Page 99 of The Don

“I know.” I offer him a smile. “You’re controlling and possessive and overly protective.”

He furrows his brows, then releases the hard stare and nods. “I wouldn’t quite say controlling.”

My brows lift as I stare at him, and it’s my turn to tilt my head to the side. “I’m not complaining, because I know underneath that hard exterior, you have a heart of gold.”

“No, I don’t,” he snaps.

“For me you do.”

“No.” Ruben stands to his feet and buttons his suit jacket. “I don’t have a heart.”

I cock a brow and nod slowly. “Keep telling yourself that. Don’t worry though, I have no intentions of sharing that information with anyone.”

Ruben pulls his shoulders back and lifts his chin. “Anyway,” he starts as he walks over to the book shelves and picks up a spicy romance. He flicks through it and shakes his head. “This author has a new book out.” He continues to scan the pages of the book.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been waiting for it. I’ll download it when I finish with the book I’m reading.” Wait, he’s been keeping up with my reading preferences?

“Don’t you prefer paperbacks?”

“I do. And I love that author, she’s just phenomenal.”

Ruben is reading a passage and he screws his nose with disgust. “Honestly, what do you like about these books?”

“I like the way the guy treats his woman.”

“He sounds like a complete fucking idiot. Listen to what he says to her, ‘If anyone puts their hands on you, I’ll fucking gut them and watch as they rot.’” Ruben grumbles as he slams the book shut. “Who says shit like that?”

My mouth falls open as I stare at him. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No man would speak like that.”

I start laughing as I rub at the tension across my forehead. “You say things like that to me all the time.”

“That’s different.”

“Why?”

“Because I mean it. I’ll kill anyone who touches you.” I hold my hands up and tilt forward as if to say duh. “Again, that’s different.”

“Well, I like my men protective and possessive. But I also like it when they let their women breathe too. It’s like they’re letting their love interest set the pace but within tight boundaries. And I like that.”

“They’re not real men. They’re fictional.”

“And hot as anything,” I counter. “I can appreciate a man who is dominant but will crumble to the ground for the woman he loves.”

He cocks a brow and sighs. “I’m forty-five years old, and I see no appeal in this crap at all.” He pointedly looks toward the book.

“Hey,” I say as I stand and approach him. “Don’t shame me for what I like to read. That’s the first unkind thing you’ve said to me.” I snatch the book out of his hands. “He didn’t mean it, baby,” I whisper as I stroke the cover.

He looks at the book, then me, then back to the book again. “I have work to do.” Ruben ignores my words and turns to leave, but stops at the door and says from over his shoulder, “There’s a package coming for you this afternoon.”

“What is it?”

“Something.”

Storm nudges me and I push my fingers through his fur as I watch Ruben disappear. The book I was reading is calling, so I curl up on the sofa and pat the spot next to me for Storm. “He won’t admit when he’s wrong, will he, boy?” Storm lifts his head to look at me. “He’s exactly like the man he was reading about, but he can’t see it.” Storm stands, arches his back in a stretch, then curls into himself, leaning against me. I open my book and continue reading as Storm instantly falls asleep.

“Given everything you went through, I think you’re recovering wonderfully,” Josiah says as he packs everything into his medical bag.

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