Page 62 of Tenderfoot

“I guess the fact it was based on both you and Raye wanting something special for me makes it hard for me to expend any effort on busting anyone’s chops.”

Her pretty blue eyes shone with all the love she had for me, which was a lot.

And all was forgiven.

She let me go.

I hugged Shanti.

With Javi dogging my steps, I walked them to the door.

He closed it on them and locked it.

He then turned to me and stated, “They missed the part about telling you they brought some of your stuff.”

He jerked his chin toward the couch.

I looked that way and saw my big suitcase resting on its rollers, along with my roller carryon, which didn’t say “some” of my stuff, but quite a bit of it.

Even if that was slightly alarming (I had an apartment to put to rights—I was okay with staying with Javi after the initial shock of it all, however, that was not going to continue), I had no doubt they packed my cleanser and moisturizer, which I desperately needed. I’d slept in my makeup, now two nights in a row, which was a massive no-no for me.

“You forgive easy.”

At Javi’s words, I turned back to him.

“Well—” I began.

“You’re here, in my tee, after giving me the best first kiss I’ve ever had.”

Oh my God!

I loved that it was the best first kiss he ever had, because it was the same for me.

Sadly, I didn’t have time to revel in that love. Javi continued talking.

“Instead of saying what you should have said to me yesterday. To go fuck myself. Yeah, you forgive easy, mi Lolita.”

Ulk.

This was embarrassing.

Why was this embarrassing?

I felt the heat in my cheeks even if I didn’t understand it.

Therefore, I strove to change the subject.

“You said something about breakfast?”

His beautiful lips split into a smile. “I got bagels and cream cheese, or bagels and cream cheese. Which one you want?”

A giggle escaped me, which upon hearing it, put an adoring expression on Javi’s face that I instantly cherished, and I said, “I think I’ll have a bagel and cream cheese.”

He slung an arm around my shoulders and started guiding me to the kitchen, saying, “Then that’s what you’ll get.”

We separated in the kitchen so he could man the toaster, and I could make coffee.

Something I learned about Javi.