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“I’m not an idiot. I knew what I was getting myself into when we started this relationship.”
I can’t handle it any longer. I can’t be in the same room as Leia and not touch her. Especially not after being apart for the past week. It’s torture. I grasp her hands. Relief pours through me when she doesn’t pull away.
“It’s one thing to know you can be hounded by the press. It’s another thing to experience it.”
“Stop walking on eggshells. I’m fine. Isla’s fine. The press can go stuff themselves.”
I haul her into my arms, but she stops me with a hand to my chest and steps away.
“What’s wrong? You said you were fine. Is this a trick? You say you’re fine but it really means you’re pissed off?”
She scowls at me. “I don’t play games. If I say I’m fine, I’m fine.”
“You look pissed off.”
“Because I am.”
I growl. How is this not playing games?
“Not about the paps. You can’t stop them from doing what they do. It’s part of the package of being with you.”
“Okay. If you’re not mad at me because of them, what are you mad about?”
“What am I mad about? You really have to ask?”
Is this another trick question? Before I have a chance to figure it out, she continues.
“How dare you? How dare you speak to Brody about my workload? How dare you speak to my boss as if I’m some little woman who can’t handle her own life?” She pokes me in the chest. “You don’t own me, Fender Hays.”
I capture her hand and place it against my heart. “But you own me.”
“Don’t try to deny it. You…” Her brow wrinkles. “What did you say?”
“I said you own me. Heart and soul.”
Her nose wrinkles in confusion. My little firecracker is adorable when she’s confused.
“Hold on. Did you just try to end an argument by claiming I what? Own your heart and soul?”
I kiss her nose. “I love you, firecracker.”
“No. No. No.” She tugs on my hand but I don’t allow her to retreat.
“No what? I don’t love you?”
“No, you can’t end an argument by claiming to love me. It’s cheating. I’m supposed to be mad at you.”
I smirk. “But you aren’t.”
Her eyes narrow and she spits daggers from them at me. “Don’t gloat.”
I clear my throat and wipe the smirk from my face. “I love you, Leia.” I raise a hand to stop her when she opens her mouth to speak. “I talked to Brody because I wasn’t allowing the woman I love to work herself to an early grave.”
“You have to let me fight my own battles, Fender.”
“But you weren’t fighting this one, firecracker. You were letting Brody stomp all over you.”
She growls. “You’re lucky I love you, Fender or I’d seriously kick your ass right now. I don’t care how you’re a foot taller than me. I will—”
