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“I see you two are headed out to do young people things,” said Nian.
“Yes, we are, mother. Don’t wait up.”
Zhi went over and kissed his mother’s head. She brought him down for a hug.
Then she looked at Spin. Nian opened her arms. Spin hesitated. But she’d been raised to mind adults.
Spin walked over to the older woman on unsteady feet. She bent down to be enveloped in the duchess’ small arms. But the hug went all through her, reminding Spin of her own mother.
Nian held her tight, and then tighter for another second that Spin hadn’t realized she needed.
“I’m so happy you came to stay, my dear.”
Spin was too choked up to say anything. So, she just nodded. Then made a quick exit. She went back to her room.
Lark was outside somewhere with Mathis showing him a few magic tricks. Spin pulled out her suitcase. She hadn’t unpacked. She never did. Everything was set for her to go. And she would be doing that later tonight. Best to just slip out without saying goodbye to anyone.
Chapter Twenty-One
After three wardrobe changes, the two women and Zhi made it out of the house. The women had been ready in only fifteen minutes. It was Zhi who'd had to perform the outfit changes.
Spin had vetoed the suit and tie he'd initially put on. He'd argued that it was a designer brand. She'd cocked an eyebrow and told him that unless it was Supreme or Bape, he wasn't leaving the house with it on.
Zhi didn't know who either of the designers were. But he'd dutifully gone and changed. Next, he'd come out in jeans and a starched t-shirt. He hadn't missed the feminine smile of approval on Spin's face. Even though she'd wiped it off to shake her head in the negative to tell him that he was trying too hard to look cool.
His next venture out was a happy medium. He'd put back on the slacks and kept the t-shirt. He did a turn for Spin, feeling oddly warm at the thought of her eyes on him. He'd been on display before. He was a catch in the upper echelon circles of Cordoba, though no one knew of his financial straits.
Spin wasn't after him for the money he didn't have. She wasn't after him at all. She was simply helping him because ...
"Why are you helping me?"
Her gaze traveled up the length of him. Under her perusal, Zhi felt the ridiculous need to flex. He could tell she appreciated what she saw. He didn't quite understand his pull to this woman.
She had a rough exterior. But he'd seen past it to the soft refinement of the insides of her. Her arms around his mother and the soft way she spoke to her rang in his ears. The feel of her in his arms as they waltzed. Then the feel of the music they’d made rushing through his veins filled him.
Spin shrugged, not quite meeting his gaze. "It's my good deed for the day."
"You've helped me for more than a day."
"So, my cup runneth over. And … you'll do."
Before she could turn to walk away, Zhi put out a hand to stop her. He felt a tingle in his palm where he'd capped her shoulder. Spin tensed in his hold. He wanted to knead her shoulder and remove the tension. He wanted to pull her back in his arms and waltz with her again but with his front to her back this time. He wanted to sit beside her, shoulder to shoulder, thigh touching thigh, at the piano and make more music.
"Thank you,” was all he said.
Spin looked back over her shoulder at his fingers resting so close to her collar bone. Her lips parted and closed. Her tongue snuck out and moistened her lower lip, but still, she said nothing. Still, he didn't let her go.
"Thank you for all of it," he said. "For helping me, for helping my mother. But especially for making polka palatable."
She breathed a laugh through her nose. Her lips quirked up in a smirk. And then they flattened.
"You're a good guy," she said finally. "Parker's going to be a lucky woman."
She stepped away from him then. Zhi's palm itched at the empty feeling. He flexed his fingers, but he didn't reach for her again.
They didn't speak again as they joined Lark. They climbed into Zhi's sports car. Spin dove into the back, leaving Lark in the passenger seat.
Lark chatted amiably with Zhi. She was a great conversationalist. Zhi saw why Spin kept her around. The woman easily filled the silences that Spin seemed to prefer.
