Page 59 of Cuts Like an Angel: Part 2

“You may be.

He lay next to her and propped his head on his hand, staring down at her. “So we’ll go to town. The hardware store and look over paint and wallpaper options. Return and tackle one room at a time?”

“Sounds like a winner,” she whispered, smiling before noticing the shadow across his face. “What?”

“I was thinking of Maria.”

“What about her?” she asked, stroking the hair along his temple.

“I need to go and see her.”

Rosie got up on her elbow. “Oh, of course. We can bring her flowers?”

“Flowers?” The word twisted with his distaste and she fought a grin.

“Box of spiders?”

He sat up, putting his back to her. “I just…”

She sat next to him, trying to read the sudden change in his mood when it came to this vile woman. “Whatever you want; I’m on board you know.”

“I don’t know what I want.”

The confession was colored with the same disgust. “We’ll play it day by day. You’re free to feel whatever you want. You don’t need to hide it with me. You want to hate her, I’m fine with that. You want to pity her, I’m fine with that, too. Hey,” she said, taking his hand. “If you want to love her, that’s fine as well. She’s your mother—“

“I don’t want to love her,” he spat, standing suddenly. She watched him swipe his hand through his hair, hanging his head.

“Okay,’ she said, searching for the right response. “You tell me what you need, William. And I’ll help you however I can.” She stood, walking over to him. “You want to turn over a new leaf, then I’ll get the leaf turner primed and oiled. You want to hide, I’ll find the perfect hiding spot. You want to fight, I’ll sharpen our swords and stiffen our shields. And if you want to give up?” She put a firm hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be here to kick your ass.”

He turned to her with a grin then wrapped his arms around her. “Thank you, Rosie,” he whispered.

“Watch your bandages,” she winced. “Speaking of ass kicking, I need to check those and change them.”

He let her hold his arms out and inspect. “How is that kicking my ass?”

She looked up at him then back at his bandages. “I don’t know,” she mumbled. “I just like saying it.”

He gave her a cute grin until that look came into his eyes. The one that stole her breath and thoughts. The one that meant before they did anything, he was going to have her. Have her exactly as he always wanted to have a woman. And she would give him everything that she had to give.

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