Page 67 of The Souls We Claim

He leans back against the counter. “I overheard what you were saying, about affording a divorce. The club has a lawyer on our books. Want me to ask them to come see you and file it or whatever you need to do.”

I shake my head. “I can’t afford it yet.”

Halo smiles. “It would be free.”

I drop my head, a little overwhelmed. “You’re doing too much for me.”

He nudges my chin up. “Told you, I want you and Lola safe. Having this dick out of your life permanently is a big part of that.”

The sigh that escapes me is shaky. “Then thank you. I would like that. Don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“You’ll make sure that day-to-day, you and Lola have the best fucking life.” He looks around the kitchen. “And you cleaned.”

“I wanted it to feel restful when you got home; instead, you found me yelling into the abyss because my husband is an asshole.”

“Ex,” Halo corrects.

“He’s still my husband until we’re divorced. But yes, he’s my ex in spirit.”

“I like that you cleaned. Thank you.”

“I prepared dinner too, seeing as you said you’d be home tonight. Did you get some sleep last night?”

From the bags beneath his eyes, I know the answer to that before he tells me. “Not much. A couple of hours. Club took a big loss.”

“Is it to do with the man King was talking about? Jasper Haven.”

Halo nods. “Yeah. You don’t need to know the details. Club business. But he helped us do what we do. And last night, not having him smooth the path for us, shit got real, and we lost a delivery we were expecting.”

I slide my arm over his bicep. He’s wearing a white T-shirt with a denim shirt open over the top. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. My mouth goes dry when I look at his veined forearms, so strong and tanned.

“I’m sorry.” The words tumble from my lips, but not like they used to for Patrick. With him, I was sorry for everything. Forexisting. It was a practiced way of avoiding conflict. But for Halo I really mean it.

“I made an anonymous drop of cash at his home from the club. He had kids. We made sure they’d be okay for a while.”

I touch his cheek. “Do you want to go get some rest or go sit out in the yard? I’ll bring you a beer.”

Halo looks at the pile of things he rescued from his father’s place. “As much as that sounds amazing, I have shit that needs to get done. The insurance company needs some more details for Dad’s house, and I’m sure he had a life insurance policy, so I need to go through his emails. Close all his accounts. I haven’t even stopped his phone plan.”

He looks so weary and troubled; I can’t stand it. I wrap my arms around his waist and step into him. It takes him only a moment to respond as his arms snake around me.

We stand there for a minute as I breathe his scent. He smells of fresh air and soap. Simple. His denim shirt is soft to my cheek.

“It would be so easy to get used to this, kitten,” he says.

I smile against his chest. “It’s a few hours until I planned to have dinner ready. Why don’t you set up at the table, and I’ll make you a snack while you work?”

Halo places his finger beneath my chin and lifts my face until I look up at him. “I can take care of myself.”

“I know. But right now, you don’t need to. Let me carry some of the weight for you.”

His eyes narrow. “Fuck it.” His palms are warm and rough as he cups my cheeks. His lips on mine are soft and gentle. Not wild and reckless like I was expecting. Our tongues barely touch.

Longing pours from me. I hadn’t realized how starved I was of a caring touch. A touch I could trust and lean in to.

I place my hands on his solid chest as strong arms cocoon me. When he lifts his lips from mine, I sigh. “You have work you need to do. You go take care of that and let me take care of you.”

He strokes my hair and kisses my forehead. “I’m glad I got to come home to you today, Ari.”