Page 41 of Protective Phlox

I shrugged. “You’d barely broken up with him back then. I’m always jealous of other men who think they can have what’s mine.”

She smiled and wrapped her arms around my waist. “That’s just one of the things I love about you, husband. But no, there is nothing between Shawn and me. He hasn’t even been a thought since the day you took my drunk and impressionable ass to bed,” she teased, making me chuckle.

“I didn’t think you were that impressionable, maybe a little overly willing in your alcohol-infused state, but never manipulatable.”

She kissed my chest over my heart, and I knew I was going to let her go as much as I hated the idea. I just hoped I didn’t live to regret this.

“Why does your mother have your dickless ex as her emergency contact?”

Savannah made an aggravated noise in her throat and rolled her eyes. “Shawn says that it’s because I’m not around. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I cannot control what my mother does. That is a painful lesson to learn.”

My phone dinged with a one-minute reminder, making me groan. Kissing Savannah on the forehead, I headed to my desk.

“I have a board meeting. Go get packed. I’ll talk to my mom about helping out while you’re gone and take care of the travel arrangements and getting your mother into a more appropriate facility,” I said.

“Okay.”

I looked up at her before answering the phone.

“Savannah,” I said, stopping her before she walked out the door.

“Yeah?”

“If anything happens, I’ll come for you.”

The corner of her mouth tipped up. “I know.” Giving me a wink, she walked out, and I hit Accept on the call.

“Nathaniel Mikhailov present,” I said and sat back, my mind struggling to tune into what was being said. If anything happened to Savannah, I’d never forgive myself.

She was going to be the death of me. I could feel it in my bones.

SAVANNAH

“Are you okay?”

I looked up at Goran, who was the lead on my protective detail. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“Can I sit?”

“Help yourself.”

Goran sat across from me and glanced out the window. There was nothing to see but endless darkness when you flew late at night. Was that what death was like? Or was there really a bright light, and all our loved ones who passed on before us standing there waiting? My dad…that was who I wanted to see if there really were some pearly gates in the sky.

“You know that Nathaniel won’t let anything happen to Cutter, right?”

I nodded. “It’s not that. I’ve just never been away from my son longer than the few hours he had school, and the day I went shopping with Helena. Now, I’m not only going to be away from him but in another state.”

“I like that you care so much. I’ve seen the difference in Nathaniel since you arrived,” he said.

I laughed. “I’m sure he has said a few choice words,” I said, making Goran smile.

“When doesn’t he?”

“So, what’s your story, Goran? You and Nathan seem close.”

“There’s no big mystery. My dad worked for Dimitri as his chauffeur. Dimitri pulled some strings to get me into the same school as Nathan, which we never would’ve been able to afford. Nathan and I hit it off, and when we graduated, he offered me a job.” Goran shrugged, reached into his jacket, and pulled out small baggies of mixed nuts. “Do you want some?”

“No thanks, I’m fine.”