Page 19 of Loving Leila
Of course, once I start, I can’t stop. Tears of mirth are rolling down my face, and my two visitors are looking at me as if I’ve finally lost my mind. How to explain to them why I’m laughing without sounding like a total fruitcake is beyond me right this second, but what the hell.
I wave Sherri into the apartment and try to get a grip on myself. When I’m finally calm enough, I take a deep breath and hug her hello. I close my eyes and draw comfort from the tight squeeze she gives me in return. There’s the prick of those damn tears again. Yep, I’m a mess.
She lets me go and turns to give Kyle a hug too. “Heya, big guy. Wasn’t expecting to see you here today. You good?”
He hugs her back, replying, “Yeah, good thanks. I popped in to check on Leila with everything that happened, you know?”
She nods. “That’s sweet of you.” Turning to me, she continues, “Sorry to crash the party, sugar. I’m doing the same thing Kyle’s doing – checking in on you.”
“Thanks, Sher, I appreciate it. I’m okay. Other than this jumbo headache, I’m good. Nothing some pain pills and a nap won’t fix though.”
“Oh, before I forget,” she says, “I brought something.”
She hauls out a giant bar of my favorite chocolate. God, I love this woman. She knows me so well.
“You sure do know how to show a girl a good time, babe.” She laughs and shakes her head at me. “Grab a seat. I’ll go put the kettle on.”
Since I know my girl, she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. As much as I want to hear what Kyle came here to tell me, I may as well make peace with the fact that she’ll leave when she’s damn well good and ready.
Finally, half an hour later, Sherri scoots out of the armchair she’s sitting in and picks up her purse. “Well guys, it’s been fun, but I gotta run. I need to pick up the kids. Walk me out, Kyle?”
The man looks like he’d rather take a bullet to the gut right then, but all he says is, “Sure.”
At the door, Sherri gives me another one of her fabulous hugs, and I watch them head across the parking as Kyle escorts her to her car.
I have no doubt my friend is going to unleash the Spanish Inquisition on him. Rather him than me, that’s for sure.
Chapter 16
Kyle
My heart sinks all the way to my size-thirteen boots at Sherri’s words. It may have been coached as a question, but there’s only one answer to it, and that’s yes. As sweet and loving as she is, this woman is a bear when it comes to protecting her loved ones. And Leila is, without a doubt, that.
“Sure.” Not much else I can say.
I wait as patiently as I can while she and Leila say their goodbyes before walking Sherri to her car. As soon as we’re out of earshot, she looks up at me and hisses, “What the hell are you doing?”
Yep, there it is. Mama Bear’s done playing nice.
“If you mean why am I here, then I could say it’s none of your business. But since we both know you’d just kick my ass and make me tell you anyway, I may as well spare us both.”
“You’re such a perceptive man, you know that?”
I snort out a laugh and hug her to me. “This mission, saving Leila and the other passengers, made me realize some important things. There are things that are just between her and me, but I will say this. I’m here to tell Leila I love her and beg her to give me a second chance.”
“It’s about bloody time, you dimwit. Took you long enough.”
“Hey now.” I attempt to sound offended, but it’s ruined by my laughter.
“Well, then why are you still standing here jibber-jabbering? Go on, get now. Go get your girl.”
I tug her into my arms and give her a huge hug. Damn, I love this woman. Maverick sure was one luck son of a gun. Getting into the car, she fires it up and starts to pull out of the parking spot. She stops, rolls her window down, and says, “You know I love you, right?”
I feel a lump form in my throat. “Yes, ma’am, I sure do. You know I love you right back, right?”
She chuckles. “Yes, sir, I sure do. Now go. And Kyle, don’t fuck it up, okay?”
“Now you sound like Ace. He said exactly the same thing only a short while ago. What is it with you people?”
