Page 30 of August

“Five months. And by that time, I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. He never called or texted while he was away.”

“And you’d met Todd.”

At the mention of her ex, rage threatened to blur her vision. Todd. The man who’d almost gotten her killed. Because of him, her life was still at risk despite the fact she hadn’t seen him since the day she was taken into witness protection. “Yes. And Todd was everything August wasn’t. Boring, but in a way I thought was good. Predictable.”

“Safe?” Ivy asked sympathetically.

Gigi snort-laughed. “God, I was stupid. Yeah, I thought Todd was safer than August.”

“Because of his work or because of how you felt about August?”

Gigi picked up her fork and stirred the beige noodles around the creamy sauce. It needed a bit more salt but otherwise Ivy had made it perfectly. She didn’t want to think about the fears and weaknesses that had contributed to her falling-out with August, but if she was being honest, and she always was with Ivy, she had to admit her faults.

“Both,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “August scared me. But not just his profession. Not even the bullet scars on his body. I was scared because I’d never felt like that before. I’d never felt so totally out of control and so totally complete.”

“Love at first sight,” Ivy said wistfully.

Gigi smacked open her mouth. “Stop. I do not love August.”

Ivy raised a hand. “I didn’t say you still do. But it sure sounds like you did two years ago. And, sis? I don’t think you ever got over him.”

Knock, knock

The front door shook gently and before Ivy could stand, Rami emerged from the hallway. “Stay put.” He went to the door, gun drawn and body tense.

Her assassin probably wouldn’t knock, but Rami was nothing if not thorough. “It’s August,” he announced, and swung open the door.

August entered wearing a long-sleeved navy-blue Henley that clung to his biceps and light-wash jeans that accentuated his thick legs and enormous stature. He’d showered and styled his dark-blond hair a bit, and his piercing green eyes landed on Gigi.

Her heart stopped and started. The butterflies in her belly multiplied and fluttered up to her chest. She couldn’t take her gaze off August. Her eyes and her heart were riveted.

Completely captured.

Her earlier words had been devastatingly true. No other man could ever have this effect on her.

CHAPTER 10

If he weren’t starving and Gigi weren’t already eating, he’d have refused the plate Ivy offered so they could get on their way. He sat down next to Gigi and Rami with a serving of creamy pasta that smelled like fucking heaven. He picked up a fork and dove in. The flavors of basil and Parmesan cheese erupted in his mouth and he stifled a groan. “Holy cow, this is damn good.”

Ivy beamed. “It’s Gigi’s recipe.”

He turned his attention to Gigi. “Yeah?”

She chewed slowly, and her chin dipped a bit.

Huh. Interesting. Shy?

“Thanks. It’s good to know my recipes didn’t die when I disappeared.”

When they were finished eating, Ivy apologized. “I don’t have any dessert made.”

August got to his feet and collected his and Gigi’s dishes. “Don’t be. I’m stuffed. That was delicious.”

“I’m sure Gigi would make it better, but I’m glad you liked it.”

“You guys should get going,” Rami said, as he helped clear the table. “Do you want me to escort?”

“Nah, I’ll make sure we don’t have a tail.”

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