18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Beau
I f someone had asked me a few months ago what the best time of my life was, I wouldn't have an answer. I'd say something facetious like, " My whole life has been a party, man ." But now, I knew. The past month since that first time I'd made love with Mira had been the fucking best .
Even Roxy had commented how she'd never seen me this content.
"I always felt that something was missing in your life. Now I can see that it was Mira and Pari, Beau, ‘cause you've never been more at peace."
Trevor and Katya agreed that I was in a good place, and Trevor had even accepted Mira as a family member. Katya was still withholding judgment. They didn't know we were sleeping together, but as Nova put it, " Anyone with eyes can see that ."
I didn't deny it, but I didn't advertise it, either. Mama was still in the dark. And while I wasn't exactly a Mama's boy, eager to cater to her every whim, I wasn't looking for upheaval right now. I liked my life as it was. Mira and I spent most of our time at home with Pari, only going out when she came along. Date night was every night after Pari went to bed. We'd sit on the porch with a glass of something—wine, whiskey, whatever felt right—and end the night in bed. We'd start hungry, starved, aching for each other, and end sated and, as Roxy would say, at peace.
"Do I look okay?" Mira asked nervously.
Mira was going to meet with Nina Davenport at Savannah Lace to talk about the position of cafeteria manager. She was anxious and hadn't slept all night; asking me to fake interview her so she was prepared.
Telling her she had it in the bag wasn't easing her nerves. I wished I could tell her that she was guaranteed to get the job—not just because she was qualified, but because I'd already asked Nina to hire her. If necessary, I told Nina to charge Mira's salary to the Secure Systems account we had with Savannah Lace. Nina wouldn't do that, of course, but she assured me that Mira came with an excellent recommendation from Nova, someone she trusted completely. The last thing I wanted was for Mira to think I'd forced her way in; that would devastate her.
Mira looked older than her twenty-two years in a blue sheath dress borrowed from Nova, paired with simple black ballerina flats. I'd tried to buy her clothes when we'd shopped for Pari, but she'd not let me. I hadn't fought it. She'd come around once she got used to us , once she got comfortable with the idea of us being a family.
"You look professional and capable." I kissed her forehead, then her nose, and then her lips. Heat coursed through me. Just a touch, a kiss, and I wanted to fuck her into the mattress. This madness had never been there before. It was potent, and I was in its thrall. I also didn't mind it at all. I was enjoying the hell out of how Mira made me feel.
She licked her lips and I groaned. "You keep doin' that, darlin', and you'll be late."
She smiled as she always did when I told her how much I wanted her, how much she meant to me. The Mira who had been afraid of her own shadow was thriving—she hadn't changed, but she was more confident than she used to be. Unless Mama was around, she didn't question her role in my home and life—but the evenings and days Mama visited, she was quiet and broody. I'd tried to talk to my mother, but she was adamant about how Mira was nothing but the person who'd kept her away from her granddaughter.
Mira checked her bag; it was a cheap-looking black tote. I knew it cost all of twelve ninety-nine because I'd been there when she bought it. She wouldn't take money from me. She had accepted the phone, but she didn't use it unless it was to communicate with Nova or me.
The one thing Mira had accepted was that I'd take care of all the legalities when it came to Pari. My lawyers had now been in touch with Mira's parents' lawyers with a cease-and-desist letter, explaining that I was asserting my parental rights. We hadn't heard back from them.
A part of me wanted to reach out, to better understand their relationship with Mira and Asha. But I knew that would upset Mira. The moment her parents were mentioned, she looked like someone had a gun to her head.
Plenty of people didn't get along with their parents. Hell, my friend Stella had the same look whenever her father was around —not surprising, considering he was a monumental asshole. Anson despised his sister and kept his distance from his mother. So, it wasn't exactly unheard of that Mira didn't talk to her parents.
She pulled out the keys to her crappy Toyota that was parked in the garage next to my Range Rover. She still drove the car if she was going anywhere alone, which was seldom. With Pari, usually Roxy or I drove, so we took my SUV.
"You know you can take one of my cars," I offered again.
She shrugged. "Why? I have gas money."
I sighed. She had gas money ? Christ! It was like she lived in a different world where she counted her pennies, and I had too many to count.
"Call or text me to let me know how it goes, okay?"
Pari toddled up to us, and Mira crouched. "Can I get a big-big-big hug, my Shona ?"
" Miramashi ." My daughter launched herself on her aunt, and Mira held her like her life depended upon it.
No matter what my mother thought, one thing was clear, Mira loved her niece like her own, and Pari thrived on the unconditional love she received from her aunt.
Mira whispered. " Ami tomake bhalobashi ." I'd heard those Bengali words often enough to know they meant, "I love you."
Pari giggled when Mira kissed her nose. " Ami tomake bhalashi, " she responded in a sing-song manner.
"You be good for Bodaddy, okay?" Mira brushed strands of Pari's hair off her face.
I picked up my daughter and nuzzled her neck, tickling her, making her laugh, which was my favorite sound in the world—almost on par with Mira saying my name when she came apart for me.
"Roxy, Pari, and I will be just fine," I told her.
Mira walked to the door but stopped when Roxy called out to her. She came running to give Mira a hug. "You've got this. They'd be fools not to hire you."
"Thanks, Roxy."
We saw her off, and Roxy shook her head as she saw the car. "That vehicle is falling apart."
"She won't take one of mine. She's too proud for her own good."
Roxy frowned. "She's not proud, Beau, she's scared that she'll get used to all these things you give her, and when she loses you…."
"She told you that?" I hated that Mira was still so insecure. Every time I felt that we'd made progress, I found out that a part of her was still wary.
"Not in as many words," Roxy confirmed.
Pari got restless in my arms, and I let her down just as my phone rang. It was my mother, and I sighed. "You keep an eye on her?" I said to Roxy right before I answered the call.
"You need to come to my house now ," Mama ordered.
"You okay?" I went on alert.
"And bring Pari along. Do not leave her with that girl."
"What?"
"Beau, just bring Pari with you."
"Pari is with Roxy. Mira is not at home. What's goin' on, Mama?" I asked wearily, heartily tired of my mother's issues with Mira.
"Just come over, will you?"
I told Roxy she was in charge of Pari, and drove to my mother's house. I wasn't sure what to expect—but I should've known that Donna Bodine would put her foot in it.
Sitting in her living room were an older Indian couple who I suspected were Mira's parents, Anil and Seema Sen.