Chapter Twenty-Two Lena #2
“I’m hungry,” I repeat. “And it would be rude to leave now. I like those people.”
“I love them, but I’d ditch them right now.”
I snort and boost up on my toes so I can kiss him, but he still has to bend down to meet me.
“Let’s go enjoy dinner, and then you can take me home and fuck me seven ways to Sunday.”
“Christ,” he mutters as he opens the door, and when we get to the kitchen, Aiden’s back downstairs, and Willow has pulled the meat loaf out of the oven.
“Dinner’s ready.”
“I need a favor.”
We’re riding back to the house from working out in the gym. Aiden left for Seattle this morning, and we all met at the farmhouse to have breakfast together before Ryker and Willow took him to the airport. Then Gideon and I went right out to work in the ring.
I’m extra sweaty today. He worked me hard, but I managed to get a punch in that he wasn’t expecting, so I’m taking that as a win.
“Ask away,” he says, reaching over to hold my hand.
The weather has gotten cold enough that we rarely run outside or walk to the workout facilities anymore, so we’re in his truck.
“I need to call Chelsea.”
His gaze whips around to mine, and he scowls. “Fuck no.”
“Just listen to me. Her birthday is in two days, and I want to call to wish her a happy birthday and chat with her for a few minutes. It would be completely out of character for me not to do that, even if I was on a world tour for my mother. I’m shocked she hasn’t been asking about me.”
“She did finally reach out to Richie to ask how much longer you’ll be gone and when you’ll be answering your phone,” he admits, and I stare at the side of his head.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Now he looks over at me with his Secret Service face firmly in place. “Because you didn’t need to know.”
“Gideon. I had the right to know that. I want to call her for her birthday. I have done everything you’ve said, and you know it. I haven’t even asked to call my family. You can do this for me.”
He sighs and drags his hand down his face, but finally says, “I’ll figure it out. You’ll use the landline because I can scramble the trace. But you can’t talk for more than ten minutes.”
“I haven’t spoken to her in too long. We never go this long without talking. No limit on the call.”
“This isn’t a negotiation, Rebel. It’s ten minutes or nothing.”
“I don’t like you like this.”
He parks at the house, and I push out of the truck and march to the door.
“Like what? Keeping you safe?”
“All grumpy and broody and a hard-ass.”
“News flash—this is who I am, baby. Like it or don’t.”
“Fine, I’ll take the ten minutes, but I need this to be over. I need to be able to make phone calls and use my own cell and live like a normal human being. Willow can’t even text me recipes, or tell me when she’s popping by here. This is getting ridiculous.”
“I know.” He seems to deflate. “I agree. They’re not telling me much, so I can’t tell you how much longer this might go on. I’ll get you a burner phone so you can at least talk to me and Willow. I didn’t expect it to go on this long, honestly.”
“Okay. I need a shower.”
I go to walk to the stairs, feeling frustrated and dejected, but he takes my hand and pulls me against him, into one of those perfect hugs that always melt me.
“I’m sweaty and gross.”
“You’re never gross. Before you get in the shower, I have something to show you.”
I frown up at him, and then he’s guiding me through the house. But he doesn’t lead me upstairs. Instead, we walk down a hallway, and he stops in front of a closed door.
“Go ahead.” He gestures to the door, and I frown up at him. “Open the door, Lena.”
I turn the knob and push the door open, and then feel my jaw drop, and I haven’t even walked across the threshold.
This used to be another guest room, but now it’s . . . not.
The windows in here face the lake and the mountains, and all the coverings have been removed. There’s a big desk with all my art supplies in front of it. Against one wall is a small couch with fluffy pillows and a throw blanket. It’s colorful and beautiful, and I turn to Gideon.
“What is this?”
“The beginning of an art studio,” he says, looking inside.
“It’s too cold for you to sit outside to sketch.
I know you still do in the morning, but it has to stop until spring, baby.
I don’t want you to get sick. This way, you can still work and look at the mountains, but I know you’re safe and warm. ”
He gave me an art studio.
“I know you’ll want to hang stuff on the walls and finish furnishing it the way you want, so I kept it simple for now. You’ll have exactly what you want in here.”
I turn into him, bury my face in his chest, and hug him close.
“Thank you,” I mutter, the sound muffled by his impressive muscles.
“You’re welcome.” He presses his lips to the top of my head. “I want you to be happy here.”
“I am happy. Now, I’m even happier.”
His chest rumbles with his laugh, and I turn away to run my hand over the desk.
“This is beautiful.”
“It was my mother’s.”
I spin around and find him smiling softly at me.
“It was in their office. She always had a desk in front of the window so she could work on things while Dad was at his desk. There was so much space in that house, she could have had her pick of a room for an office, but she wanted to be with Dad.”
I swallow hard and blink back tears.
“You don’t have to let me use—”
“It’s yours. You’re not using it, Lena. It’s yours to keep.”
I shake my head slowly, but he walks to me and tips my chin up.
“I had a talk with Ry and Wills, and they’re good with this. You’ll use this desk often, and I want you to have something of hers.”
I blink up at him for a minute and then find myself frowning.
“Question.”
“Shoot, baby.”
“Come with me,” I reply, leading him out of the room and up the stairs to his office, where I see that he has the same view as the one downstairs.
He’s facing the mountains. But then I glance around, and I remember the confidentiality involved with his work, and I realize that he’ll tell me no, and that I should be grateful for what I have. “You know what? Never mind.”
“What’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours?”
“Well, I was going to ask you if there was room in here for the desk, so I could work with you, but you have to deal with a lot of super-secret stuff, and probably don’t want me listening in—”
“I’ll move it today.”
Surprised, I take a step back and feel my cheeks heat. “I know I can’t be privy to—”
“Nothing I do is off limits to you. Not anymore. I don’t need a high security clearance to train new men. If I need to take a call that might be sensitive, I can leave the room for it. If you want to work in here with me, I’ll make it happen. I just didn’t want to distract you from your art.”
I lick my lips and look around again, taking in the big space in front of the windows.
“I love what you gave me downstairs,” I tell him, “and I’m so grateful. But given a choice, I’d rather be with you.”
His face softens. “Then you’ll be with me, baby. Ryker and I will move the desk up today.”
I jump into his arms, wrap my legs around his waist, and kiss him. “Let’s go take a shower.”