“Mmm. It’s soon, though. She’s got a ways to go yet. Take it slow, Lyam. I know you aren’t always the one to do that.”
I know he’s right, but I don’t want to wait. “I know I love her. She’s having my baby. It’s the right thing to do.”
He nods and shrugs. “Maybe, but it’s important to find out everything you can. Do you even know her history?”
He’s right, I know he is, but I also know there’s nothing that’s gonna hold me back from marrying Cosette.
Before I can respond, they come back into the room, both Savannah and Cosette carrying massive containers filled with baked goods.
I stand. “We have to go.”
“So soon?” Maman asks, her face falling.
“I promise we’ll come back soon but we’ve got a few important things to do.”
Savannah and Cosette hug, and before we leave Savannah reaches for me, too. I give her a hug and she whispers in my ear, “Be good to her, Lyam. She’s had a hard life.”
What does she know about Cosette’s life?
Does she know more than I do? I know she was raised by a single mom north of Paris, that her mother hated the city, and her father left them. I know that her mother died when Cosette was in college, and she and Nicolette became friends when they worked at La Maison. I know that while she studied cosmetology she was more called to work in nursing, but after she found her place at Le Luxe, she never went back to school.
And I know that I love her.
“I will.”
As we head out, Cosette looks over her shoulder. “Thayer, did he ask you about Princess?”
Thayer snorts. “Yeah. I’ll have her sent up.” He shakes his head. “No goddamn wayI’mbringing her back. Snakes don’t travel so well.”
I kiss her at the bottom step, then again outside our car, holding her to me.
I kiss her when I buckle her seat belt, and before I shut the door.
We kiss at a red light, until finally she giggles and says, “Lyam, we can pick this up later. You have an informant to talk to.”
I do. Fucking duty.
“Shouldn’t be too long though.”
“Where are we going?”
“Remember I mentioned several safe places we have? The warehouse is south of the city. We’ve got a stack of secure locations, and that’s one of them.”
“Gotcha.”
I turn and look at her. “Why do you stare at me when I drive?”
She reaches a hand out to stroke my biceps. “Because you’re sexy as fuck and I love watching how competently you drive. It’s a turn-on.”
I groan. “Cosette.”
“No, for real. All that alpha male commanding authority.” She fans herself. “My God. It’s sexy as hell. And you’re just sogoodat everything you do.” She sighs. “I want to see you shoot again.”
I shake my head. “You’re strange, woman. And you might get your wish sooner than later, we’ll see.”
Her eyes widen comically. “You think we’re gonna have a shoot-out?”
“Notnow,or I wouldn’t be bringing you here.”
