Page 14 of Always Be My Baby

“Lee,” Lena tried.

Lee brought her hand up to stop us. “You’re not changing my mind so save your breath—both of you.”

Even if I thought she was wrong, the way she cared for her employees had to be up there with the top reasons why I’d fallen for her. It gave me an idea. “Fine. I won’t say another word about it,” I said, and she smiled, thinking I’d given in easily. “But then you’re not going to pay another $800 for that crappy little apartment when you don’t need it. That’ll save you money.”

“She hasn’t given up her apartment yet?” Lena asked, confused.

“Nope. She’s been afraid that we won’t work out and she’ll end up homeless.”

“Lee…” Lena admonished.

“What if I downgraded to a studio?” Lee asked. A thin line of beaded sweat appeared above her lip. Not noticeable by most people, but when it came to Lee, I wasn’t most people. Her eyes darted back and forth between me and Lena. She was actually scared. I sighed, rubbing my eyes then collecting myself, immediately squaring my shoulders ready for a fight.

“No,” both Lena and I shouted at the same time.

“Bu—”

“No,” I said again.

“Lee,” Lena changed her wording but the sentiment remained true.

And because I could, I pulled her into my arms. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s time to let it go,” I whispered. “We’re good. This is good. Give it up.”

Her shoulders dropped as her body relaxed into mine. Then Lee pressed her forehead to my chest muttering a resigned, “Okay” against my chest.

Thank the good Lord.

I wasn’t taking any chances. We were getting that taken care of before we got home.

Marilee

The bistro was opening back up for business today. Girard and I spent our day off just chilling in our pajamas, our favorite way to spend days off in the winter. I assumed when the weather broke, we’d start spending more days in nature, on the trails or at the water, or tooling around the other touristy towns that peppered the coast. But for now, we got cuddling, fires and Netflix. Life could definitely be worse.

Well, that and the man had an insatiable sex drive. The sex-a-thon started as soon as he’d hefted me into his arms and carried me inside the house, his lips pressed to mine. His—ahem—pressed against me, too. That happened right after we’d officially turned in my notice. My lease was ending this month and I had two weeks to clear out.

We kept up the fun cooking together and simply hanging out together when he wasn’t pounding me like a sledgehammer. The problem was he spent several hours in his office on his computer, which… okay… Not a problem. I watched movies or read books. The problem arose any time I went into the office to bring him fresh coffee or to offer a snack when I was up getting myself one. Exactly like the other day, he’d slammed the laptop closed whenever I walked into the office.

I was starting to get a complex. Because I believed in him, I believed down to my very soul that he wasn’t cheating. Therefore, it had to be porn. But why hide it? Why would I mind him watching porn if that was his deal?

Sighing, I pulled my phone from my pocket, having just left him in his office again today. We had an active sex life. Lord help him if he needed to get off more than we got off together or—oh god, the thought just hit me. What if he required porn to get in the mood to be with me? Like what if he loved me but found he was no longer attracted to me?

The phone rang three times before Lena picked up. “Hey, babe,” she answered. “What’s up?”

I walked over to the sofa, flopping down on the cushions to lie on my back, my head propped up on one of the throw pillows. “Can I talk to you without you getting mad at me?”

“Lee, he loves you,” she said, exasperated.

“I know. I’m not denying that he loves me. But um… I think I’m too…vanillafor him.”

Lena barked out a laugh. “Are you serious? What makes you think you’re too vanilla?”

This was embarrassing. “My idea of getting wild is taking top.”

“And…” she prodded.

“And he’s been watching a lot of porn. I mean, I don’t see him watching it. He slams the laptop shut whenever I walk in the office with him.”

“I doubt that’s the issue, but you’ve called the right friend. Get your boots on. I’ll be over in ten. We’re going shopping.”

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