Page 31 of Finding Shelter
The way Valon’s shoulders relaxed couldn’t be missed, making Kash realize how tightly Valon had been holding himself. Relief filled Kash. Everything would be fine. They would make it through this.
The bed shook slightly, startling Ledger awake. His gaze shot to where he had found Valon the night before. Bright sunlight filled the room, and Valon was gone. The shaking had to be from Kash crawling back into bed with him fully dressed, like he had been up for hours. Ledger’s gaze slid toward the clock. It was nearly noon. Damn. He never slept late. It seemed all the stress had finally caughtup with him.
“Hey. Why are you dressed?”
Kash scooted beneath the blankets and snuggled close. “I had to go out this morning.”
Ledger had already decided he wouldn’t ask questions anytime Kash had to run out for a quick errand. Ignorance and bliss and all that. He didn’t want to know when Kash did anything illegal. Ledger wondered what it said about him that he was so unbothered. Likely nothing good.
“Where’s Valon?” He braced himself to hear that Valon had already left. Ledger would never find out what in the hell was going on with him if Valon didn’t sit still for a little while.
“He’s hanging out in the garage with Marc.”
“Marc’s here?” Ledger felt like he had slept for three days and no longer knew his household.
Kash tugged Ledger closer. “Yeah. I talked to him this morning about taking on Valon full time. He’s a talker and is used to snobbish CEOs making his life miserable. I think he’s a good fit with Valon. He’ll treat Valon like a friend while also being unaffected when Valon turns into the raging asshole that’s obviously cost him several bodyguards.”
“Sounds like he’s the perfect choice.”
Kash shifted around as if uncomfortable while answering absently. “I guess we’ll see.” His hand appeared from beneaththe covers. “Here.”
It took Ledger a second to focus on the velvet ring box held three inches from his face. “What’s this?”
Kash pulled a confused face. “You accepted my marriage proposal last night. I can’t have you running around here without a ring, letting all these obsessed men think they have a shot.”
Ledger’s mind raced. When had he accepted a marriage proposal? It hit him. They had been joking in the kitchen. Ledger had accepted his proposal. He hadn’t even entertained the idea that Kash was serious. While his thoughts raced, Ledger accepted the box and flipped it open. The last thing he wanted was for Kash to see how scattered his thoughts were. Kash had been neglected and rejected his entire life. Ledger couldn’t add to that by seeming unsure.
It turned out the most beautiful ring Ledger had ever seen waited for him inside. His mind blanked as he pulled out the ring and slipped it onto his finger. It fit perfectly.
Ledger shook his head. “I’m a little scared to ask how you got this gorgeous of a ring in my exact size in one morning.”
Kash’s bright smile proved how important this was to him. “I have connections with connections. All I needed was the ring on your dresser to get a measurement. Do you really like it? It’s not over the top or anything, is it?”
Ledger couldn’t stop staring at the sparkling band on his ring finger. Never in a million years would Ledger have thought to see another marital ring there. Even six months ago,if anyone asked, Ledger would have said he would rather set himself on fire and run into traffic than be married again. This was completely different, though. It was Kash.
“I love it.” The way his voice shook was the nail in the coffin. Ledger had to admit he had never wanted anything as badly as this family they were creating.
Kash kissed his cheek.
A soft knock landed on the bedroom door.
Ledger bit back a sigh. “No rest for the wicked.” He turned his head. “Come in!”
The door slowly opened, and Valon stuck his head inside, as if uncertain of his welcome. His hair was in a bun and his face clear of all makeup. As Ledger looked on, one silver curl slipped from the bun andcovered his eye. Valon tucked the lock behind his ear.
His gaze was locked on Kash. “Did he love it? We’re dying out here to know.” He stepped fully into the room with Marc on his heels. Valon climbed onto the foot of the bed and sat back on his heels. He focused on Ledger without giving Kash time to answer. “It’s fucking gorgeous, isn’t it? Let me see it on your hand.”
Ledger held out his hand. As he watched Valon look it over with genuine interest, he couldn’t take it anymore. “You’re really okay with this, aren’t you?”
Valon’s forehead furrowed as he met Ledger’s stare. “Of course. I set this up.”
Ledger shook his head. “I don’t understand why you seemso unbothered.”
Valon shifted positions and sat cross-legged. He looked stone-cold serious about the topic. His gaze moved to Kash. “It really was a lifetime ago, huh?”
“Yeah.” Kash sounded slightly sad, like a nod to a past that mattered but could never exist again.
Valon looked Ledger’s way. “It feels like fifty years have passed in the last few years. So many good, bad, and unbelievable things have happened.” His gaze seemed to turn inward. “Sometimes I don’t know which of those things I’ve had the most of, but I know one thing.” His expression shifted again, as if coming back to the present. “It turns out you two are the only people who have ever loved me for real. One night, I stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. You can close your ears for half a second on this one, ifyou’d like, Dad.” Unfortunately, he didn’t actually pause to give Ledger time to cover his ears. “Admittedly, I was high as a kite to the point I didn’t think I’d ever come down. It was one of those crazy things where I was so out of it, I felt like I floated on a different plane and saw my life with zero emotion attached. Do you know what I saw?”
