She reached for my hand. "Yeah, you did. Thanks."
Still focused on the road, she grinned. "I'm not losing my mind or anything. Just so glad you're in my life."
I didn't reciprocate because when I did, it made her uncomfortable. Instead, I went in a different direction. "I hope you know what a strong woman you are."
She pushed the hair away from her forehead. "You think so?"
"I know so. You must be, to have carried all of that baggage for the length of time you've done it."
She jerked one shoulder. "It wasn't like I had a choice other than dealing with it."
"You could have fallen apart, but you didn't."
Her eyes raked me before going back to the road. "I didn't have the luxury."
Gripping the wheel tight with both hands, she continued talking. "I discovered one thing though."
"What's that?"
"The number of women thisthinghas happened to is unbelievable."
"How do you know this?"
Gina rolled her eyes in my direction. "How d’you think?"
"I can see you hunched over your computer researching date rape backwards and forwards."
"You got that right."
"Knowing more about other people’s coping mechanism is good, but dealing with your personal issues is even better."
This time, she cut her eyes at me. "Why d'you have to drag me back tothat?"
"Don't act as if you've ever gotten past it. You've just learned to cope with it day by day."
While I watched, Gina popped the button on the remote and the iron gates to the cottage swung open. We drove inside and when she switched off the engine, she breathed out through her mouth. "Do you even know how smart you are?"
"I may have an idea, but wouldn't object if you pander to my ego and tell me how highly intelligent I am."
She thumped my arm, laughing. "Stop speaking as if English isn't your first language."
I unbuckled her seatbelt and mine before pushing the door open. "You're forgetting, my sweet, that it isn't."
We got out of the car at the same time and stood looking at each other over the roof. The sun formed a halo around her head and burnished her skin to a creamy bronze. Her sweet expression made me want to crush her to my chest and wipe away everything that bothered her mind. But I didn't have that power. Life didn't work like that.
The healing she needed rested within her and until she did what was necessary, she'd be carrying the burden that had been with her since she'd been violated.
"Come here," I said, motioning to her with one hand. She tipped her head sideways and a speculative expression crossed her face. As if she were wondering what was on my mind.
It wasn't what she was thinking.
She stood before me, expectancy in her eyes but all I did was pull her to my chest and hug her close. After kissing the top of her head, I turned her toward our little haven with one arm around her shoulder. I was sure that after Gina opened the door, she expected me to take her to the bedroom. Instead, I kissed her ear and whispered. "Let's go to the gym."
She rolled her eyes upward. "Are you for real?"
"I was neverrealeror more serious."
That made her laugh. "I was so ready for a stay-at-home workout and here you are, suggesting that we leave again."
