Page 96 of Making Choices

Three of them go together like a horse and a carriage… or an accidentally on purpose barn inferno.

Fire.

Zeke.

Marshmallows.

The last thing is a lot simpler and a hell of a lot more loveable than my infuriating ex.

Slash.

Because God knows I’d be lost without him in my life.

25

SLASH

Two and a half weeks later

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Cherub huffs and puffs, cursing under her breath as she tosses shoes over her head. They land in a haphazard pile that she’s liable to trip over as soon as her temper gets the better of her and she stomps off to her car. The last time Cherub couldn’t find the specific pair of heels she was looking for, the little hoarder drove to the CBD and purchased a new pair. “I know you’re here somewhere. Even Balenciaga sneakers are incapable of walking off by themselves.”

I clear my throat to get her attention when the shoe tossing recommences.

“Cherub.”

“Not now.”

With a grin on my face that’s going to annoy her even more, I sidestep the mess, and carry the two boxes containing the gift I’ve brought over to her. “Looks like a cyclone hit.”

“I wish.” She peers up at me, pushing the glasses she now wears for four hours a day to strengthen her damaged left eye up her nose. The bruising is almost gone from her face. Natural beauty almost restored, she’s breath-taking. Unfortunately, the new scar on her cheekbone and the ghosts that live in her gaze remain stark and show zero signs of abating. “A cyclone would be easier to clean up after.”

“Might have somethin’ that’ll help you.” I cast an assessing eye over the piles of shoes and handbags. “Thinkin’ I might’ve underestimated the problem, though.”

“Shoe racks,” Cherub exclaims after reading the label on the closest box. Surging to her feet, she flings her arms around my neck and stretches as high as she can to kiss my cheek. “You’re a lifesaver.”

With every inch of her body plastered to mine and her breasts pillowed against my chest, being this close to Cherub is temptation personified. Desperate to put some space between us, I fish my phone out of the inner pocket of my cut, and stepping away from her, enquire as steadily as I can, “How about some music while we sort your shoes out?”

“As long as it’s metal,” she replies straightaway.

Her obliviousness to my feelings would hurt if it wasn’t an eternal reminder of how deeply Cherub loves with that big heart of hers.

“Evanescence?”

“No.” With a scowl, she adds. “Black Veil Brides. Motionless in White. Apologies to Medusa. In This Moment. Any of them will do—except their love songs. I’m avoiding anything sappy… for reasons we obviously don’t need to get into.”

“You’re the boss.” I connect my phone to her little speaker while she tears open the boxes and lines the racks up along the wall. “Plus, everyone knows avoidance is one of the seven wonders of the world.”

Cherub peers up at me. Gazes locked, I see a flare of humour light up her features and she offers me something I haven’t seen for weeks. A genuine Lilianna Mayberry grin. Filled with life. Unencumbered by pain. Buoyed by a moment of normalcy. I want to kiss her, to taste the glimmer of hope she’s gifted me. As my heart skips a beat and my knees burn with the need to drop down in front of her so I can follow through with the urge, Sander’s demand that I give her time pops back into my head.

Grumbling under my breath about overprotective twin brothers, I break eye contact with Cherub and fiddle with my phone. “How are we doin’ this?”

My duchess points at the pile of shoes. “With only two racks, I’m going to concentrate on my heels. I’ll need them most since Bebe says there’s no reason why I can’t go back to work next week.”

“Gabriel will be happy to have you back.”

“So will poor Veronica.” We exchange a look and snort. Like me and Hunter, the Shamrocks lawyer is technically on the spectrum, which means his long-time assistant is one step below a saint. “Apparently, the ‘bring your pet to work Fridays’ has turned deadly. One of the first-year clerks brought his carpet python into the office and it ate her ginger kitty. She wants my help.”

“To resurrect a dead cat?”

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