Page 25 of I Am Lioness

Ten minutes later, I’d replied to all my clients for the upcoming week and answered some inquiries on my Facebook page regarding availability when I found myself scrolling through my text messages with Hazel. Probably not the best idea. Typing out a new message and sending it before I could think it through was also not a good idea.

Can I see you?

I stared at screen at those four little words, wondering if she’d already seen them. Would she reply? Ignore it all together? I sat there waiting and hoping for a response.

I needed to see her, needed her to explain what was happening because I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Even if she gave me but five minutes of her time, it was better than going back home not knowing the truth.

Much to my surprise, three little dots began dancing around on the screen and within seconds her reply pulled up a new bubble.

Yeah. We need totalk anyway.

That sounds promising.

Ok… When?

Now I guess?

Your room or mine?

I don't think that's agood idea, Knox. Maybesomeplace neutral?

Relax. The last thingon my mind right now

is a repeat of last night.

Fine. Yours. I don'twant to risk Jasonshowing up again.

I couldn’t argue with that. The last thing we needed was another interruption courtesy of the smug bastard, especially when the circumstances were far more important this time around.

I sent her the room number and tossed the phone aside, suddenly feeling more anxious than I was just moments ago. Unable to sit still, I rose to my feet and began pacing the length of the room as I waited for Hazel to show up.

My mind was spinning a million miles per hour, jumping to all sorts of conclusions as to what she wanted to talk about. Whether it was five minutes or twenty, it felt like an eternity had passed before finally I heard three light raps at the door.

I sucked in a deep breath, bracing myself for the shit storm that was about it unfold and yanked it open. The mere sight of her jerked my heart out of control.

She was as beautiful as ever, even wearing the same distressed expression from earlier this morning. Those chocolate brown orbs peeked up at me shyly and the corners of her mouth turned up in a small smile as she tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

“Hey.” She said, her voice hushed.

“Hey.”

I peered down the hallway to confirm Jason hadn’t followed and then stepped aside to let her in. It took everything in me not to snatch her up in my arms when she brushed past me, press her up against the wall and kiss the hell out of her. But I’d told her no repeats and I was intent on upholding my end of the deal, even if subduing the urge was easier said than done.

“So… You said you wanted to see me. What's up?” She asked nonchalantly, padding further into the room.

Seriously?

I trailed behind her in disbelief and dropped down onto the small white couch, leaning forward onto my knees.

“Why don't you start with what we need to discuss. If my reason is still valid after the fact, then I'll share.”

“Knox…” She started to say, pivoting to face me, but I lifted a hand before she could continue.

“Just cut to the chase, Hazel. If you're gonna tell me to fuck off then do it already. But I want to know why.”

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Enlighten me then.”

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