“Remember Seattle?” The image of her first kiss comes to mind and my cock hardens.
“You mean where you humiliated me? How could I forget?”
“Yeah, well. There was a good reason I didn’t want you near me. I was about to put a dangerous drug lord away for life.”
She shifts back, crosses her arms, and scowls. “How much, Bounty Boy?”
“Over ten million, but it wasn’t about the money. His fentanyl was more addictive and more lethal than anything on the market. Someone had to stop it and I was in the best position to do so.”
She swings her feet to the floor and squishes her nose against mine. “Let me get this straight. All along, you’ve suspected he was the one who orchestrated my accident.”
“It wasouraccident, firefly, and I only found out for sure, yesterday. The shell company that paid off Keller is owned by the now jailed Jian Zhang.” My pulse pounds in my ear and as I pick up my tea, my hand shakes.
Sipping the tepid liquid, I swallow over the hard lump in my throat. When did I become so vulnerable? At what point did she worm into my heart and take up residence?
Looming over me, she places her hands on her hips. “My career is over, and you didn’t think it was necessary to loop me in?”
My chest constricts, making it hard to breathe. I know she won’t like my logic but it’s the gospel. “I wanted to keep you safe.”
She points a finger in my face. “You don’t get to decide for me.”
Her initial calm, I realize, was the warmup act. Her cheeks redden and as she paces the narrow space in front of the double beds, I rise up and open my arms.
“I will make this, right. I promise.”
“And will you, now?” A surprising hint of a brogue tints her speech as she veers to avoid my embrace.
My mind whirrs. Struggling I search for the perfect phrase to make her understand. “Wewill do this, together. Partners?”
I hold my breath.
Done pacing, she plops on the bed, and bird-like, tilts her head. My entire future rests on the sharp edge of this moment. Either I find happiness or spend the rest of my life regretting all the bad decisions that led me here.
Air hisses through her soft lips and those sometimes gold, sometimes green, sometimes brown eyes capture my gaze. “I’m not a victim.”
“No, you are not.” As I nod vigorously, she points an index finger at me.
“I could do this by myself.”
“Yes, you could.” I smile.
“Are you parroting me?”
“Polly want a cracker?” My banter is quick but hers causes whiplash.
“I will take you down so fast, bird, you won’t see what hit you.”
“Who.”
“Who what?”
“Who hit you, notwhathit you. Google it.” I’m just messing around, but she takes me literally.
As she investigates, I drag her onto my lap and kiss her lovely neck. I have no idea why she’s giving me another chance but this time I will not fuck up.
“See, I’m right.” She shoves the phone in my face, her grin reinforcing my assumption. Everything is okay between us.
After makeup sex, I roll over and finger my favorite curl. “I want to bounce an idea off you.”
