Page 14 of The Saint

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

“I knew you would have just shut it down.”

“And you’d be right.”

“Just because you’re sticking your dick in one woman doesn’t mean the rest of us have to do the same.” He lit up a cigar and took a couple puffs to get it going. “So, how’s she doing?”

“A lot better.” With every passing day, a little more color returned to her face. “I’m going by Adrien’s now to pick up the rest of her stuff.”

“Finally, some fucking closure.”

“She quit the firm.”

“Why?”

“Because I asked her to.”

“She seems like someone who would put up a fight about that.”

“Oh, she did.” I grinned.

“Why do you care if she works or not?”

“Because she’s doing it for a paycheck, not because she’s passionate about it. Why does she need money when I can buy her anything she fucking wants?” I took one of the cigars off the table and lit up. “Now she goes to the bookstore and reads in cafés. She works out, bakes shit.”

“Why does she need to work out?”

“For her health, asshole. People die of heart attacks in their thirties. It’s not that rare.” It wasn’t because I thought she needed to lose weight or have a tighter ass. I was fucking obsessed with her body.

“Is that why you don’t order steak anymore?” he teased.

“As a matter of fact…”

“Turning into an old man.”

“Just trying to live to be an old man someday.”

He smiled before he puffed on the cigar again. “I’m glad she’s out and about instead of hiding behind a locked door.”

“Me too,” I said. “The conversation got a bit heated, but it ended on a high note.”

“If she’s a prideful woman who wants to work, let her. Kinda sexy, if you ask me.”

“She didn’t work with Adrien, so when he fucked around, she felt destitute. Doesn’t want to feel that way again.”

“She could have taken a lot more than half if she wanted to.”

“I told her that.”

“But she’s got too much pride—one of the reasons I like her.”

“I just didn’t appreciate being compared to him.”

His eyes shifted back and forth in confusion. “I don’t think she did. She just wants to be more independent after what happened to her. Pretty reasonable. I think you’re just pissed off because you weren’t getting your way.”

“She doesn’twantto work. And Iwantto take care of her. I know I made the right decision because she’s been happier than a little bird at the first sight of spring. Doing what she wants when she wants.”

He pulled the smoke into his mouth then released it as a cloud out of his nostrils.

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