That earned me another sigh. “Okay, first of all, my parents have plenty of money and they don’t mind giving us some. When everything stabilizes, we’ll pay them back.” He squared his shoulders. “Secondly, you have a job. You’re building a tea garden for our future. If it works the way you want, you could always sell tea to make money, but for now, it needs you to tend it properly. Thirdly, we aren’t that bad off. We owe my folks a few hundred dollars, that’s all. And that was mostly because of truck repairs, which my dad has been teaching me.” Kip squeezed my hand. “Iswearto you, we are okay. Will we have to cut back sometimes? Yeah, probably, at least until the town can afford to pay me. John says hehopes it won’t be more than a few months, and because our parents live here, I want to stay close to them.”
“But it isn’t right.”And what else am I missing?
“Nevertheless, it’s a decision I’ve made and I’m okay with it. Do we need to discuss it? We certainly can, but for the most part, we’d be beating a dead horse. If you have compelling reasons why I should take a different route, I’m happy to listen, of course, but in the end I have to make the hard choices for both of us.”
“But you said?—”
“I know what I said,” he assured me. “And I know some of it might go against something else, but there are some decisions I have to make, and I’ll do that to keep us both happy and healthy. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Kip.”
He narrowed his gaze. “No, don’t‘yes, Kip’me. Do you understand? I need to ensure you know why I’m doing what I am.”
“I do,” I replied. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“You don’t,” he assured me. “But I hope you’ll trust me to lead us.”
Jerome’s face flashed in my mind. I could hear him telling me in no uncertain terms that after school I’d come back here and serve him and whoever he added to his harem. I’d accepted that because I was told it was my duty.
Kip wasn’t telling me to accept it, but he was asking for my trust. That proved he was far better than Jerome ever could be.
“I understand,” I said. “I do trust you. More than I’ve ever been able to trust anyone before.”
He smiled at me, then gave me a soft kiss. “I love you,” he said, his voice gentle.
“I love you too.” I picked up my bowl.
“It’s cold now. Let me heat it up.”
I pulled it away from him. “It’s fine,” I promised, becauseI didn’t mind cold food, and he’d made it for me, going so far as to crumble bacon over the top because he knew I loved it.
I made a choice right then and there. I would be a better submissive to Kip. I would tell him what had been on my mind for a while, asking him to help me sort it out. And then I would work on being a better person to everyone.
Oh, and I would never let this man get away from me.
Chapter Fifteen
Kip
I’d hopedthings would calm down during the weeks following the incident at the diner.
Nope.
Well, not exactly. Mase and I did what we had to do during the day, then after I got home we had dinner. Once all the dishes were washed and put away, we drifted into the living room, lowered the lights, and took a seat. I had Mase’s q, head in my lap, while I slid my fingers through his hair. I loved watching his eyes flutter closed.
Lately, however, Mase seemed nervous, unable to rest during these times.
“And what would you like to confess today, my child?” I teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
Nope. No such luck.
“I’m worried,” he admitted.
“Okay, about what?”
A deep sigh rolled out of him. He tried to sit up, but I held him in place. “I’m afraid we’re going to get into a hole we can’t dig ourselves out of. We’re already getting money fromyour parents, and the town is behind in paying you. What happens if something goes wrong and we’re unable to afford our bills?” He set his jaw. “I think I should get a job.”
Hell no.
