“A little weak, but I’ve eaten something that disagreed with me.”
“I hope not. Otherwise, we’d have poisoned our guests as well,” I teased.
Mariah looked horrified before she began laughing. “Oh God, don’t say that!”
“Come on, love, eat up. I don’t want to face all those terrifying guests alone!”
“As if you can’t charm the pants off them,” Mariah replied as she started eating.
“It’s not their bodies I wish to charm the pants off,” I said with a lascivious wink.
Mariah blushed before smiling weakly. While my words had been meant to make her smile, they covered a layer of worry. Mariah was too pale, and I didn’t like that. Mariah couldn’t get sick; I’d be lost without her.
Chapter Seven.
Adam
Walker and I had towed our shopping haul upstairs before Rina saw it. He hid everything in his room, which was opposite ours. Rina came upstairs about half an hour after us and asked about our day. I noted that she seemed on edge.
“Is something wrong?”
“No,” she clipped quickly.
“Wow, I only asked!” I exclaimed.
Rina looked guilty, her brows drawing together and mouth turning down. “Sorry. I was distracted. Nothing’s wrong.” She opened her lips to say more but nothing came out.
“Rina?”
“I might have done something you won’t like! But I did it out of love,” Rina blurted. “I see how hard you’re trying, and that the future with you is hopeful again,” she added softly.
“Okay,” I drawled, melting at her words but noting how shifty and guilty she appeared. “Whatever you’ve done is fine. Do you want to take the kids down while I quickly shower?”
“Of course.” Rina almost fled from me, making me wonder what the hell she’d done. I guess I’d soon find out.
???
Heading downstairs, I was still wondering what Rina had done. I’d just taken two steps down the stairs when my leg spasmed, and I began to go down.
“Shit!” The word flew from me as I made a grab for the bannister but missed. There was no stopping this, and it was going to hurt. I was going down and down hard, maybe even getting a broken leg out of this. I hissed and tried to regain my balance as my arms windmilled. A strong hand caught me and steadied me. I got my footing, breathing a little heavy, and looked up into the steady gaze of James Washington.
“What the fuck?” I exclaimed as I got my equilibrium.
“Happy Christmas, Adam,” James replied.
Happy Christmas? Was he joking?
“What the fuck?” I repeated, and James smiled.
“Not quite. Are you okay?”
“Yes. What are you doing here?”
“We came for Christmas,” James replied as he began walking down the stairs. Wanting answers, I carefully hurried after him.
“We?” I asked.
“We,” James stated as we reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the bar.
