“We can sure try.” Her tone indicated that considering we both had a dangerous jobs the likelihood of that happening was slim. My gut kicked as I realized she was probably right … well, would be if I could get myself back on the force.
“I had Dom call your mom so she should be here shortly.” She looked up at Asa and some silent couple communication happened that I was completely left out of. I wasn’t used to Royal having secrets from me and I didn’t like it.
I glowered at them both and crossed my arms over my chest. “Someone want to let me in on why it’s such a big deal to have your boyfriend and mother in the same room, especially considering the circumstances?”
Royal went to shrug and then shouted out in pain. Asa put a hand on her shoulder and cut me a dark look. “Roslyn and I don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things where her relationship with Royal is concerned. I prefer not to be in the same room with her, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is getting Royal comfortable until I can take her home.” His amber eyes glinted with a danger I knew he had in him but I had never seen. “I can play nice when I have to, cop.”
Royal was looking at me with eyes that pleaded for me to just let it drop and because I loved her and she was hurt I decided to do just that.
I sighed and told her, “I met Saint. She seems very nice. I’m so happy you have a friend like that looking out for you.”
She gave me a loose grin and lifted up the back of Asa’s hand so that she could rub it against her bruised cheek. “You would like all the people I’ve let into my life, Dom. You just need to give them a chance.”
I looked between the two of them and nodded solemnly. “Point taken.”
I hung around until the doctor came in and offered her a mild painkiller for her injuries. They wanted her to stay for observation for the rest of the day, and it was clear Asa had things under control and that he was who she was going to turn to for comfort and help, as it should be. I offered to stay to be the buffer when Royal’s mom showed, but Asa told me he could handle it and I was inclined to believe him. There didn’t seem to be much this southern charmer couldn’t handle. I didn’t want to be impressed by a guy with a criminal record as long as my arm but I was, and there was no denying the proof that was right in front of me that he would do anything and everything for my best friend. He might have her heart, but it was obvious it was a fair trade because Royal held his just as tightly.
It wasn’t until I was in my truck and headed back towards my apartment building that I remembered I had somewhere else I was supposed to be that day. I tried to call Lando’s cell phone and it went right to voicemail. I thought about going by the clinic but didn’t want to interrupt him if he was with another client, so I called his cell back and left a rambling message about why I had missed my appointment. I didn’t want him to get any ideas that it had anything to do with what had gone down between us during my last session.
When I pulled into my spot in front of my building, the sleek sports car that was parked in the spot next to it immediately caught my eye. So did the tall man holding a cup of Starbucks in his hand as he got out and made his way up to the sidewalk where I stopped to look at him.
“What are you doing here, Orlando?” I sounded as surprised as I felt.
He stopped before stepping off the curb, so for once I had a height advantage on him. “I was worried when you missed your appointment. Your new trainer called a couple of times and it went to voicemail.”
I frowned and pulled out my phone. “I just called you and it went right to voicemail. Royal was in a car accident and she’s in the hospital. I turned my phone off when I was in her room.”
His expression pulled into one of instant concern. “Is she alright?”
“She’s been better. Do you make house calls when all your clients are no-shows?” I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to prod him, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I never could with him.
He muttered something under his breath and I saw his long fingers tense around the white cup in his hand. “I was worried. About you. About us … I don’t know. I’ve never stepped over the line with a client or a man like that before. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
His anxiousness was cute. He was cute, and I was really glad he was here. I never really had anyone else to lean on when shit went south. I was usually the pillar that held everyone else up.
“You and I are fine, Lando. In fact, you and I might be the only thing I can honestly say is A-OK at this point.” I reached out a hand and put it on the side of his neck. A thrill shot through me as his pulse immediately leapt up to kiss my fingertips.
“It’s been a pretty shitty day, so if you don’t have to go back to work, why don’t you come upstairs with me and we can get naked and do really fun and dirty things to one another?” I said it jokingly, but the way his light eyes sparked at the suggestion made me think there was nothing funny about the two of us getting naked together.
He hissed out a breath between his teeth and closed his eyes briefly. When they snapped open, I knew he was coming upstairs with me.
“I’ve got a few hours.”
I chuckled. “That might be enough time. Let’s find out.”
Chapter 8
Lando
It felt like the most natural thing in the world to follow those wide shoulders up the stairs and into the darkened apartment. There was no doubt, no second thoughts, and I found myself wishing I didn’t have to go back to work for my final client of the day.