Page 35 of Salvation

I smirk back. “Yeah, well Gabrial doesn’t scare me. He does, however, piss me off. So does Luke.”

She sighs and says, “Yeah, but he’s dreamy. They both are. You have two strong and determined men who love you and want to protect you.”

Sighing because she’s right, I nod in agreement. “Yeah, they are that. But also red-assing. Both are extremely red-assing.”

She shrugs. “They love you and want you safe. I think it’s romantic…” Her eyes meet mine and I can’t understand the emotion in them. She mutters, “You have two gorgeous men who would do anything for you, Hope. They’d both do anything to protect you… you’re really lucky.”

I instantly feel chagrined. I nod. “I know. Both Gabrial and Luke do whatever they can to keep me sheltered and protected. But they both also seem to forget that I’m a grown woman and more than capable of taking care of myself… But I love them both.”

She looks at me and I can’t help but notice her eyes are that of a much older woman. Her body is only nineteen, but her eyes are worlds older. She says softly, “You really do, don’t you? You love them both?”

Biting my lip, I sit on the edge of my desk. Then, nodding, I answer her. Though I’m not really certain she needs an answer. “I do. I love them both. So much.

“It’s almost too much to deal with.”

She smiles at me sadly. “I’d imagine it would be.” Then, she slowly turns and walks out of my office.

My phone chimes on my desk as a text comes in and I instantly grab it. I see the missed calls from Luke from earlier and notice I have two new texts as well.

Sighing, I open them. The first is from Luke asking me to call him. It’s from over an hour ago. The one that just came through is also from him. He simply wrote.

“Luke

Still mad? Pick you up tonight at 7?

Your choice for what we do.”

With a smile, I punch out a reply,

“Hope

Yes, I’m still mad, but I’ll get over it.

Whatever I want to do? That could be dangerous.

You sure you’re up for that?”

I hit “Send” and grin as I await his reply.

It comes through instantly.

“Luke

I’m up for anything as long as it’s with you.

Be there at 7.”

He doesn’t need a reply. I know he’ll be here shortly before 7PM and he really will do whatever I want to do.

* * *

I spendthe rest of the afternoon in my office going through the rest of the mail from earlier and sending out tax forms for the businesses wanting to donate to the shelter.

Maia popped into my office around five and said she was locking the door and would be heading into the back to get Michele and help prepare dinner for the women and children. She invited me to join them all, but I told her I had plans with Luke. She grinned as she said, “Lucky woman. Gabrial last night. Luke tonight. You’re doing something right. I’d love to have one man who cared for me like they both care for you.” I can tell by her tone that she isn’t judging.

Nodding, I glance over at her, allowing myself to really see her. She’s really beautiful and so young. “You’ll get your prince, girl. Just wait. When you’re not looking, there he’ll be.”

She chuckles and says, “Yeah, I thought I had that once.” Her face clouds over and she says, “I don’t need a prince. I’d rather a beast that treats me like a princess over a prince that doesn’t any day.”

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