I glanced at her ass because what man missed the opportunity to catch a view, and then I turned off the heated seat warmer. “Sorry, the last time I came home it was Christmas. I don’t use this vehicle much. Do you want it?”
“Want what?” Loretta asked as we passed the elementary school.
“The car.” I rarely drove it but maybe once or twice a year. It would get much more use if she used it. But then the thought of leaving Loretta with my car while I returned to New York turned sour in my stomach. I never wanted to be away from her again.
“What?” she screeched, looking at me again as if I’d lost my mind. I saw the expression so often it was becoming endearing. “No, I don’t want your car.”
“Think about it,” I said finding a parking spot in front of the bakery and shutting off the vehicle.
If she didn’t want the current car, I’d buy her something new. Whatever she wanted as long as it was safe.
By the time we exited the car, Loretta was still shaking her head at me as if she had no idea what I’d just said. But the woman should understand I’d give her whatever she asked. It wasn’t about the sex but because I wanted her in my life forever. There was no more Loretta James or Reginald Peterson —only the two of us together.
She might not have accepted it yet, but she would soon.
I’d refuse to rest until she did.
And so, I was definitely buying her car. Or a driver if I could get her to agree to move to New York. Otherwise, I’d have to set up shop in Pelican Bay and get an office space in the new Kensington building. I could handle either direction we headed.
Roxie would not be happy to have her two major employers living in Pelican Bay, but she’d have to deal with it. Maybe it was time for her to embrace her country roots.
Plans were already forming in my head as we walked to the bakery, but my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I’d been lost in happy bliss, but that single ring set me straight into irritation. I told Roxie to handle any of the crap happening in the office, but she constantly called without leaving messages.
“What?” I snapped into the phone, stopping right outside the bakery door.
Her voice trembled as she answered. “Mr. Pitero is upset you aren’t here for your meeting.”
What was she babbling on now? “We didn’t have a meeting.”
“I know,” Roxie said and then the parade of tears started and she sobbed so loudly it sounded as if she was standing right next to me.
My irritation melted into guilt. Had I been that rude with her? “Roxie, it’s fine. Are you okay?” If he’d yelled at her, I’d tie them up in litigation for years.
She went silent for a beat and when the next person spoke it wasn’t Roxie but an older man whose voice sounded as if he’d been smoking most of his life. I’d heard this voice every time Pitero left me a voicemail. “Get your ass to New York or you don’t want to know what will happen to your little assistant.”
The blood drained from my face as I considered what to say, but the call disconnected and my negotiation period ended.
“What’s wrong?” Loretta asked holding onto my upper arm.
I looked at her but didn’t actually see her face when I answered. My brain flipped so quickly to the new problem at hand. “I need to get to New York right now,” I said turning around and racing back to my car.
“How?” she asked, following me.
“The chopper is on standby.” I told Pierce I wasn’t sure when I needed to return and he said it was handy when I needed it. “I’ll drive to the airport and then you can take my car back to your place.” It was one way for her to have the better vehicle.
Loretta grew silent as we drove, which gave me time to think about my next steps. Nothing good came of the mob making threats. I refused to let the Kensingtons enter into a contract with local mafia, but I couldn’t let anything happen to Roxie.
We both exited the vehicle in front of the little dirt path by the airport. I met Loretta at the hood of the car and passed over the keys, giving her a quick kiss because that’s all she would have to remember me until I returned. I had to hope it’d be enough.
She furrowed her brow and then held the keychain at the car, hitting the lock button and making the horn beep. “You are a dumbass if you think I’m not going with you.”
“No.” There was absolutely no way I was letting the woman get on a helicopter with me.
She thrust her hip out and more lines formed in her forehead. “Yes.”
“Loretta, we are wasting time standing here arguing over this. There is no way you’re coming to New York.” None. Absolutely not. Never. No way.
“Exactly,” she said as if she only heard the first sentence. “We’re wasting time so shut up and get in the chopper. A Pelican Bay girl doesn’t let her man go off alone if there’s a chance at a good story.”
