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“Dropped a lot on your head?” she jokes. “Tell me what I want to know!”
Tapping a finger against my chin, I warm my tone. “What’s this information worth to you?”
“Are you the world’s horniest man?” she quips. “How do you have any fluids left in your body?”
My head swoops backward as laughter overtakes me. “I was thinking a kiss. Maybe a cheap feel. A nipple tweak. But by all means, drain me of my fluids.”
She snorts, trying to hold in her big guffaw— the one I dream about. At some point, it became one of my life’s missions to make her laugh like that as much as possible.
Once the moment fades, I finally tell her what Tomer shared about Lettie. She thanks me with a deep kiss and then tweaks my nipple.
Not what I meant, but that’s fine.
A little while later, I catch her tugging her hair at the roots in frustration. “I can’t get in.”
“Call Tomer. Maybe he can…” I let the words trail off once I remember there’s no chance he’s coming in, even for this.
She shoves away from the desk in a huff and springs to her feet. “Have you checked on your mom lately? Should we get going? I can’t do this anymore. It’s cake thirty.”
I check my watch, surprised to see how late it’s getting. I haven’t checked on Ma for about a half hour, so I grab the phone and open the app.
“All’s good with Ma, but we do need to leave so Gloria can get home.”
And then I remember the pickle I’m in with my heart split between the two women I need to protect.
Shit.
I’d been working so frantically, compartmentalizing all my problems, I didn’t return my thoughts to figuring out sleeping arrangements so I can watch Miaandmy mother until now. When it’s too late for me to solve it.
Mia’s hand cups my shoulder a second before I hear her sweet voice. “How comfy is the couch at your mom’s house?”
Reaching across my chest, I grip her hand, holding it on my shoulder.
She already knows what I’m worried about.
Of course she does. This is Mia.
While I sort through my racing thoughts, trying to figure out how to respond or what I want to say, she makes me fall a little in love with her with the next words that cascade from her rosy lips.
“If you think my presence might be too upsetting for her, I’ll stay in the bunk room here so you’ll know I’m safe while you care for her. I won’t let you choose between us, but I don’t want you to worry about me either.”
Dropping her hand, I bolt upright and surround her cheeks with my palms.
And then I kiss her.
Like my fucking life depends on it. Like it’s my first kiss and last kiss and every kiss in between.
Everything about this woman has been confusing as hell since I first met her. She’s turned what I believed to be true about myself on its head and brought out parts of me I never knew existed.
Anger and jealousy.
Passion and fire.
And all the while, I had no idea who she was.
Beyond that laugh and her jovial personality. Beyond the red hair, freckles, and emerald eyes. Beyond her seemingly compulsive need to avoid being caught off guard. Beyond her cunning mind, technical skill, and tenacity.
What’s beneath all that?
