Page 58 of Love Without Demands

Tugging my phone from my pocket, I read through the text thread with Lehra from Monday.

Cruz: Hey, just checking on you. Sorry I haven’t been around much. Auburn’s schedule has been crazy.

Tink: I knowwww. I’m helping Tony with scheduling, and it’s been wild. And I’m doing good.

Cruz: I’m glad. Also, I wanted to apologize about Saturday night. You were a little tipsy, and I don’t want you to think I’m the kind of guy who would take advantage.

Tink: No need to apologize. I was afraid you’d think I took advantage of you, LOL.

Cruz: I was most definitely a willing participant. I can’t stop thinking about it.

Tink: You think about it? I may be blushing right now.

Cruz: It’s hard not to. You looked so fucking beautiful.

Tink: Yep, definitely some blushing going on over here.

Cruz: Shit, I’m sorry, Tink. I’ve gotta go. I’m supposed to pick up Auburn in ten minutes.

Tink: Good luck. He’s always a bear when they’re getting ready for Fashion Week. Better since he’s got Gia now though.

Cruz: For sure. Bye, beautiful. Talk later.

There were a few more texts from the following days, but nothing profound, basically chatting about our days. I hadn’t seen her except for a few glimpses through the windows when I’d driven Auburn to and from work. He’d had me busy as hell this week.

I wanted something with Lehra, something lasting, not just a fling so she could get over Dwight and then move on to a serious relationship. I was going to have to find a way to slow things down without making her think I regretted what happened that night.

Because I didn’t.

She was special.

She was mine.

And she’d be worth the wait.

Chapter 17

“Oh, honeyyyy,” my mothercooed, walking around my living room, her eyes taking in everything. “This place is beautiful!” She was wearing black leggings beneath a long T-shirt, and her blonde hair was styled in a cute, curly bob that framed her face.

“Thanks, Mom. I’m so glad you’re here.”

She wrapped me in a fierce hug that was about the best thing in the world. “I wanted to check on my girl. I know breakups can be hard, and I needed to see you with my own two eyes.”

“I’m really okay, I promise. I think it was a long time coming, and it took everything coming to a head to make me realize it.”

“I wish you’d told me you were struggling,” she said, leaning back and looking up at me, her smile as warm as a fresh cake from the oven. “I could have helped you through it.”

“I know, Mom, but you’re so busy with work, and I didn’t want to worry you. How are things at the hospital, by the way? And how’s Dad?”

“Oh, you know,” she said, waving a hand at me. “Same old, same old in the emergency department. And your dad is good. He said to tell you he loves you.”

A knock at the door interrupted us, and I found Cruz on the other side. “Hey, I ordered some Chinese and wanted to see if you wanted some. I couldn’t decide what to get, so I ordered way too—Oh, crap. Sorry, I didn’t know you had company.”

“I’m Tabitha Kincaid,” my mother said, walking over with her hand extended for a shake. “And who might you be?”

“I might be in love,” he replied, patting his heart, and my mother let out a girlish giggle.Good grief!“Let me guess. You’re Lehra’s sister?”

“Oh, you! Cut it out,” she flirted, swatting his chest. “I’m her mother, and you can call me Tabby.”

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