“Can I just say you really do have the most beautiful eyes. I hate when you shield them behind your shades, but I understand. It’s part of your uniform.”
“What did I tell you about making my life harder?” he asked flatly.
“You do realize my mama is right here, and she will gut you if you’re mean to me.”
“He can say his peace,” her mother said.
She better not be taking another man’s side over hers.
“But I do carry a knife,” Ma added, patting her purse.
Santi smiled and nodded appreciatively.
Lauren rubbed his forearm. She really did want his life to be easier, less stressful. He bent his head and kissed her.
It wasn’t a passionate kiss but had just enough heat to ignite a spark in her blood.
“Whatever I said no longer applies. You make life better. And I’m man enough, probably the only one man enough, to handle all the parts of you—to want all of you to show up because it’s who you are, and who you are is what I didn’t know I was missing. Mama, cover your ears,” he told Ma Mable.
“When we get back to my house, I’m gonna do some things to you.” She pressed her thighs together because she really didn’t want to have an orgasm in front of her mother and the few people that still lingered in the room. He lowered his voice and pressed his mouth to her ear.
“I may just break you wide open trying to get to that molten center.” He pulled back. “But you’ll be fine after.” He adjusted her collar. “Run that fever right out of you. Ladies.”
He dipped his head to her mother, turned, and walked toward the front of the building.
Her mother frowned, confused. “You been sick, Ren?”
“No, Ma.” But she did feel feverish and jittery. “At least not physically. But I swear that man has made me sick in the head.”
“Or maybe, just maybe, he’s given you a permanent heart condition.” Her mother nodded sagely.
Lauren frowned at her mother. What did she even know? But then the truth of her mother’s words hit her, and she couldn’t catch her breath.
“Sit down before you fall down. You’ve always been so dramatic,” she said. Lauren fisted her shirt clutching it tight against her chest.
Lina separated from the council members not taken into custody and walked toward them, concerned.
She sat beside Lauren. “Was he angry, mija. Did he threaten you?”
“With a good time,” her mother said drolly.
“Ma, please.”
Her mother rolled her eyes.
“I can’t be with that man,” she said fiercely, but her fierceness was filled with panic.
“I haven’t been here two months. No one can fall in love in less than two months, especially when we couldn’t stand each other the first half of it, after having my heart broken. Lust, yes, but a brokenhearted woman cannot fall in love with a?—”
“Handsome,” her mother said sitting on the other side of her.
“Kind,” Lina added.
“Fiercely protective.”
“Sexy.”
“Dedicated,” Lina nodded, ticking up another finger.
