“You are the only person I want protecting my niece when her own father can’t be there,” I say. “Her safety comes before any of them. Hers and Evie’s.”
“How long are you staying in town?” Lailani asks.
“Until I don’t need to be here.”
“Right. Okay, how long am I staying in town?”
“Until you don’t need to be here,” I repeat.
“Helpful,” she groans.
“If you want to quit the job, Lailani, you can. I’m not forcing you to be here.” I’m not forcing her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.
“I know. I happen to like this job. It comes with benefits.” She smiles. “You should see how good Sammie is with his tongue.”
“We’re friends, but we are not those kinds of friends. You really need to find some women to gossip with. Paz will drive you back to the city. I believe Sammie is waiting for you in your apartment.”
I stand and follow Lailani out of the office, leaving her to exit through the garage while I head up the stairs in the opposite direction. I need to get back to Evie.
Chapter Twenty-One
When I agreed to come and stay with Emmanuel for a week, I honestly thought I’d get bored. I figured he’d be off working all the time and I’d be left to my own devices. I was wrong. He has left me a couple of times, but it’s never for long. When he said he wanted us to get to know each other, he really meant it.
We’ve talked about everything—well,everything except for the one thing he really wants me to talk about. My past. I can’t do that. Not yet. I’m not ready to ruin whatever it is we have. My week is coming to an end, though, and I know I have to go back to reality. Back to my life.
Will it hurt? Probably. But I’ll be okay. I’ve survived far worse.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Emmanuel asks.
We’re both completely naked under the covers. He also wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to keep me naked and in his bed as much as possible. Again, I’m not complaining. The man knows how to give an orgasm. The world could be ending, and I wouldn’t care, because nothing else matters when he’s touching me. My only thought ismore. I want more of him.
“I was thinking about how our time is almost up and I have to go back home,” I admit.
“Our time is only just beginning, mi alma,” he says.
“I have to go home, E. I have responsibilities.” I also have no intention of staying in this cocoon. As good as it is, it’s not something that can last.
“I know. But you going back home doesn’t make you any less mine.” His eyes bore through me. When he looks at me like this, I feel like he can see rightinto my soul, like he can see all the ugly beneath the beauty and looks right past it.
Wishful thinking on my part. No one would look past the ugliness I carry within me. I wouldn’t expect him to either.
“Long-distance relationships don’t work, Emmanuel.”
“Says who?”
“Statistics for every long-distance relationship ever.”
“Fine. I’ll move to your little country-bumpkin town.” He smirks.
“You’re going to move your entire empire to a small country town? That’s not going to work.” I laugh. I can just picture it now. My little neighborhood surrounded by Emmanuel’s men.
“I would give it all up for you,” he says quietly.
My eyes widen. “I would never ask you to do something like that.” I wouldn’t. He might not have chosen his life, but I do know he doesn’t hate what he does.
Emmanuel looks at me pensively. “You wouldn’t?” he asks, appearing almost puzzled.
“Why would I want to change you? If I did that, you wouldn’t be you, who I happen to like. A lot.”
