Page 106 of Your Soul to Keep

He smirked as he rubbed the tip of his nose against mine. “I’m a man of many talents.”

“Yeah?” I smiled wider, sensing the goodness that was coming my way. Loving the comfort he so freely gave with his arms, his hands, his mouth, and his body.

He pulled me close and dropped one hand to squeeze my waist while the other cupped the back of my neck. Dipping his knees, he teased, “You want a demonstration?”

I wagged my head back and forth, his strength permeating my fear. “Hmm.”

He began slowly walking me backward.

I gave a short nod and pursed my lips. “For scientific purposes only.”

The backs of my knees hit the couch. Gently pushing me down, Gabe lowered himself over me, his weight a welcome tether to the present.

“I have a theory, a hypothesis I’d like to test,” he murmured.

I lifted my chin, my mouth a breath from his as I inhaled a shuddering breath. “Can I help you with that?”

Running his palm down the back of my thigh, he lifted my leg to wrap around his hip. “How many orgasms does it take for Shae to face the sun?”

29

I Swear

Everynight,Gabeteasedand cajoled me in the ways only he could until I agreed to stay another day.

When I wasn’t curled up in Gabe’s armchair reading, I was soaking up the summer sun, meeting Bridge and the girls for coffee, and walking the beach with my shades on and my shoes off.

This morning, after dropping Dylan off at daycare and meeting with the administration about her paperwork with Gabe, I returned home, made myself a coffee, and fell into his chair.

I drummed my fingers on the armrest.

The school was satisfied to have a baseline for Dylan, explaining it would better help them to meet her needs. There was nothing glaringly obvious, and no reason to pursue further testing until grade one.

And then only if needed.

Happily, I noted Brittany had lost her position to Becky who was kind and respectful to Gabe. Apparently, Brittany had been riding her last warning.

Laying my head back, I stared at the ceiling.

With Gabe back at work, Dylan in daycare, and Marlena taking over the daily management of the restaurant, I found myself with an abundance of time on my hands.

I began scanning the want ads.

There was little left for me to do for Ayana’s other than oversee things, mostly from a distance, and kick in on the floor when needed. Marlena had already done this job, fully trained by Nan when Nan first received her diagnoses.

I paused with my mug halfway to my lips. Revelation washed over me with the faint scent of roses. I fell back into Gabe’s chair, gobsmacked.

Marlena had trained for this position under Nan.

Nan never meant for me to take over Ayana’s if I didn’t want to.

You’re going to write yourself a beautiful story, pet.

I sat up straight.

I would do it, a flash lightning of courage steeling my spine. I would write myself a beautiful story. One with Gabe and Dylan. One here in Sage Ridge close to Bridge and Harley and the girls. Doing a job I used to love, the one I left to concentrate on having a baby.

Snatching up my cell phone, I opened my notes to keep track of my thoughts and plans.

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