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“You’re wrong, Nina,” he told her. “Who you do or don’t have sex with doesn’t decide whether or not you’re a lady. My mama always said it was how a person walked through the world, how they treated other people...not what they wore or who they had relations with. Youarea lady. Always have been.” He shrugged. “Don’t let anybody make you think different.”
Bizarrely on the verge of tears, she replied quietly, “Thank you, Gage.” His smile was gentle and Nina wished she’d never touched him, never intruded on what he had with Rowan. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve said that a lot over the years, Nina. You gave yourself the role of the villain in our history and it’s never been right, never been true. Cut yourself some slack. I wasn’t a boy. I was a man and I knew it was wrong. Just too greedy to stop myself.”
He took a deep breath. “Seein’ Rowan again, breathin’ the same air, hearin’ her voice...it’s like all the years disappear.” Hands on his hips, he looked off at the trees. “I fucked up and I gotta make it right. It probably won’t ever bring her back to me...and that’s okay. It might help me sleep at night and drink less when I remember.”
Miss Jeffries appeared on the little porch of her bungalow and Gage walked over to assist her down the steps. She looked up at him with a frown.
“Gage Chambers...you been drinkin’?”
“Just a sip for courage, ma’am.”
“That’sfalsecourage, son.” She patted his chest over his heart. “Gotta draw on what’s in here forrealcourage.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I could sure use another glass of that sweet tea.” The elderly woman looked at the porch and did a double take at what her former charge was wearing. “Nina girl. You are atrialon my peace of mind.”
Nina walked down the steps and bent to kiss her cheek. “I know it. Itryto be good but...it gets soboring, ma’am.”
“You’re a mess but I sure love you anyway. The Lord turned my heart to you within minutes and never pulled it away so I know He has plans for you, Nina. You just wait.”
“I don’t think…”
Reaching up, Miss Jeffries placed her fingertips on Nina’s cheek. “Don’t think. Justknow. I do.” Exhausted from unfamiliar emotions she’d spent most of her life shutting down, Nina nodded. “That’s a good girl.”
Ten minutes later, Gage parked the golf cart beside rows of others and handed the keys to the valet. Miss Jeffries held his arm as they walked up the shallow steps to the courtyard.
Nina circulated, a glass of wine in her hand, and shut down the men who wanted her attention.
A few people recognized her from the shoot she’d done for Calvin Klein. It was something she’d accidentally fallen into after fucking one of the photographers for the brand on a whim during a chance encounter.
One man - some Texas real estate tycoon who presumably did business with Bennett - thought to tempt Nina with a lucrative modeling contract...in exchange for her time.
With a smile frozen on her face, she emphasized her happiness with the theater.
“You’d be a fool to turn down what I can offer, Miss Adams. I’m sure you’ve done more for less.”
Stepping close, she placed her hand on his chest and stared into his eyes. “Never presume to think you know anything about me again. I fuck who I want, when I want, and have never - not once - taken compensation for it. Some would call me a whore. I consider myself a woman of action. Youeverattempt to buy me again and I’ll make sure you can’t use your adorable little cock for a year.”
Patting him roughly, she turned and walked away.
She drained the wine glass in one go, left it with a passing server, and went rapidly down the steps to the trail. There was no real destination in her mind but she knew she couldn’t fake another moment until she calmed her racing thoughts.
A big hand wrapped gently around her upper arm and tugged her to a stop. Ready to beat the hell out of the real estate guy, Nina turned in a fighting stance.
James stood behind her.
Dropping her fists and straightening, she had no clue what to say. Everything in her mind was blank, scrambled.
He moved close, took her in his arms, and held her face against his chest as he hugged her. Strong fingers cupped the back of her head, massaging her scalp gently.
It was instant comfort she’d never felt before.
They stood like that, both of them silent, for almost a minute. The way her body was pressed to his, she could feel the power he possessed...the inherent strength in him and the skill he probably trained constantly to maintain.
She wanted that power for herself.
