The Last Husband (Forever Love #2)(43)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“It’s 10 a.m. now.” She glared.

“I was taken in for questioning.” I grabbed her hands. “I’m so sorry, Lucky. Please forgive me. I never thought this would happen.”

“You thought I’d just continue being a fool in the dark, here? Waiting for you to get back from your fake business meeting?” She cried out, but she didn’t remove her hands from mine.

“No, Lucky, never that. I wanted to tell you but …” I paused at the look in her eyes.

“But you didn’t trust me.” She snapped.

“I do trust you.”

“You don’t trust me to look after myself or to be safe. You don’t trust me, Zane. What do I have to do to show you that I love you and I’m here for you? I’m not a little kid or some fragile doll. I can handle the truth, Zane. Life has thrown some shit my way, as well, and I survived. I’m strong. I’m a strong woman. And I can’t be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t see that.”

“Lucky…” My heart stopped once again at her words and I imagined my life without her in it. It would be bleak and uneventful. A life without Lucky in it would be no life at all. “Please don’t leave me. I do trust you. I swear to God. The FBI told me to keep it to myself for the sake of your safety and the case.”

“You still should have told me.” Her stare was obstinate and I caressed her face.

“Please be patient with me, Lucky. I’m trying my best to be the man that you want. But it’s hard for me to give up that control. I’m scared you’re going to walk out and leave me. I’m scared I’m going to lose you. I’ve never felt these emotions before and I love them. They make me feel alive. They make me feel like I never have to worry, ever again. But sometimes, that old devil jumps on my shoulder and whispers in my ear, and I get worried, and angry, and afraid.”

“There is nothing to be worried about, Zane.” She held my hand next to her cheek. “I’m not your mom, I’m not going to leave you.”

“I just want you to be safe, Lucky. Please know that I would never have done anything with Angelique last night. I can’t even look at another girl. You’re it for me, Lucky. You’re the one.”

“I need to see it.” She rested her head on my shoulder and looked up at me. “Last night, I thought my heart was breaking. I was so scared and worried. I didn’t know what happened to you. I even thought that, maybe there had been another car accident, and that something had happened to you.”

“Oh no. I’m sorry I didn’t even think about that.” I held her in my arms as she cried, and I felt her body trembling against mine.

“I was so scared, Zane. I didn’t know what had happened and you weren’t returning my calls. And then after Braydon told me about Angelique, I didn’t know what to think.”

“Don’t remind me of Braydon. I’m going to have a serious conversation with Leo.”

“Please don’t.” She looked up at me. “He doesn’t know I saw Braydon. Don’t be mad at him.”

“He should have known and seen everything. He was supposed to be your bodyguard.”

“Oh please Zane, don’t blame him. I don’t want this to affect his payment.”

“Payment?” I looked at her and laughed. “Leo’s richer than I am.”

“He is?” She looked surprised. “Then why is he a bodyguard?”

“He’s not really.” I shook my head. “It’s a long story and it’s not mine to tell.”

“Oh.” She looked disappointed and I took her hand and led her to the backyard. I wanted to go to the living room, but didn’t want Leeza to be hiding somewhere, listening to our conversation.

“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but it’s not really my place.” I squeezed her hand as we sat down on the lounge chair. “But if you want me to, I will.”

“No, that’s okay.” She smiled at me briefly. “I hope one day he’ll tell me himself.” I watched her face as she spoke and I was annoyed at the pleasant tone she had for Leo. “I like him a lot.” She continued. “I hope we become real friends.”

“I see.”

“Oh Zane, don’t be stupid.” She poked me in the ribs and I looked up to see her shaking her head. “I don’t like Leo like that, okay? You don’t need to get all pouty and jealous.”

“I’m not pouty and jealous.” I retorted.

“So, what happened to Angelique?”

“She’s in custody. And so is Braydon. They arrested him a few hours later. It seems Angelique turned on him within hours.”

“Wow.” Lucky looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. I think they will get lighter sentences if they are able to get Sanchez, the guy who’s running half the drugs from Mexico to L.A., but they will still go away for a long time.”

“Wow!” Lucky exclaimed again and held on to me tightly. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been okay.”

“I’m sorry, Lucky. I wasn’t thinking.” I stroked her hair around my fingers. “Forgive me?”

“If you promise me you won’t do anything like this again without telling me.”

“I promise.” I paused. “Let me clarify, I promise to be open and honest with you and to trust that you can handle whatever comes up in my life.”

“I hope no more drug trafficking cases come up.” She made a face. “I mean, I’m glad you got Braydon and Angelique, but I’m not sure I could go through all of this again.”

“I promise no more drug trafficking.” I slid my hand to her knee. “I promise to focus all of my attention on you.”

“Oh really?” She giggled and I was happy to see the light back in her eyes as she stared at me and swatted my hand away.

“Oh yes, I’ll get out my copy of the Kama Sutra and I’ll spend hours each night devoting myself to your body.”

“Uh huh.”

“It’ll be tiring, but I promise to give it my all.”

“That’s one promise I think you’ll be able to keep, all right.”

“You forgive me?” I held my breath as I looked into her eyes, searchingly. “Say you forgive me.”

Instead of answering, Lucky leaned in towards me and kissed my lips softly. I could taste the remnants of orange juice on her lips. I sucked on her lower lip before plunging my tongue into her mouth and she grabbed the back of my head. I felt her fingers running along my scalp and I pushed her onto her back so I could feel her br**sts crushed against my chest.