Page 91 of Javier

“But I’m not like that.” I lifted my shoulders and let them fall. “I don’t gamble with people’s feelings and I don’t want to leave them hanging. It’s unkind. I need to apologize.”

“Apologize?To them?” He swallowed his snort when he realized I was dead serious. He shifted his gaze to the somber-faced guys standing in the same spot where I’d left them. “Fuck this.” Keeping my hand in his, we marched toward the men. “Angel, you’re way too kind, and I love that about you, but youdon’t need to apologize for anything.”

“I like to treat people like human beings.”

“I get that, believe me, I do,” he said. “It’s admirable, but it’s also a dangerous proposition in a brutal world.”

“Ifeellike should do the right thing,” I insisted to his chagrin, but then the vexation that scrunched his forehead lifted and the glint in his eyes softened as they settled on me.

“I’m never gonna stop you from doing what you think it’s right,” he said and my heart fluttered. “I’m never gonna tell you what to do and I’ll always support your choices.”

I blinked off my tears before he saw them. He couldn’t know how much his words meant to me, how refreshing, healing, and freeing they felt to someone whose confidence and self-esteem had been sabotaged since I was a little girl.

“You don’t got to agree with me on anything,” he continued. “But would you like to hear my take on this particular situation?”

“Sure.”

“Talk to those guys if you want,” he said. “But never apologize for the choices you make freely. They are yours to make.”

He was different. Behind his tough guy, play hard façade, he was so much more than he allowed others to see. He was smart in a worldly way I’d never been. He didn’t think he was kind, but right now, he was being very kind to me. A good man. Sister Elsa had known this all along. As Javier and I turned around and made our way to the Frenchmen, I let out a quiet sigh.

“Messieurs.” He nodded as we came to a stop before the two men.

“You’re either a sick dog ornother brother,” Pierre hissed between his teeth.

“I understand your disappointment.” Javier kept a firmhold of my hand. “I’m not sick, not in the way you imply, and you’re right, I’m not her brother.”

“Then why the lie?” Gerard demanded.

“Not a story I choose to share.” Javier closed the matter for good. “Miranda wants to speak with you. Remember that we’re all Renaissance men. This is her decision to make.”

“Of course,” Pierre exclaimed.

“Ma chérie.” Gerard studied my face. “This man is not hurting you? He’s not forcing you to do what he wants?”

“He’s not.”

“Is this really your wish?” Pierre asked, shifting his gaze between Javier and me.

“Yes,” I said. “I want to thank you for your company. I needed to decompress, laugh, and have fun, and you were great sports. I enjoyed the time I spent with you.”

“You’ve broken my heart,ma chérie, but say no more.” Gerard slid a business card out of his wallet and directing a glare at Javier handed it to me. “If this person proves to be disagreeable, you know where to find us.”

“I’ll be all right.” I glanced at Javier. “See? I told you they were nice.”

“I see that now.” He had the grace to look a little humbled.

“Merci, again.” I gave each man a double kiss. “Au revoirand safe travels.”

I turned to Javier and, together, we ambled toward the gate, but when we got there, he scrunched his eyebrows. He slowed down, stopped, and released my hand. “Give me a sec.”

“Um… okay.”

He was already on the way to the bar, leaving me standing awkwardly within earshot of my friends, who were talking among themselves.

Javier approached the beautiful woman he’d spent timewith. A pang of jealousy stabbed at my stomach. He had a brief conversation with her. She smiled, then laughed. His charm could cheer up a woman in no time. He and the woman ambled over to the Frenchmen.

“I’d like you to meet my lovely friend, Rozina.” Javier gestured between the parties. “Rozina, meet Pierre and Gerard. It’s their last night on vacation here. The three of you are gonna get along great.”

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