Page 74 of Enthrall Ecstasy
The kind of beautiful we’d be honored to have.
“Is she ready, Cole?”
He looked thoughtful. “She’s interesting.”
“In what way?”
“Is that Tom Ford?” He looked me up and down. “Looking good, buddy.” He waved his hand in a circle. “You’re consistently mercurial.”
I shook my head, refusing to be distracted. “Are you going to share your thoughts on her?”
“How have you been sleeping?”
“Fine.”
“Periods of insomnia?”
I let out a frustrated sigh at this change of subject. “I get a lot of reading done.”
“You know, depression is a signal, not a malfunction, Shay.”
I caressed my brow. “You’ve told me this.”
“You need a break,” he said.
“I’m taking one… soon.” Once the breach here was contained.
“That’s progress.”
That was me looking to the future and we both knew it was something I did with reservation. “Look, Rue needs to be protected,” I said. “She’s threatened to fly off to Hillenbrand. This is about her. Can we please make it abouther?”
“Her threats won’t work on me.”
“I know,” I said, trying to remain calm.
He smiled, one of his warmer gestures reserved for his closest friends. “Let’s fence again soon.”
“Sure.” I stepped closer to him. “I take it Rue passed your test?”
“Did she pass yours?”
“How do you mean?”
“She never sees herself as falling in love because she’s scared to. That kind of risk is terrifying. Sound familiar?”
He’d read in her file about the tragic death of her parents—a year apart. It was something that would shake anyone’s reality.
“You think she’s acting out?” I asked.
“Her fantasy is a place her mind can hide in, perhaps.”
“Is she ready for her fantasies?”
“She will seek them out irrespective,” he said. “Providing a safe environment is essential.”
“Which is why you and I are standing here.”
“Right.” He looked thoughtful. “She needs to be loved entirely so she can learn to trust life again.”
