Seven hours from now, and I already can’t wait to see her again. Anxious to have her all to myself without him interfering and making her feel guilty. Not sure when I turned into a fucking love struck punk, but I don’t really care. When you meet the perfect woman, you can’t fuck around.
“Okay Mr. Klein.”
“Ares.”
She blushes and smiles. I’m not fucking sure which one I like better.
“Okay Ares. See you in the morning.”
Yeah, she’ll see me in the morning, afternoon, and night. I force myself not to stroke her rosy cheek and head back down the steps. I point to Lawson, who nods in deference. “Put a man on her with approval to kill to protect her if need be.”
“You got it boss.”
My guys trust me to keep them safe from any prosecution with the chief of police and district attorney on my bankroll. Well aware the only person they have to fear is me. No one survives my wrath if they defy or disappoint me.
With that necessity taken care of, I slide back in my vehicle, finally ready to rest myself. I close my eyes but still issue orders to Wolf. “Background check on both of them. She doesn’t lie but I get the feeling he’s hiding some stupid shit and that’s why they’re in trouble.”
His silence conveys his misgivings so I force up my heavy lids to settle this rare doubt between us. He looks up after texting the edict and studies me.
“What’re you doing?”
Hell if I know. “Protecting myself from any surprises.”
He knows me too well and rolls his eyes. “What’re you really doing? You don’t need a secretary at the club.”
I guess he could hear our conversation and argument from down here. “I want her around and that’s the only way I can get her to agree.”
“I can understand that.”
High praise from the only guy who’s grouchier than I am. “Good. Then you can help me figure out something for her to do before I end up fucking her over my desk.”
“I definitely understand that too.”
As my best friend, I know he intends the remark as a compliment but something territorial rages in me when it comes to her. A feeling I’ve never experienced before and damn sure don’t like, especially against Wolf. A man I trust more than I fucking trust myself. Otherwise I’d have to end him too for thinking about my Tulip like that. Only I’m allowed to appreciate her that way and even he needs to know she’s mine.
She stands in the doorway of her apartment as we pull up. Perfectly prompt and so damn beautiful. Except for her blood shot eyes. She hasn’t slept, and I’m fucking pissed. I climb out of the SUV and meet her half way on the steps, unwilling to wait for her to make it down to the concrete. My convoy of expensive vehicles and army of men surrounding us look odd crowding this narrow alley but I don’t give a damn. I want her and I’m going to get her. “You look tired. Didn’t you sleep?”
“A little. I was kind of nervous about today.”
Any semblance of self-restraint topples from her doubt and I cup her warm cheek, lifting her face up to mine the way I love looking at her. Welcoming her surprised gasp and blooming blush. “No need to be nervous. I won’t ever hurt you again.”
Yesterday was a huge fucking fail that I’ll always regret and never repeat. She nods in my palm from the assertion. Hopefully she really means her acceptance of my promise. I ignore her stupid brother watching us from the kitchen window and take her hand, guiding her down the stairs and not letting go once we’re seated in the back. She doesn’t resist and I don’t push for anything else despite how much I want to. I have a suspicion to focus on to keep my mind off of generating ideas for getting her naked. “Did you work after I left?”
The truth is apparent from her guilty expression before she answers, and I fight the urge to go back and punish Juniper for failing his sister once again and for being a moron because beating his ass steals time away from her. I’ve waited my whole life for someone as amazing as her, and I’m not going to waste a minute on that idiot.
“I helped Junie get ready for today. It’s his first time running the shop all by himself, and I wanted to make sure he knows where everything is and how to enter orders into the system.”
“You can’t work two jobs. He’ll have to figure it out alone going forward.” I don’t tell her that she’ll be with me so much that helping him won’t even be possible. “Let’s get something to eat first. What are you hungry for?”
“Anything is fine.”
She looks so fucking stunning in her white halter dress with huge silver and red roses lining the hem that I can’t bear the thought of any other bastards ogling her so I kill my idea to take her out to my favorite restaurant. I’ll have them bring the food to us. They don’t cater, except to me and my demands. “How about lasagna? It’s almost as good as my mom’s.”
Her smile is bittersweet. No one knows more than us how to cope with the loss of our parents.
“That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
I kiss the back of her dainty hand before I release her so I can text my real assistant to take care of our lunch at the club. I love how Tulip waits quiet and patient, relaxing me too when usually I’m too spun up to just sit. Her presence provides a calming effect to my chaotic world. Although the feeling doesn’t last long when she reaches for me after I toss my phone on the seat next to me. My body and cock pulse hard and furious with need from her hand slipped into mine. Creating a connection between us of her own volition.
“My mom’s specialty was breakfast. She made the fluffiest pancakes that I’ve never been able to replicate no matter what recipe I use.”
“I haven’t had pancakes in years.”
“Well then I’ll have to make you some sometime.”
The offer fucks me up more than I expect. So sincere and kind because she wants to, not because I’m paying her to or it’s part of her job. “I’d like that.”
“Me too.”
I know she really means it. No wonder I’m falling for her so damn fast. “Tell me more about your mother.”
I already know from the intel Wolf provided last night after he had the team run the search for me about Juniper’s secret and her parents’ backgrounds. But I don’t like talking about her moronic brother. If she learns the truth behind the reason for his loan, she’ll want to leave me to help him, and that’s not fucking happening. So I focus instead on her mom. From details the guys gathered, the woman was a free spirit who traveled the world until she settled down with Tulip’s father. I want to hear the details from her daughter’s perspective. Learn how my girl sees the woman who raised her.
The wistful smile gracing her face makes my heart race like a Ducati. “She was busy with the shop but somehow always made me feel like we were her whole world. She home-schooled us but it wasn’t just reading books and completing worksheets. We performed science experiments, and went on field trips, and visited her friends who spoke to us only in Spanish so we could totally immerse ourselves in the language when we were with them. It was like she really wanted to give us all of these amazing life experiences.”