Page 49 of August

“Rice and chicken. In some kind of red sauce. You even made naan bread—”

“Oh, tikka masala.”

He nodded. “I think that’s what it was.”

She beamed. “I’ll make it tonight if you’ve got any spices.”

“Shit. That I didn’t think of.” He pulled out his phone. “Tell me what you need and I’ll have Toth grab it. He’ll be here in an hour.”

She gave him a short list and he texted it to his friend.

Toth pinged back almost immediately.

Seriously? Why the fuck am I picking up curry?

August turned the phone to Gigi and she burst laughing. “Tell him he can stay for dinner and find out.”

He grimaced. “Toth definitely isn’t sticking around. I want you all to myself tonight.”

Gigi’s laugh ebbed away and happiness swelled in her eyes. A pink blush touched her cheeks, a delicious contrast to her rich dark hair and vibrant hazel orbs. “Keep talking like that and maybe I’ll make dessert.”

August’s pulse thrummed. “Baby, you are dessert.”

She snorted and swatted his shoulder. “That was cheesy. I’m getting in the shower—you said Toth’s coming?”

“Toth and some of the guys. They’re gonna help me with something.”

Gigi shrugged and picked up her plate. He placed a hand on her thigh before she could stand. “I’ll clean up. Take a nice hot shower and relax. Call Ivy if you want.”

She gave him a slow smile. “Sure. Is everything okay? I’m getting the sense you don’t want me around when they’re here.”

“Nah. Just business. I’ll get the dishes and then get ready in my bathroom.”

“’Kay.” She sauntered from the room with the hem of his shirt barely covering her pert little ass. It took all his willpower not to say “Fuck the dishes, fuck Toth and the guys” and just enjoy every minute with the woman who still held his heart in her hands.

Not yet. First, he had to make sure no one tried to hurt her again.

***

After a nice long shower, Gigi made her bed—the one she hadn’t slept in the previous night—and got dressed. She slipped into a pair of comfortable jeans and a pretty short-sleeved mauve V-neck sweater.

The news of the fire at her old house had shaken her. Had all her clothing and possessions burned? Sure, they weren’t items she’d really thought of or expected to get back. But the idea of everything she’d once worn or touched going up in flames made her feel extremely uneasy.

Vicious. That’s what the attack had been, and if the cartel knew how much their little bonfire had upset her, they’d probably do something worse.

Why the head games? Surely they knew she wasn’t going to call them up and say, “Okay, you scared me. Come ’n get me.” She supposed they were making a point: They could do what they wanted on her turf. They didn’t need to abduct her and drag her to Mexico to cause her pain. Setting fire to her old home was only a small taste of the torment they could inflict.

Swallowing the wad of tension that’d collected at the back of her tongue, she yanked open the makeup bag Ivy had lent her.

After brushing on a little pressed powder, she reached for the eyeshadow and eyeliner—items she wouldn’t necessarily wear when she wasn’t leaving the house. But for August... A shiver danced down her spine. Yeah, she’d get dolled up for him any day.

She added a bit of mascara then reached for her toothbrush. Voices sounded from outside her door but she didn’t go out to greet the guys. Instead, she flopped onto the bed.

August hadn’t said it in so many words, but Gigi knew there was something he didn’t want her involved with. Which was maybe for the best. Nevertheless, part of her itched to put herself out there—to be included in the decisions that would undoubtedly impact August and his friends.

Gratitude was the only thing that kept her in place. She wouldn’t stay locked in the bedroom, but she’d give them some time to speak privately. Scooping up the encrypted phone, she dialed Ivy to stop herself from listening at the door.

Her sister answered on the first ring. “I was just about to call you!”

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