Page 85 of Her Defiant Warrior

Jase lifted his head. “Come on Bonnie. Let’s take this show on the road.”

He looked so good she could barely stand it.

“You with me? You want to go?”

She nodded.

He set her down, and she stumbled as her feet hit the ground. He put his arm around her waist and she leaned her head against his shoulder. They headed for the front door.

“Hold up. She dropped this.” Shannon handed Jase her purse.

They walked down the stairs to the front parking lot. “I’d normally suggest you follow me home, but I think we’ll leave your car here, and I’ll drive you to my house. We’ll pick up your car later.”

“S’okay.” Bonnie gave him a dazed smile.

Jase is home!

He got the door to his Mustang open and tucked her in and buckled the seatbelt.

“Are you okay, honey?” he asked.

Bonnie looked up at him. Then shook her head. She took a deep breath and felt her eyes burn. “I’m fine. Now that you’re home, I’m great.”

He leaned in and gave her a lingering kiss. “I’m glad you’re great,” he whispered. She watched as he got in and started the car.

“I have a confession to make,” Jase said as they pulled out into traffic.

Bonnie braced. “Okay. Hit me with it.”

His head whipped around. “Honey. Calm. It’s me. I’m just boring old Jase Drakos. Nothing bad, I promise. My confession is that I arranged to have Farah pick up your kids so we could have more time together today.”

Bonnie relaxed back into her seat.

They were quiet as he maneuvered through traffic towards his house.

“In my defense, there is nothing boring about you. I have how many more of your siblings to meet?”

“Ten, I think.”

“You’re what they call a special operator, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Therefore, not boring.”

“Yeah, but in real life. For me, my priorities are family, friends, good food and a decent-sized TV.”

“I’m all about good food, but shouldn’t God and country be up there before a decent-sized TV?”

“God and country are a given, babe.”

* * *

Jase opened the door to the kitchen and followed Bonnie in. Who was this woman? What happened to the confident, take-charge woman he was used to? He watched as she immediately went to the black granite countertop and dragged her finger over the top. Then she looked at the white cabinetry. “I would have never picked out the black and white combination, but it’s gorgeous.”

“I didn’t pick it out. I was overseas. I told Malik and Farah my price range and that I wanted to live close to them, and they arranged this.”

Her eyes got wide. “You trusted them to buy your house?”