Page 33 of Love’s Strongest Soldier

“Is there anything else I can get you?” the waitress asked.

“No. The to-go plate is fine.”

She nodded and left the table. I looked over and found Ghost back standing by the entrance.

“So, when can we go on date number two?”

The waitress brought the plate over and handed Rob the check. I filled it with my leftover food.

“We’ll see,” was the only response he got out of me. He was lucky that he made it to the first date, fucking with me.

I got up from the table, and to be nice, I said, “Thanks for dinner. I’ll call you.” As I stepped away from the table, I said, “I gotta go feed my watch dog,” and scurried toward the door.

“Ruff ruff,” I said as I passed Ghost and flashed him a grin.

A couple days later

Luxe had been at work all day. She had been running in and out the office for all sorts of meetings. She was on fire today and working the shit out of me to keep up with her. I knew by the time she made it home, she was gonna only want to take a shower and climb into bed, which I didn’t blame her at all.

I stood out in the lobby as Luxe sat in her office with the door shut. The blinds were up where I could see straight into her office. She sat behind her desk with a pen in between her index finger and thumb, pressed against her forehead. Exhaustion was very much taking over her face.

“How much longer do you think she’ll be in there?” Brielle asked from her desk. Ever since I started working for Luxe, she’d gotten comfortable with trying to hold a conversation with me every chance she got.

Without responding, I went over to Luxe’s door and knocked on it before opening it. Her head turned in my direction. The light from the computer screen illuminated her face. “It’s time to go home.”

“Who’s the boss? You or me?”

“I don’t care. You’re tired. You need to go home. Pack ya shit up. You got five minutes. If you’re not packed by then, I’m gon’ come in and pack it up myself. I’m sure you don’t want me to do that,” I told her and shut the door before she was able to say anything.

Brielle sat behind her desk with a smirk on her face. I knew she wasn’t used to seeing someone handle Luxe like that. Luxe pretended to be so independent and bossy when it came to everyone else, but I’d seen her soft side. I knew that she was just a baby in boss clothing.

From the lobby, I watched her pack up her things and power off her computer. She came over and dropped the blinds and then exited her office.

“Happy now?”

“Let’s go.”

I strolled over to the elevator and pressed the down button. Luxe stood alongside me with hunched shoulders. She knew she was tired as hell but was pushing herself past her limit. Work would be right there tomorrow, waiting for her. For now, it was time to call it a night.

We got outside to the truck, and I drove off. “Do you want to stop and grab food from somewhere?”

“No. I have some leftovers in the refrigerator. I’ll just eat that when I make it to the house.”

“Okay.”

We made it back to the crib and headed inside. Luxe kicked her shoes off at the door and rubbed her right foot.

“I know exactly what you need,” I told her and headed for her bedroom.

Entering the bathroom, I turned on the tub and ran her a hot bubble bath. Luxe stood in the doorway behind me.

“Why are you being so nice?” she questioned me, catching me off guard.

“I’m just trying to make shit easier for you, that’s all.”

Peeling away from the frame, she strutted in my direction. “You’re being extra nice. Why?”

Straightening my posture, I gazed down into her eyes. Hers twinkled as she looked up at me. I couldn’t fight this shit anymore. I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Gripping her by the lower back, I pulled her into my frame, and my lips crashed against hers.