Love the Way You Kiss Me (Love The Way Duet 1)

Zander

In the event a client requires more specialized care, alternate methods may be considered.

If I’d had more time, I would feel more prepared to bring her here. Instead, I ask her once again, “What is your signal?”

My sweet submissive, sweet but defiant, lifts three fingers directly over her lips, the tip of her middle finger resting on the tip of her nose. It would be an unnatural response to yawn, given how straight her hand is and exactly perpendicular to her lips. It is our signal. If she gives it, I will immediately interfere and the conversation will halt.

That is the best I can offer her for when the inevitable questions arise.

For her sake, and her beautiful and susceptible heart, I hope it doesn’t happen today. Because she’s done nothing but smile all morning when “brunch” was mentioned.

Relaxing the tension in my shoulders, I take a moment, praying that she’s right about her friends. I can’t control what they say or ask or do. So much is out of my control and I don’t fucking like it. If it weren’t for the fact that this is my job, I would order her not to attend. It’s far too soon in our relationship, but this is not my decision and I already knew our arrangement would come with difficulties.

The restaurant her friends chose is upscale and intimate. We climb the rustic paved steps to the upper floor and enter a sunny room bathed in the golden midmorning sun of autumn. From this height, the picture windows are filled with fall colors. The trees on the low mountain rises have leaves in deep red and orange, with flares of yellow. It’s a breathtaking view.

The sight reinforces the stark contrast of the worlds we live in. A woman like Ella will have brunch dates and parties to attend, rubbing elbows with the rich and making appearances for charity. She’s a high-profile client for a reason. Her wealth is something I’d nearly forgotten until this morning.

This is her reentering her life. The one she left behind. As I follow behind her, only escorting her for support, Damon texts that he’s arrived. He’s parked outside next to my BMW 760Li. We each have one assigned to us from The Firm. Black, steel paneled. The security vehicles are unnecessary for Ella, but she did enjoy the leather interior. The car, given to me for the job, is the only piece of luxury I could ever offer her. The thought hits me only now.

“Okay,” Ella says and breathes out slowly as she stares at a table in the corner, slipping her periwinkle wool coat down her shoulders. I help her to remove it, but she doesn’t let me take it. Instead she holds the folded garment a minute longer, as if it’s a shield. Two beautiful women are seated at the farthest end, both smiling and laughing, both oblivious for the moment that Ella’s here.

Ella’s chest rises and falls with anticipation and I offer her a slight push with my hand on the small of her back. That’s the only nudge I give her before her friends notice her and squeal in delight, the chairs pushing back and scraping against the farmhouse wood floors.

With Ella smiling broadly, and quickly joining the women, I text Damon back that we’re in location.

Ella described each of her friends to me on the way over. Kelly’s the shorter of the two—Asian, with shiny black hair that cascades down to her lower back and the kind of face that belongs in magazines. Her face lights up at the sight of Ella. Trish is tall and blond and wears a playful grin that wouldn’t be out of place at a club. From what Ella said, she spends a lot of time partying. Together they all look young, rich and carefree. For the moment.

These are her best friends. Her oldest friends. But I know how it is to go back to the world after you’ve been away, whether it’s mentally or physically. Overwhelming as fuck.

With some friends you can pick up where you left off easily, but even if they’re those kinds of friends, where Ella left off is … well, that’s where the problem lies. And why I stay on edge, even if her posture confirms that Ella is full of relief and joy.

“Hi,” Kelly says, and she wraps Ella into an instant hug. “We missed you.”

“We did. So damn much!” Trish wraps her arms around both of them, and Ella is almost lost in the embraces of her friends. “I’m so glad to see you, El. It’s been way too long.”

Ella clears her throat. “I know.”

Kelly blinks; it’s only a half second of a response before Kelly corrects her expression. That’s the only reaction to the changed sound of her voice.

“Sit, sit, sit,” she ushers Ella, pulling out a chair for her and Trish pipes up with, “I was just telling Kelly all about the new guy.” They move on without addressing it at all. The atmosphere is lighthearted, the women all smiling still.