Page 42 of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
“Do you want to?” His voice was thick with something left unsaid as he asked the question so I turned to face him in order to see his reaction.
“I don’t. I don’t think I can ever go back there again.” His hands started rubbing up and down along my back easing some of the worry and tension that had taken up residence there again so quickly.
“Then you don’t have to. I don’t want you to. Liza, I thought I’d made it clear that I wanted you to be mine, to be here, with me.”
“I want that too, T. More than anything,” I admitted before he leaned in and took my lips in his.
“That’s settled then,” he stated clearly. “I actually had a plan to take you back to Reno this week to go pack up some of your stuff, and see to your brother’s place,” he informed me. “If you don’t think you can do that I can take Rabbit with me instead and go get everything done.”
“Are you sure that wouldn’t be too much of a bother?”
“Are you kidding? No, it’s not a bother, babe. The worst part if it will be leaving you behind while I go.”
“Aww, I thought the sweet talk was what you were supposed to before trying to get naked with me,” I teased.
Tango moved back just enough so that he could slap the top portion of my ass. “Yeah, well, I don’t always do the things the way everyone else does.”
“Thank God for that,” I mumbled causing him to laugh once more.
“Nah, more like, thank God for bringing you to me.”
“Aww, T.” I leaned in and took his mouth with mine this time. The man was just too much sometimes. My heart once again felt conflicted. This man before me was everything and he made me so damn happy. Still, the death of my brother haunted me, and the sadness permeated. Sensing my mixed emotions Tango held me tighter.
“It’s okay to keep on missing him and be happy with your life all at the same time. He brought you here, to me, to my club, to this place where you found a new home. Celebrate that with his memory, babe. I think that’s what he wanted for you all along.”
Tears poured down my cheeks as he spoke, because it was the same thought that had kept me sane just days ago. My brother was never one to be mistaken for a psychic, but it seemed like he knew a little something in advance when he placed me in this situation with Tango. “I’m in love with you,” I finally told T while looking into his eyes with my own tear-blurred pair.
“That’s good to hear, babe, because I am completely gone for you.”
“What am I going to do now though? I mean, besides staying here. I used to work for my brother when I wasn’t doing side jobs with the book covers and graphic design.”
“I’m glad you asked, because I have been meaning to talk to you about coming to work for me. You can have the office in the back that isn’t being used. When you’re not working on the books or designs with me you can still use the space for working on your covers and whatnot.”
I sat up a little then. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, babe. Kills two birds with one stone. You have a job and space to work and I get to have you close by during the day too.”
“You’re going to get sick of me,” I stated.
“Nah, if I’m ever feeling like it’s too crowded in there I’ll just shut the door to the office, bend you over the desk, and remind us both why it’s a great fuckin’ idea.” I laughed as I playfully smacked his chest.
“You are too much.”
“Nah, babe. I’m just enough for you. That’s all that matters.”
“I can’t argue with that.” I didn’t, in fact, argue with that. Instead, I leaned in and kissed him deeply. I wanted to commit the moment to memory and savor every juicy detail for the rest of my life. Tango was the man I had never dared to dream of, because I never thought my dreams deserved to come true. I still didn’t think I’d earned him. Instead, I felt as though I was lucky enough to be just what he wanted and needed right now, and I was beyond okay with my lot in life. So long as my lot kept him coming back to me day and night I’d have no complaints.
