Page 28 of Faith
And rule number one was don’t fuck the client.
Even if Nina wasn’t technically a client, the same rule applied.
“You good?” Montgomery was in the kitchen, in Zeke’s space, his voice quiet.
“Yeah. What’s up?”
Montgomery waved his phone. “I need to take care of something.”
“You going alone?”
Montgomery shook his head. “Walker’s going to meet me.”
Zeke nodded. Walker St. Brown was quiet and menacing and not someone anyone wanted to fuck with. If Montgomery was going somewhere that required backup like Walker, Zeke was worried. “Everything okay?”
Montgomery nodded. “Yeah. No big deal, really. I knew Walker would be available.”
Zeke returned Montgomery’s smile. Walker had zero social life. Even more of a loner than Zeke was, Walker didn’t pick up women or date or even talk about women. Or anyone. Walker was a mystery, but he was a reliable teammate and someone Zeke wouldn’t hesitate to have at his six.
“Are you coming back tonight?”
Montgomery held Zeke’s gaze for a long minute and shook his head. “Not unless you need me to. She wants to be here with you. I’m not going to push to be a third wheel.”
“Come on. It’s not like that.”
“I’m good. I promise.” Montgomery went back to the living room and said goodbye to his sister. Nina hugged him tightly and told him to be safe. Montgomery promised he would, then waved to Zeke and let himself out the front door, locking it with his key after he left.
“Just you and me,” Nina said. She patted the couch next to her, the side that wasn’t occupied by cats. “Come sit.”
Zeke did not want to sit next to her. He did not want to have her in his space. He did not want to be close to her and not be able to touch her.
But he couldn’t say no to her.
He sat down, determined to keep a space between them, but Nina didn’t get the same message. She leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder and her hand on his leg.
Zeke kept himself rigid next to her, his back straight and his body tight. He barely breathed.
Nina shifted next to him and laughed. “Relax. You’re acting like I’m going to bite you.”
“Just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“You could never, Zeke. I promise. I’m good with you.”
“Okay,” Zeke said, but he didn’t feel it.
But Nina showed him he was wrong. Her laughter eased and her body sagged and before he knew it, she was snoring softly against his side.
Zeke finally relaxed. She wouldn’t be scared off by his reaction to her if she was asleep.
He kissed the side of her head and inhaled her hair. She twitched but settled again quickly.
He didn’t move. He told himself he should wake her and let her go to bed, but he missed her so damn much he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He sat there, watching one show roll to another and another, listening to her breathing and feeling her warmth beside him and thanking God for bringing her back to them.
When the evening news came on, Zeke knew they both needed to get to bed. He moved to turn off the TV, and she didn’t wake up. The glow from the stairway lights cast a soft glow on her face. He wanted to hold her, even if it was only for a minute.
He scratched Gene and Franklin’s heads, both cats waking up with a yawn, then settling down again, ignoring Zeke as they promptly fell back to sleep.
Zeke slid his arms beneath Nina’s knees and neck and stood. She stirred and turned toward him, sighing as her body relaxed in his arms.
