Page 52 of A Little Twist

“You said your mother was a singer?”

She nods. “She wanted to be the next Stevie Nicks. She loved her songs and her witchy style, but she never got anywhere with it.”

“What happened to her?”

A little sigh slips from her lips. “She died in a hotel on St Louis Street.”

“Jesus, I’m so sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Her chin lifts in a defensive way, and her narrow shoulders shrug. “She made her choices. They didn’t include me… or any of us.”

“Maybe she felt like she couldn’t come back empty-handed?”

“Or the things she left behind didn’t have value to her.”

“Her choices are her mistakes. They have nothing to do with you.” I want to touch her, help her see how much I see in her. “Your beautiful voice is your gift, like your future.”

Smoky gray-blue eyes meet mine, and her lips slide into a half-smile. “I sing for fun. As for my future, I want something that will pay the bills and not break my heart.”

“Sounds like everyone in the world.”

“Not everyone.”

Reaching out, I clasp her hand, threading our fingers and leading her downstairs with a gentle tug. I feel like I understand her more now than I’ve ever understood anyone in my life. I’ve been disappointed by that person. The only difference was, she wasn’t my mother.

When we reach the first floor, I look down at the fingers of her left hand tangled in mine. I imagine our lives entwined. I imagine us married. A secure future for her, where no one is left behind and no hearts are broken.

My eyes meet hers, and she’s so open. Everything I said last night about waiting is out the window. I want to lift her in my arms, carry her out the door and up the stairs to her apartment. I want to spend the night with her in my arms, but is it too much? Too fast?

She looks down at our hands. “I appreciate you wanting to shield me from Drake.”

“He’s a pompous asshole.” I pull her closer.

As much as I want more, I’d settle for another kiss, even if it damn near kills me every time I have to pull away from her.

She doesn’t resist. “I guess if we’re going to be engaged, we should know more about each other.”

“As much as makes sense for people in our position.”

“What’s our position?” Her dark head tilts to the side, and my fingers curl wanting to thread in her silky hair.

“We got engaged after only a month. Obviously, we have great sexual chemistry.”

“Obviously?” Amusement lines her face in a way that has my dick hardening in my pants. “Is that the only reason people get engaged after a month?”

“The only one I can think of.” My hand slides to her waist, pulling her to me. “Unless a green card is involved.”

“We’re both citizens…”

I love a woman who isn’t afraid to play, and playing with her is the only thing on my mind right now. “Everyone’s going to assume we have crazy sex.”

“Do we?” It’s a hot exhale on her lips, and fuck me, I’m gone.

I gaze intently into her eyes. I don’t ever want to do anything with her unless she’s 100 percent onboard. No teasing. No games.

“Want to find out?”

Say yes. Say yes.

---