Page 139 of Fish out of Water
“And that would be a bad thing?” I was fishing.
Might as well, considering what brought us to this point.
“That would be a terrible thing.” Julia wiggled around as she kicked her legs across my lap. “If I wasn’t here with you I’d be on my couch dropping rice between the cushions.”
“That sounds better than a hot warehouse.”
“It wasn’t that bad.” Julia’s face turned toward my neck, her cheek pushing into my shoulder. “I got to watch your grandma kick a man in the balls.”
“I heard.” I’d probably hear about it for the rest of Nonna’s life.
Then she’d probably have us put it in her obituary.
“She tried to spit on him too.” Julia snorted out a little laugh.
I hadn’t heard that part. “Tried?”
“She couldn’t work anything up.” Julia’s lips curved in a smile. “So I spit on him for her.”
Maybe Julia wasn’t as horrified by what happened as I thought she was. “I think my grandmother is in love with you.”
Julia’s lips twisted to one side. “She called me her girl.”
“That’s not surprising.” I rested my lips against the cool line of Julia’s wet hair. “You fit in a little too well with my mother and grandmother.”
She’d gotten loose. Apparently spit on one of the men who kidnapped her, and then lured the rest close enough we had a clear shot through the front windows.
“Really?” The hope in her voice settled the fear still twisting in my gut.
“Definitely. You are not a woman to be fucked with, Banana Pants.” I could offer Julia a lot, but I think what my mother and grandmother brought to the table made my offerings pale in comparison.
They would show her that women could be strong.
Proud.
Powerful.
Julia’s smile widened.
I ran one hand through the slick strands of her dark hair. “I’m going to have to keep an eye on you. Make sure you don’t run around causing problems.”
Julia’s lips pressed together, sliding across each other for a second. “You should probably keep a close eye on me. Just in case.”
“Maybe you should stay here then.” I twisted a bit of hair around one finger. “For the sake of convenience.”
“I mean, I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.” Her lids dipped a little. “And you have really nice beds.”
“There’s only one bed you get to sleep in here, Jules.” I slid one hand down the bare skin of her leg. “Mine.”
She yawned, talking while her mouth was stretched open wide. “If you really think that’s best.”
I didn’t think it was best.
I knew it was.
Epilogue
Julia
