Page 42 of Egotistical Jerk
Nodding, I asked, "And that's all you're worried about?"
Her answer was immediate, "Yes."
Two easy strides closed the distance between us. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled her close.
"I don't like hiding." Pushing at my chest, Mia tried to wiggle out of my embrace. I tightened my hold and lowered my head until our noses almost touched. "But I understand what you're saying and I respect that." Brushing her nose with mine, I promised, "We'll keep it between us for now."
And then I did the one thing I'd been aching to do since I opened my eyes. Pressing my mouth to hers, I kissed her long and slow. I licked at the seam of her lips before slipping my tongue inside and touching it to hers.
I shoved my fingers into her hair, gripping the tresses inside my fist and using it to angle her head just right. In an instant, the kiss got hotter, wetter. Our tongues frantically tasting and teasing.
It wasn't enough, but then again, when it came to this woman nothing ever would be.
In one smooth motion, I hoisted her up; her glorious legs immediately wrapping around my waist. As I walked us back to the bedroom, I just knew this woman was potentially dangerous to that thumping thing inside my chest.
Hell if I cared though.
Chapter 19
MIA
"You're looking extra happy today."
I shook my head and made my way to the front of Mrs. DuBois's bed. "I'm always happy when I see you." Winking, I pulled her file off its hook.
"No, no. This is different. Almost like you have a glow about you."
Lifting my gaze from the page, I eyed her with a raised eyebrow. "Must be the lights."
Mrs. DuBois clicked her tongue before smacking her hands together. "That boy has gone and done it, hasn't he?"
My lips curved into a wider smile out of their own volition. Afraid my eyes would reflect my thoughts, I shifted my attention back to the page. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh no, you don't, missy. I want to know everything." She continued speaking but my brain tuned her out while it tried to make sense of everything I was reading. None of it good.
"You had a fever last night and even with the IV, you're not holding anything down." Even to my own ears, my voice sounded robotic. This wasn't right. Her body wasn't fighting back anymore. This time when I looked her over it was with the eyes of a doctor, not a friend. She was too pale. Her cheekbones too prominent. Her eyes too dull.
"Stop it, Mia," Mrs. DuBois reprimanded, her voice firm. "Don't you look at me like I'm just a puzzle that needs solving, you hear?"
Her words slammed into my chest, sobering me instantly.
"I'm worried about you."
As I said the words, I knew Sebastian's concerns were warranted. I wasn't entirely sure how I'd feel if something happened to this woman who had come to mean so much to me in such a short period.
She patted the bed with one hand while beckoning me with the other. I returned the file to its spot before carefully perching on the bed.
"There are bigger things to focus your worries on, child. I'm old. I've lived. I've seen. I've experienced." Her bony hand sought mine out. "I'm more than ready to move on from this life."
Mrs. DuBois might as well have reached into my chest and squeezed my heart with her hands. "Please, don't talk like that," I begged.
Her voice was soft when she spoke. "I need you to know." She took in a deep breath and forced a smile to her elderly face. "Now, stop holding out on me. I want to know all about the kissing."
Because I couldn't say no to this woman, or probably because I was simply too invested, I told her what she wanted to hear—leaving out the bed gymnastics, of course. By the time I was done, she was already planning the wedding and naming our babies. I didn't mind. The excitement of it all had given her a touch of color and put a smile on her face. That was something at least.
"All right." I slipped off the bed. "You can hit me with more names when I come back this afternoon."
My heart still felt heavy when I walked out of her room a minute later, and for some odd reason, I wanted to talk to Sebastian about it. I was on my way to his office when the phone in my pocket buzzed to life.
