Page 97 of Naughty Dreams
“You already know what he needs.” Her eyes sparkled. “I can hear it in the way he speaks to you. You haven’t known each other for long, but there’s an ease between you. It’s that way, when you’re lucky.”
“I’m pretty messed up right now, Gilda. I can’t really give him anything.”
“You’re letting him take care of you. For Roy, that’s enough. It’s everything. Learn to trust one another, and he’ll let you take care of him, too. I promise. If that’s something you want.”
She leaned in and touched DJ’s face. “I hope it will be.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
After the meal and pie, it was time to leave. Mike had checked out some local sights and run errands while they were occupied, but Roy sent him a text, letting him know they were ready. Then he touched base with Warren and G.
While he was doing that, Gilda surprised DJ with a parting gift. “When Roy told me you were coming, I put this together. I like to make jewelry, and he told me you wear bracelets.”
She brought it out of her craft room and extended it in cupped open palms so DJ could see the details. Like most of his bracelets, the beads and charms were threaded on a braided pull cord, so it could be adjusted to his wrist size.
He saw musical notes, guitars, and a drum set. The charms also included a silver bull with muscular shoulders and slim hips. Emerald green and silver beads coated with diamond dust sparkled between the charms.
“Roy was born at 11:58pm on April 19,” Gilda told him. “It put him on the dividing line between Aries and Taurus, two signs with traits suited for law enforcement and protection. Aries is brave and a leader, whereas Taurus is practical, calm anddedicated.” She tapped the bull. “Aries is the ram, Taurus the bull. I liked the bull charm.”
“A bull is also hardheaded,” DJ noted.
A dimple appeared in her cheek. “The emerald and diamond are birth stones for those two signs. Since my boy is protecting you, it felt like reinforcement for that. They’re also spaced in that way I told you about.” She pointed. “See, every other day. Then every two days, every three. The silver beads are the days you make yourself live. The emerald is the day you give yourself to grieve.”
DJ slid it onto his wrist. The bull brushed the heel of his hand. “Thank you, Gilda. I really like it.”
As Roy rejoined them, Mike was coming down the driveway in the Suburban. “Ready to go?” Roy asked.
“Yeah. Mission accomplished.” DJ held up the bracelet. “Gildahasdecided she likes me better and is kicking you to the curb.”
Gilda shook her head at both of them and gave DJ a hug. “You’re welcome back anytime. Thank you for my beautiful bird bath. I love it.” Roy had spent a half hour patiently moving it to different parts of her yard until she was satisfied with its placement.
Turning to Roy, she wrapped her arms over his shoulders as much as she could, while he bent and hugged her close.
“I’ll be back for your surgery,” he promised.
“I told you Evelyn could take me.”
“I’d rather do it.”
She gave him a serious look. “I’d love to have you here, but if he’s not safe, don’t come. You keep him safe, Roy.”
“Yes, ma’am. If I don’t strangle him first.”
As the vehicle pulled away from the curb, Roy sat back and considered his pensive-looking charge. DJ was playing with the bracelet, tracing the bull charm with a finger. His curls hid his eyes.
“What kind of surgery is she having?”
“Just an age-related adjustment, to keep her eyes functioning at least as well as they are now. It’s supposed to be straightforward, but I want to be here. Where to next?”
The plan was for them to stay on the road for a couple weeks at least. Roy had planned out a variety of random stops if DJ stayed indifferent, but he hoped DJ would have an interest in choosing. When he waited out DJ’s protracted pause, his patience was rewarded.
“We’re not far from Charlotte, right?”
“About three hours. Not a bad drive.”
“That club we went to in Miami…I heard one of the patrons talking up an erotica shop near Charlotte. There’s this song that was playing around in my head.”
At the wordwas, his expression tightened. But he continued. “I had a stage performance and video idea for it, and thought I could check out some props. Get some ideas.”
