“Luka, I told you more than once in text and email, I’m not coming back to the firm,” she snaps, her eyes widening slightly when she notices me.
The guy turns so he can also see me.
“Everything good here, little mouse?” I ask, moving to Della’s side.
“Little mouse?” Luka mutters, watching me closely before turning his attention back to Della. “Seriously?”
“Luka, you don’t know . . .”
“You quit your job, broke off what we had for this guy?”
What the hell? Della was fuckin’ this guy?
The thought of it alone pisses me off and makes my blood boil.
“Luka, you and I both know we were nothing. Don’t stand there and act like we were more than an office booty call. We didn’t date. We didn’t spend time outside of meetings or work. We’re not together. I turned in my resignation. I’m not coming back. You came all the way out here for nothing.”
“I came here because I refuse to lose you for no good reason.”
Is this guy for real right now?
“I’m gonna stop you right there,” I say, intervening.
“Shadow, I have this.” Della sighs.
“Maybe so, but I’m gonna say this,” I tell her without looking down at her, keeping my focus on the suit in front of me. “If Della’s told you repeatedly, she’s not coming back, then she’s not. Her granddaddy dying is a damn good reason to quit if that’s what she needed to do. You coming here to bring her back, not a smart move on your part.”
Luka narrows his eyes and puffs out his chest. His actions would be hilarious if I weren’t so pissed.
“You need to go, Luka,” Della says softly, stepping closer to me.
With her movements, it’s not lost on me what she’s doing. I also don’t miss just how small she is compared to me. She’s a small thing, it’s one reason why I always thought of her as little mousey. She’s dainty where I’m all muscle.
“You’re making a mistake here, Della,” Luka growls.
“She’s not making a mistake,” I state, looking him up and down. “Seems to me, it’s a damn excellent decision and something she should have done way before now.”
“I’m not changing my mind, Luka. I’m staying right where I’m at.”
Good girl.
“When you come to your senses, you’re gonna have to beg to come back.” Turning on his heel, Luka stalks down the stairs and to his car.
Neither Della nor I speak a word until he’s behind the wheel and backing up. Damn good thing I didn’t park my bike next to his car, but on the other side of Della’s. Asshole peels out, kicking up gravel as he floors it.
“I’m sorry about that.” Della sighs from next to me.
“Not your fault.” I shrug and turn to face the woman who has taken way too much space in my head in the last few days.
Della steps back and moves to the porch swing and grabs some papers before sitting down.
“What do you got there?” I ask, moving to sit next to her.
“What are you doing here? Maddox is out at the barn.”
“I’m not here to see Maddox.” It’s not a lie, and she needs to know exactly why I’m here, but first, I want to know something. “Why didn’t you let me know when they discharged you?”
“I was fine to get home by myself, Shadow.”
