“Her little adventure is over.”
forty-six
MAGS
After spendingall of yesterday with Jonathan, talking about anything and everything, ordering take-away, and having sex until her quivering limbs had threatened to crumble if Mags so much as tried anything more strenuous than drinking tea, she was having breakfast toast with Eze and Nasir.
Jonathan left early that morning to make up for some of the work he’d blown off the day before at her request—worth it—but not before he held her against the entryway’s wall and almost kissed her jeans back off.
They only broke apart when Eze cleared his throat. Right behind them. Jonathan laughed, completely unrepentant.
“Take care of my girl today,” Jonathan said, clapping Eze on the shoulder as he walked toward the front door.
Eze never cracked a smile, nothing new, and replied, “Nasir will do his best.”
Jonathan stopped again before opening the door. “I love you, Mags.”
“You better,” she teased. “I love you, too, babe.”
“Call me when you’re done for the day, and I’ll come pick you up.”
“You won’t be able to pick her up if you never leave.” Eze was already walking away and spoke over his shoulder.
His deadpan tone cracked Mags up. Jonathan was grinning too, giving her a loose salute before leaving.
Her lips still tingled just thinking about it.
She reached for her tea, trying to focus, but it was no use. Every time she closed her eyes, she could feel the weight of Jonathan’s hands, the warmth of him, the way he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered.
Mags felt her cheeks flush, which appeared to have become a permanent issue when she thought of her boyfriend.
She forced her attention to her emails and smiled when she had two new potential clients inquiring about making appointments.
Mags was about to read the emails to Eze and Nasir, the latter still refusing to sit at the kitchen table with her and Eze so that he could guard them from who knows what, when Nasir’s phone rang.
Nasir grimaced at the noise. “Answer the phone, Nas,” Eze said, exasperated with his longtime friend’s complete adherence to social roles.
Mags rolled her eyes at Eze, who shook his head. Her mom called in at the same moment Nasir answered, “Mr. Barr.”
“Mom? What’s going on? Uncle Coll just called Nasir.”
“Good news, sweetheart. Coll and Thomas tracked down that crazy woman.”
“No way, that’s amazing. Mirr must be so relieved.” Her sister tried not to let on, but the woman had frightened Mirren years ago when she’d gone after several artists. Her husband, Finn, had had their family on lockdown for the past weeks.
“She is. Finn definitely is,” her mom replied. “I wanted to call you girls and let Thomas and your uncle call Eze’s guard and Jonathan.”
Mags grinned even though her mom couldn’t see. “Oh my, Thomas must have drawn the short stick.”
“Men can truly be babies,” her mom growled. “Your dad and I love Jon. The other men will come around eventually.”
“I’m not worried, Mom. I love Jon, and he loves me. Thomas and Uncle Coll will come around, and if they don’t, I’ll sic Mirren on them.”
“God help them if that happens,” her mom laughed. “I’ll let you go. I love you, Mags. Have a great day.”
Once they were both off the phone, Mags glanced at the security guard who was back guarding the room from would-be intruders. “Poor Nasir won’t know what to do with his days now that he doesn’t have to follow me around,” Mags teased.
Nasir pretended to ignore her, but she saw his eyes surreptitiously roll. Before she could tease the man further her phone vibrated. A text from Jonathan.
