy. This is Adrian Gallant.”

“Oh, hi, Adrian. How are you?”

“I’m in need of some legal counsel. Any chance Nate can fit me in sometime soon?”

“I’m sure he can. Let me look at his schedule… He has an hour free after lunch. Will that work?”

“Yes. Thank you, Amy.”

“I’ll have him call you. This number good?”

“Yes.”

I pocket the phone and put my arm back around my wife. “Easy peasy.”

She sighs. “I guess it would be futile for me to harp on what that’s going to cost.”

“Totally futile, yes.” I grin. “This is a minor bump in the road, baby. We’re going to nip it in the bud.”

She slumps against me again. “Do you think there’s any chance they could have me committed?”

“Not a chance in hell, princess.” I stroke down one of her braids. I love her hair like this. I love that she’s happy to let go of material things, like makeup and nail polish, and trade them for mountain air. I don’t give a shit if my wife wants to wear makeup. But I do want to see her smile, and I love that she’s so comfortable in her skin here that she hasn’t put any on since our wedding. She’s gorgeous either way.

Her hair, too. I love the braids. Again, if she wants to be fancy and spend an hour blow-drying and styling it, I won’t stop her, but she’s beautiful without it. Carefree. She’s lighter than she was when I met her.

“It’s so weird,” she murmurs. “I never imagined myself being in a legal feud with my parents. Why can’t they just let me be?”

“Maybe they will.” I continue to stroke her braid.