“Yeah, baby. And it makes me sad as fuck that you don’t know it. Because I haven’t said it.” He closed his eyes with a sigh. “I have to apologize about the other day. I was upset because . . . well, for a lot of reasons. I shouldn’t have acted how I did. Forgive me?”
She gave him a big smile. But there was something in her eyes he didn’t quite understand. “You were worried about me. There’s no reason to apologize for that.”
“You’re the very best person I know.”
She blushed and he wished he had the right to take her into his arms.
“Are these tulips my present?” She gave him a sly look.
“Present?” he asked, even though she knew what he was asking.
“Don’t tease. You said you would bring me home a present if I was a good girl while you were away.” She gave him a pouting look.
If she were his, he’d kiss that pout off her lips.
“Ah, but were you a good girl?”
“Yes, of course!”
“I don’t think you were. How often did we call or text and I asked what was going on or if you were all right?”
“Oh.” She bit her lip.
“Oh,” he repeated. “You never once mentioned that you might be in danger because of Reuben or that he’d hired security guards.”
“I didn’t want to worry you! You had enough going on with your mother’s health scare.”
He grimaced. Right. The health scare that he was starting to think was a fabrication to manipulate him.
“It doesn’t matter how much I have going on, you are still important to me, understand?”
“I’m sorry, Xavy. So I don’t get my present?” She looked so forlorn that he almost caved. But she deserved some punishment.
“We’ll see,” he said. “If you’re a good girl from now on, you might get it.”
She nodded. “I really am sorry.”
“Don’t ever keep stuff from me, Twink. Please.”
“I won’t,” she whispered.
He cleared his throat, feeling awkward around her. And he hated that.
“Stay the afternoon,” she asked him suddenly. “We’re going swimming then grilling, then we’re watching a movie.”
“I think I best go.” He didn’t think he could stay and watch her be lovey-dovey with Brick.
God, she was so tiny in comparison to the big bruiser, he better not hurt her. Not even accidentally.
“Please.” She gave him those wide eyes. The ones he could never say no to.
“All right, Twink. I’ll stay. So long as it’s okay with your man.”
“It will be. I’m sure he’d like to get to know you.”
Yeah. Xavier wasn’t so sure about that. He knew how he would feel if the tables were turned. Then again, they’d already established that he wasn’t that good of a person.