Page 12 of Love Without Demands

Lehra laughed, and the sound was like a melody, sweet and high. “No, he and his family have a tradition of going to Aspen for Christmas. I’m going home to Missouri for a week.”

If I had a woman like you, you’d be included in my family’s traditions, not excluded, I thought.

“How long have you two been together?”

She cocked her head to the side. “Let’s see… ten months. We met when he was in town for a meeting. Dwight is an architect.”

Of course he is,I thought with a hint of bitterness. “And he doesn’t live here?”

“No, he’s in Detroit, but he’s trying to get transferred to his company’s New York branch. We only get to see each other once a month. What are you doing for the holidays?”

Once a month? What the actual fuck?

“I’ll go back to Texas for Christmas Eve and fly back late Christmas Day. I’m too new to ask for much time off from work.”

She shifted and leaned a little closer like she had a secret. The slight movement had her intoxicating scent swirling around me. “What’s it like working with Sexy Shrek every day?”

“Sexy what?” I asked, unable to hold in my laughter.

“Sexy Shrek. That’s what I call Auburn Bouvier because he’s an ogre but a very good-looking one. Most of us in the building only see him briefly each day. I couldn’t imagine being trapped in a car with him.” She shuddered. “So, are you scared of him?”

I grinned and shook my head. “No, I’m not scared of Auburn Bouvier. On the few times I’ve driven him so far, he’s been nice enough to me. A little quiet. He mostly works while I drive him to meetings and stuff.”

“And do you serve as his personal security too like Smithson did?”

Nodding, I turned right, toward theBouvierbuilding. “I do. When Smithson was off a couple weeks ago, I drove the boss to a lunch meeting, and when we got to the restaurant, there was some kind of protest going on out front. I told him I didn’t feel it was safe for him to go in there, and he didn’t even question me. He called the man he was meeting, and we met him near the side door of the building. I drove them both to another restaurant a few blocks down.”

“He trusts you,” she said softly.

“We’re getting there,” I said, not mentioning that I’d parked down the block while Auburn was at lunch and watched the protest turn violent. The Emergency Service Unit had to swoopin and de-escalate things. I’d had a feeling that was going to happen just by reading the mood of the crowd.

Thank goodness my new boss had listened to me. He was a stubborn fucker, but he wasn’t stupid.

Lehra began changing her shoes as we neared our destination. “I can’t thank you enough for the ride, Cruz.”

“It was my pleasure,” I told her honestly, pulling up to the curb and hopping out.

“You didn’t have to get my door for me,” she protested when I opened it.

“Of course I did. Would you like me to drop your suitcase off at your apartment building?”

Her cute nose scrunched up. “No, that’s okay. I don’t have a doorman or anything at my place. The bag is small enough to fit in the closet behind the reception desk.”

I unloaded the case from the trunk and pulled the handle up for her before sliding it toward her.

“Thanks again, Cruz. It was nice to meet you.”

“You too, Lehra. Don’t let Sexy Shrek get you down.”

She laughed that melodious laugh and turned to walk inside the building. With my hands in my pockets, I enjoyed the view of her retreating form. Tiny white bows winked at me from the backs of her sky-high black heels, and her blonde curls bounced merrily as she walked. Not to mention that truly outstanding ass of hers.

This woman ticked all my boxes, including some I didn’t even know I needed ticked. She was smart, funny, gorgeous, and adorably sweet.

And taken, Estrada. Don’t forget that one.

Just before Lehra entered theBouvierbuilding, she glanced back, and the sun glinted off her pretty smile as she wiggled her fingers at me. I returned the gesture, one I was pretty sure I’d never done before in all my thirty-one years.

As soon as she disappeared, something heavy settled in my chest. Something I recognized.

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