Page 38 of Beauden & Yelena

“I already know what it is between us and what it ultimately can be. I want you, all of you, here with me, just like this. But it will only be if you want it too. Take your time, beautiful, and do what you need.” I kiss her back.

“Can we lay down please? I want you to hold me,” she pleads and I give her what she wants. After laying on top of me, she wraps her arms around me and I lock mine around her. “Hold me tighter.”

No other words are spoken and I hold her until we both fall asleep. I don’t open my eyes again until morning and when I do, she’s gone.

ChapterFifteen

“Are you okay, ma’am?” Rufus asks as we drive out of The Phoxes Den. I’m sitting in my usual single woman seat up front with him in the Sprinter.

“Yes,” I lie.

I’m not okay, not at all. I’m far from being okay. Like a thief in the night, I left Beauden’s around three o’clock this morning. My head was swimming. My emotions were all over the place. I was a wreck. Hell, I’m still a wreck. Leaving Beauden is the last thing I want to dobut how could I stay? I barely know him. How would that look?

“The Phoxes Den is a hard place to leave. I’m heading back home to Hollow Grove for Christmas and I do love it there but nothing compares to this,” he says, then nods toward the gate.

My interactions with Rufus have been limited but I’m intrigued by him. He doesn’t say much but he’s observant as hell. Each time we have been in this Sprinter, he was quietly examining each of us, even me.

“Can you see a woman like me out here?” I ask, curious about his thoughts because my own are driving me crazy.

“Are you some type of special woman?” His odd question catches me off guard and causes me to turn to face him.

“Special? What do you mean by that?” I ask with wrinkled brows.

He chuckles. “No offense. It’s just that most women I know like big, pretty, nice things. The Phoxes Den is big, pretty, and nice. Unless, you aren’t like most women, then I believe you like it too. So, yep, I can see you here,” he says with a smile. “I think the boss man can too.” There’s a smug look on his rugged face. I’m not even surprised at his words because Rufus watches everything.

We exchange glances then he focuses on the road. While he drives, I try not to focus on my frantic thoughts but it’s hard.Did I make the right decision?

Second guessing, I pull my cell out of my bag and stare at it. There are no calls or texts from him. Deep down, I think I was hoping that there would be. But why? He probably hates me.I would.

I left without a word. No resolution. No answer, not one single word when my mind is racing with a million of them. I have a beautiful, thoughtful, sexy, manly man offering me all of him. In one week, he has shown me how a woman should be treated. He listens, attends to me, ensures I’m safe, wants to please me, and isn’t afraid to speak what’s on his mind. All he wants is for me to stay and give him, us, a chance but I left without giving him an answer. He has it now and I’m sure he hates me.

I stare at my phone for a few more moments then unlock my screen. I debate calling or texting him but get momentarily distracted when I hear Monalisa’s loud ass.

“Are you serious?” she yells. Rufus and I both turn our heads. She’s actually standing, crouched over her husband. “Todd!” she screams at the top of her lungs.

“Monalisa,” Steve says sternly. His voice sounds as irritated as I feel. The look on his face as well as the others is telling. We are all sick of her berating this poor man.

“Stay out of this, Steve,” she snaps back.

“Sit down!” Todd says sternly, shocking everyone.Finally.Apparently, Monalisa is shocked too because she shuts the hell up and sits.

“That man has no peace,” Rufus says, then shakes his head.

Peace. Peace and Protection.

Beauden’s words echo in my head and a sense of dread blankets my entire body. I have never made a hasty decision. Every major event in my life required thought, planning, and processing. I don’t move without having all the answers for planned and unplanned contingencies. So far, this has worked for me in everything. Well, almost everything. I did all of that with Leo and it backfired. I still walked away with a broken heart.

Did I just make a mistake?

For the rest of the ride, I sit in contemplative silence, ignoring the chatter in the back and avoiding eye contact with Rufus. With his keen observation, he will surely see I’m an emotional mess. Tears are threatening to fall and I’m trying hard to will them back. I’m successful until the Sprinter pulls up to the Delta terminal.

Rufus parks in front of the terminal door then exits. As he grabs the luggage from the back, my coworkers get out. However, I don’t move. I can’t. I have no desire to. My tears fall and I quickly wipe them away.

Focused on getting to their flights, my team grabs their luggage and jets off without any thought of me. The doors close and I hear Rufus closing the trunk. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see Rufus at my window. I take a deep breath to try and stop my tears then I turn to face him. He opens the door, takes me all in, then closes it.

I hear the trunk open and close again then moments later, Rufus is back in the driver’s seat. Without saying anything to me, he starts the engine and pulls off. I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know how this is going to turn out. Hell, I don’t even know what I’m going to say to him. I only know I can’t go back to Orlando. My heart won’t let me and for once, I’m following it.

About fifteen minutes into the ride, my cell starts to blow up. Steve calls twice then he texts.

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