I knew exactly what she meant because I had the same thought about her.
And I would make damn sure those tears were replaced with a smile.
* * *
The next morning, I woke to find her in the k
itchen, cooking breakfast, a smile on her face. I moved into her and slid my arms around her waist. After I’d kissed her, I said, “It’s good to see a smile on your face, but I’m not convinced. You don’t need to put on a happy face around me, sweetheart.”
She was silent for a minute. “I’m not trying to fake it, but if I spend my days wallowing in my unhappiness, I’ll feel like shit. I’m working through my feelings but I’m not going to do that with constant tears. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, but when you’re feeling overwhelmed, you come to me. I’ll work through whatever shit you need to work through with you,” I said firmly.
She clasped her hands around my neck and pulled my face down towards her so she could kiss me. When she’d finished, she said, “I’m not used to having someone to count on like you, Griff. My natural reaction is to deal with stuff on my own, but I’ll try not to do that. I just need you to know it might take some time for me to get used to it, okay?”
As usual, her raw honesty hit me in the chest.
This is a woman I can trust.
The thought flashed through my mind, unexpectedly, but clear as day.
Fuck.
I’d never expected to believe in a woman again, but I found myself unable to discount this truth. Sophia was a woman I could put my faith in. It would take me time, and I would do it slowly, but I knew without an ounce of doubt that she was a woman I could build a life with.
“We’ve got all the time in the world, baby,” I finally said.
The smile she gave me in return was the kind of smile I would do anything to earn.
She pointed at me. “I’m going to finish making breakfast for you so you need to sit at the table and wait.”
I shook my head. “No, Sophia, you need to get your ass into the bedroom and get naked for me. Breakfast can wait,” I growled.
Her eyes widened, and I watched as heat flared in them. A moment later, she did as I’d said, and as I took in the sight of her discarding her t-shirt while she walked, I decided that lunch could also wait. Sophia would be busy for the rest of the fucking day.
* * *
My phone rang at six the next morning. It was the call I’d been waiting for, but hoping would never come.
“Danny,” I said, noting his name on my screen.
“Today’s the day, Michael. There will be a media conference and the case will be announced. Your name won’t be revealed yet, but it won’t take long before it’s out there.”
Goddamn.
We’d just needed a few extra days for Bond to be taken care of. Maybe Blade could still pull it off, but with each passing day, I felt a level of concern I’d never felt before.
You’ve got something to lose now.
Sophia.
“Thanks for the head’s up,” I said and ended the call.
Sophia rolled to curl up next to me. She reached her arm across my chest and laid it there. “Everything okay?” she mumbled.
“Yeah, baby. Go back to sleep.”
I have to take care of this.