Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“I love these on you,” he says. “Almost as much as I love them off. Wear them again for me tonight?”
I nod, settling my feet back down to the floor. “You have plans for tonight?”
“You. You’re my only plans.” A frown usurps his smile. “When are you talking to your therapist?”
“Doc, please don’t fuss over me.”
“I almost lost you, dammit,” he says, tightening his hands at my hips. “Don’t tell me not to worry about your safety, about your well-being, about you because that shit’s not gonna fly. I don’t want to infringe on your independence, but I’m also not letting a damn thing happen to you. Am I making myself clear on this?”
“Let me make myself clear,” I fire back, stepping out of his arms and putting my hands where his were on my hips. “I’m responsible for my safety and well-being. Thank you for rescuing me from a lunatic who had a mind to kill me, but we’re home now. And I don’t need someone to caretake my life or to monitor my comings and goings.”
He blows out an exasperated breath, disrupting his hair when he runs a hand through it. “I have to go, and Mena’s waiting for you. I want you to have time with her. We’ll discuss this tonight, okay?”
“Yeah, okay.” Now that he’s leaving, I want to wrap my arms and legs around him and lock the door to keep him with me a little longer. “I love you.”
His expression softens, and he looks at me in a way I’ve never seen him look at anyone else. And I know it’s because I’m the only one he loves in just this way. He leans down to give me a quick, searing kiss and whispers his reply over my lips, “Same, baby. Same.”
I stand there for a moment after he leaves, absorbing the scent of him lingering in the foyer before rejoining Mena at the dining-room table.
“Sorry about that.” I grimace. “About all of it. We clash from time to time.”
“You both have incredibly strong personalities. It’s to be expected, but there’s obviously a lot of passion there.” Mena grins and tilts her head, considering. “And love, if I’m not mistaken.”
“You’re not mistaken.” I toy with my fork and smile. “I love him, yeah.”
“I’m so happy for you, Lennix. You know I’ve wanted someone to get past that guard around your heart for a long time.”
“He got past it all right. I just hope we don’t screw it up. He likes to piss circles around me, and as you can imagine, that doesn’t always go over well.”
“He’s a very dominant man. Many politicians are. I know. I married one.”
“Well, he is dominant, but he’s not a politician. Thank God.”
“Maybe not by trade.” Mena levels a speculative look over her coffee mug, sipping. “But he obviously has aspirations.”
“No, he has convictions. Principles. Goals for the world, no less, and he understands there has to be some intersection with politics to accomplish them, but he’s not into politics. I think that’s partly why we work.”
“The two of you also work because he wouldn’t settle for you not working. When you resisted, he kept coming. That’s a man always looking for the next mountain to climb.”
“I have my own mountains,” I say, pushing around what’s left of my pancakes. “He knows that.”
We share a look, and there’s some knowledge in Mena’s eyes that I don’t want to ask about. After breakfast, we clear the dining-room table and head into the kitchen. Mena leans against the counter and watches me load the dishwasher.
“What?” I ask, glancing up from a row of plates in the rack. “You have that I’ve got something on my chest look.”
Mena smiles and nods. “I was thinking of what you said earlier about incorporating some of the old practices into your recovery.”
“Yeah?” I close the dishwasher door and lean beside her against the counter. “And?”
“I do think incorporating some of the ancient practices in your healing process is wise. If running makes you feel connected, do that. Smudging can be incredibly powerful, too.”
I can’t remember the last time I engaged in the practice of smudging. Growing up, Mama’s house always smelled of sage, and the sacred smoke drifted through every room.
“I’ll bring some things over for you to use,” Mena says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “I’ll give you the tools, but you have to do the work.”
At every juncture, she’s there, stepping into so many gaps. I believe Mama sees us and is grateful for how Mena has guided me time and time again. “Thank you for always being there for me, Auntie,” I say with watery eyes.
“Oh, honey, I always will.”
CHAPTER 12
MAXIM
Laughter reaches me even before I step off the elevator to Lennix’s apartment.
So much for another night alone with my girl. I hadn’t planned to be away all day, but we’re at a critical stage in several deals. Jin Lei reminded me, not too gently, about several things that needed my immediate attention. Lennix texted to say her friends were coming over. I don’t begrudge them time with her. They almost lost her, too, and no doubt need to feel assured she’s okay the same way I do, but damn if I didn’t want time alone.