Page 10 of Unbreakable Connection (Connections Duet)

“What do you need?”

“We may have a new job, but let’s keep it on the down low until I know more. So, I want you to pull up the specs on Ellen’s clinic and around her house for now. I want all the perimeters secured and keep them both under close monitoring until I say otherwise.”

“What about the alarms you had installed on the property?”

“Get them up and online immediately. I already had one breach today and will not risk another.”

“What the fuck, Edric? With you there? Whoever it was must have some set of balls to risk your fury.”You can say that again, but I don’t think she’s afraid of my wrath since she gives it back to me in spades.

“I have to run, but I will contact you soon. But, for now, I want you to put out some feelers on a possible turf war happening around the clinic and the city's outskirts.”

“Not possible; we would have heard something,” said Patch.

“My thinking as well, but still, check it out and get back to me. I want guards on Kyle and monitor the comings and goings of the staff.”

“You got it, boss. Give me an hour.”

“Take the rest of the night, and do not leave one stone unturned.” I held my phone to my forehead and willed the migraine that was coming on to fuck off. Patch is very good at what he does, and if there’s danger lurking about, he will find it. After I heard the hairdryer turn on, I had just finished pouring the sauce onto the pasta, adding some fresh parmesan cheese she had grated in a bowl. Everything seemed to be bottled fresh and enough for several meals. A few minutes later, and before Icould call for her, Ellen came out of her room looking clean of makeup with her hair down and brushed so straight it looked shiny. She was breathtaking and all mine; I had to convince her that what we have together is real and that we can have an amazing life together if given a chance.

“This smells delicious,” she inhaled over the pot. “Thank you. I’m starving, and I can’t remember the last time I sat down for a real home-cooked meal,” I said nothing, biting my tongue so I wouldn’t press her for more information on why she wasn’t eating properly. I shook off what was rattling me and generously dished out two large portions of pasta for us, handing her one plate and placing the other on the table. I got the bread out of the oven and added that to our table. She poured the wine, and I took my seat. She twirled a considerable amount of pasta onto her fork and savored the taste with pleasurable moans and appreciation.

“Thank you. It smells great and tastes even better.”

“You’re welcome, but it was pretty easy since you had everything prepared for cooking.”

“I don’t cook and would starve if it wasn’t for Antonia; she’s the grandmother of my nurse Nai, who works with me at the clinic. Antonia always delivers huge baskets of bottled sauces, pasta, and chocolate.”

“And the wine?” I questioned.

“Yes, we can’t forget about the wine from their winery. They say it’s on a smaller scale, but who cares? It’s a great vintage, and I have a few cases in the basement. Kyle had built some shelves for me, so it’s like a mini wine cellar down there.” I was thankful she was talking and looked a lot happier since she woke up. I listened intently to every word she said. We finished our meals and filled our wine glasses again before she asked if we could sit on the couch to talk. My stomach knotted again, but I maintained my composure to hear what Ellen wanted to tell me.

“Come here, sweetheart,” I asked with my arms wide open for Ellen to settle in between. Instead, she paused and allowed me to hold her with my arms caging around her as close as possible. “Talk to me; it can’t be that bad,” I said, and then she sighed.

“Edric, showing up here has knocked me off my steady footing, and what followed has my mind spinning faster than ever. I’m confused about us, and since we’ve had a few months apart, it is reason enough for my conflicted feelings.”

I moved to turn her around but didn’t let her go. I wasn’t going to give Ellen any room to flee my reach. “Let me begin by apologizing for my behavior on our last call. But, in my defense, all I could say was that my reaction to you canceling our date was that I was missing you so much already, and when it didn’t happen, it felt like a punch to my stomach. I felt dejected, and for a brief moment, I feared you may have changed your mind about us, which hurt.”

“How could you believe that? Did I ever give you a reason to doubt me?”

“No, but if you recall, I don’t do relationships and have no idea how to behave in one.”

“Thank you for your honesty,” she said, kissing me. “You said you wouldn’t pressure me into anything I wasn’t ready for, but telling me that you love me is pressure. First, the words made me happy; then they scared me of what they could mean.”

“Ellen, I’ve never met anyone like you, and the more time I spend with you, the more I want to know. I know the cynic in you is struggling, but you don’t have to because I would not say the words without putting my heart behind them. I promise you they are the truth.” She let out what sounded like a relieved sigh and then squeezed me tighter around my waist. I kissed the top of her head and kept on talking.

“You are precious to me, and I love you. You don’t have to say the words, at least not right now, but something tells meyour feelings for me run deeper than you are willing to admit. However, I will wait, and please know I wait for no one but will make an exception for you.”

“Edric, what if it takes me longer than you’re willing to wait? Will you leave me?”

“Baby, there is no scenario where I leave you, and we part our separate ways, so please put that thought out of your mind. Listen, I know we have a lot to discuss and a mountain of issues to sort out, but can we take the rest of tonight to be together? And if you haven’t noticed, I have the worst case of jet lag and could sleep too.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, I have been known to tire occasionally.”

“You could have fooled me since my vagina is still feeling the aftershocks from your energy.”

“What can I say? The minute I saw you, the need to be inside you was too tempting to ignore. I would take jet lag any time or day because you are worth it. I’ve missed you so much, and I need you close. Is that okay?” She softened under my words and then leaned in to kiss me back.

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