Page 38 of Treasured
I put her on speaker and texted Mark, asking for protection for my mother’s house in San Francisco.
“Why?” Mom asked.
Mark texted a thumbs-up. I nodded and said, “I’ll explain later. But there is no redemption for what she did. I’m taking full control.”
“I’m on your side.”
“Thanks, Mom. You always were.” I said, massaging the back of my head. I’d been oblivious, too, and even now, I wanted to see the best in others. I’d taken Bruce to my meeting with her.
I finished my conversation and slammed my phone down. I was done, though I quickly read the email. I signed electronically and then stormed out of my office.
I headed toward the kitchen, and the sight of Mary’s back while she was on her phone relaxed me. She turned around, and her eyes widened. “Dwayne?” She then said into her phone. “I’ll check in later, Joseph. Bye.”
Her brother. Good. I kissed her, and her light touch sent my heart skipping.
I deepened the kiss and held her sexy body next to mine.
Damn, she still set me off. When the kiss ended, she smiled and asked, “What was that for?”
“Because you’re safe, and we’re going to be fine.”
She left my embrace and wiggled her hips as she headed to the door and pointed to my cameras. “Well, how does this security system work?”
Soon, I would have her again. Something about Mary made me hunger in a way no other woman had. For now, I showed her a panel, typed in a code, and then held out my arm to direct her fingers. “Put your hand here.”
“Okay.”
The system gave me a green light, so then I typed in a little more, and I told her, “Now, don’t move for your scan.”
She went rigid. “What’s the scan for?”
The green light appeared just when the doorbell rang. I quickly explained, “It’s measuring your shape and body to match your fingerprint.”
She hugged her waist like she was nervous, but then she pressed her fingers on the plate, and the door clicked open for her. “Okay, next time you can open the door much faster.”
We both headed out the front door as our groceries also appeared. I tapped her back and said, “Grab the kabobs so I can get the bags.”
We headed in and the doors locked behind us and we both headed to the kitchen. She held up the kabobs and said, “This smells good.”
I motioned to the plastic plates I’d unloaded, though I was sure my mom had sent better ones. “Let’s put the groceries away first.”
She helped me with the vegetables, but halfway through, her son cried. She said, “Bruce is awake.”
I nodded and continued putting the food away. “Good timing. He can join us for dinner.”
She let out a small sigh and said, “Right. Everything is fine.”
My skin prickled. Again, I thought there was something else. I didn’t ask, but she headed to the bedroom, and I said, “We’ll just sit tight and ignore the rest of the world until we’re safe.”
I finished with the food and set up our dinners. A nice evening alone together was just what we both needed, or at least I did. Unlike my brother, it seemed I had picked a good woman—if she would have me.
I thought I was falling harder for her than she was for me, so she needed time.
Chapter Fourteen
Mary
My son in my arms was the only reason I could breathe. If I didn’t have him, I would have never stepped on the plane.
