“Vivian is on the phone with the detective,” she said, studying me.
“The news was…gruesome.”
She touched my cheek. “I’m so sorry you both had to survive that. But I’m glad, too, Lennon.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Vivian is special.”
I nodded.
“I’m spending the day with your sisters,” Mom said.
“Good. They’re both workaholics. What are you doing? Can I pay for it?”
I was proud of my sisters’ professions and ambition, but I liked that they were making time for my mother right now before she started chemotherapy next week. I liked to spoil them, too.
“No, no. We’re going to do a day at Mia’s. We have movies and my favorite foods. Just spending time with them is a pleasure.”
“Have fun,” I said. “Don’t do anything too crazy.”
She chuckled. “As if. I think Mia and Nina are even more boring than me.”
I liked it that way, mostly. I wanted my sisters safe and happy. They were safe, but I wasn’t sure they were happy, mostly because they never went anywhere or met anyone.
I frowned. Maybe we all needed to adjust our priorities. I’d been so focused on providing for my mom and sisters, on being a good teammate, on reuniting military K-9s with their handlers, and then on protecting Vivian, I’d forgotten about my own needs.
“I told Vivian you planned to take her on a date.” Mom eyed me diffidently. “Make it a good one, Lennon. She deserves to feel special.”
“I will, Mom.”
She gave a nod and offered me her cheek. I kissed it while she wrapped her arms around my waist. The hug lasted longer than usual. We both needed some level of reassurance.
“Take care of my girl,” Mom said, pulling back. She patted Belladonna, then grabbed her purse and headed out the back door. I heard her car start a moment later. I chugged the last of my coffee and set the mug in the dishwasher. I’d just moved to the living room when Vivian opened her bedroom door.
My breath caught in my throat, and I felt like I’d swallowed my tongue as I tried to take in all of Vivian in one greedy gulp. Impossible. I managed to rehinge my jaw and take a breath as I started at her cute little peep-toe pumps—yes, I knew exactly what those were, thanks to my sisters cooing over shoes for years. Her toenails were a glittery pink, her ankles and calves trim. The hem of her brightly colored, filmy skirt flirted with her knees, giving me a tantalizing view of her toned legs.
The fabric clung just right to her hips, and I had no doubt that when she turned around, her perky little ass would grab my attention. The wide belt cinched in her waist, and the gauzy fabric settled at her collarbones, hiding her cleavage. Nonetheless, stunning.
“Vivian. You are glorious.”
Her luscious, shimmery pink lips parted as she smiled up at me, causing her mane of thick, auburn hair to spill over her shoulders and down her arms. She was so feminine—soft and bright, and she smelled as good as she looked.
“Hi, Lennon. I hope this is all right for today.”
“Yes, absolutely.”
She fidgeted. “So…that wasn’t good news from Detective Ahmed.”
I opened my arms, and she stepped into them with a heaving breath. Ah. She thought I’d push her way again. I pulled her even tighter to my chest and kissed her temple. “Want to talk about it?” I asked. “I should have asked before, but I was so caught up in my head, in my fear?—”
“No. It’s over. I want it to stay in the past. A blip.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Vivi,” I said. “So glad.”
She squeezed me as a shudder rippled through her. “Same goes for me, Lennon. I…” She stepped back and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. In fact, something that looked like fear…maybe longing moved in their depths. She cleared her throat. “Did you have a plan or should we come up with something together?” she asked.
She wanted to change the subject. I wasn’t sure that was a great idea, but I didn’t push her. She’d talk when she was ready…I hoped.
“Well, I thought we’d go to lunch, and then, if you’re interested, we could either go out on the lake in Conroe or play putt-putt.”
Her eyes lit up with joy. “You remembered,” she breathed.
