“Would you give me that freedom if it meant giving me up, Rubin?” she asked.
“If that was what you wanted and I was capable. It would hurt like hell, Jonquille, but you deserve to be happy. If that is what it takes to make you happy, I’ll give that to you.” He answered without hesitation.
Her heart lurched. That was the kind of man he was. Purposeful. No-nonsense. Looking her straight in the eye. Refusing to pull out of her mind so she could see what was in his heart. He would give that to her. It might break his heart, but he would do it for her. How could a woman not fall hard for him? Her lashes fluttered. She tried not to move when she wanted to fling herself into his arms.
“You make me want to kiss you, Rubin, and if I move, my head will fall off. Literally. Fall off. Diego will like that, so I’m not moving. I don’t want him playing some weird Diego game with my head.”
“I don’t know why you think I’d do that, although you’d look pretty cute being used as a bowling ball. All sparkles flying down the lane. Maybe lighting up when you hit the pins.”
“See? I told you. Don’t let your brother near my head,” Jonquille cautioned.
“I’m going to take some of the pain away, sweetheart,” Rubin said. “Lie still and forget about my brother. If he gets out of line, Nonny’s here. She’ll make him behave.”
“I had no idea Diego ever misbehaved,” Nonny said. “He’s always been such a quiet boy. He just eats, cleans the kitchen for me and goes off into the swamp.”
“Quiet?” Rubin glanced over his shoulder at his brother. “Nonny, Diego never stops talking. He wants his way in all things.”
Nonny looked taken aback. “Is that true?”
Diego shrugged with a casual roll of his wide shoulders. “That may be the truth, but it’s only because Rubin doesn’t pay any attention to his security, Nonny. I have to watch over him. If he’d been doing what he was supposed to do, he wouldn’t have gotten shot.”
“I did notice everyone was extremely upset, Rubin,” Nonny said.
“They’d be extremely upset if Diego had been shot, don’t you think?” Rubin asked.
“Of course.”
“He was about to get shot. He was covering some soldiers, helping them to get out of the line of fire, and someone turned a weapon in his direction.”
Nonny regarded Rubin and Diego soberly. “My boys. Always gettin’ shot at. I don’ suppose there will come a time when you’re safe and can just be home with your loved ones. I’m proud of you takin’ care of one another. And your woman for takin’ care of you, Rubin. She’s one that will stand with you through anythin’ life is going to throw at you.”
“I think you’re right, Nonny.” Rubin kissed Jonquille’s knuckles again. “I plan on keeping her. Marrying her the minute I can.”
Nonny nodded. “Nice to know you have the sense the good God gave you. Diego, I’m not gettin’ any younger.”
Diego stiffened. “Grandmère?”
“I want to see you settled before I go. No more of this runnin’ around like you do. I see you flirtin’ with all the ladies, but nothin’ comin’ of it. You need to find the right one here fairly soon.”
Both men looked up quickly. “What does that mean, Nonny?” Rubin demanded. “You aren’t feeling ill, are you?”
“No, no. I’m fit as a fiddle. Just want this boy to get a move on. Want to see more grandbabies.”
“You don’t think Wyatt and Trap have provided enough? Good grief. Any more and we’ll be overrun with children,” Diego said. “Little vipers running around sinking their teeth into our ankles.”
“Pardon me?” Nonny asked with great dignity.
Diego paled beneath his olive skin. “You know how children go through that teething phase and want to bite your ankle. That’s what I was referring to.” He slid off the bed. “I think it best if I leave you now, Jonquille. You’re in good hands. I’m starving and the smell of food is getting to me. If I don’t eat soon, Mordichai and Malichai are going to eat everything before I get into the kitchen.”
“I think you’re slinking off,” Rubin observed. “A cowardly retreat.”
Jonquille loved listening to the brothers and the way they gave each other a bad time. Usually, they did so telepathically, but she knew they were bantering back and forth with each other aloud for Nonny’s sake.
“Retreat or not, at least I’m going to get decent food that I didn’t cook myself,” Diego declared. He bent his head and brushed a kiss over Jonquille’s cheek. “You get better fast. I think with Nonny and Rubin looking after you, you’ll be up giving us trouble in no time.”
She gave him a faint smile. Aside from Rubin, Diego was her favorite person in the entire world. Rubin gave her a little grin. You don’t know too many others very well.