His Ward (6 page)

She snorted. “Says the man whose six-pack has a six-pack.

“You exaggerate.” He worked out daily, more for the stress relief than anything else, but he wasn’t in cover-model shape.

“Are you kidding me? When we went to the Caribbean this summer to check out that resort, I was so tempted to try to crack a coconut on your stomach.”

He winced at the mere thought. “I’m truly pleased you didn’t attempt that. It would have hurt.”

“I think it would have worked.”

“I think you’re insane.” He sat back in his chair and smiled. Although it had been a business trip, he’d had a lot of fun, well, as much fun as one could have during a takeover. Having Tionne there had livened things up, though. It wasn’t just faceless strangers and expense reports. Misha had actually seen some of the resort and done things that normal people did while on that island. He’d felt almost human for a few days, and it was all because of her. Tionne brought that side out in him, but she always had. “We should make plans to go again. Not for work this time, maybe just a weekend or two. Nicholi can bring whoever he’s seeing at the moment as well, and we will make a thing of it.”

To his surprise, Tionne laughed.

“What?”

“First, let’s not pretend you’re going to take a vacation anytime soon. You can barely take a day off.”

Misha turned his hands palm out and looked around. “I’m here, aren’t I?” From the way she told it, all he did was work.

“Barely. Secondly, if you’re inviting Nicholi and his whoever, you might want to think of inviting a date for yourself. It’s no fun being a third wheel. Trust me, I should know.”

Misha frowned, perplexed. “When have you ever been a third wheel?”

“Uh, duh, since the moment you start dragging me all over the country with you and Nicholi.”

That didn’t count. It wasn’t as if he were going to just leave her behind. Anything could have happened to her while he was gone. “We’re a tricycle. A third wheel is a necessity; otherwise, you’d be a plain boring bike, and who wants that.”

“Not you, apparently.”

“Apparently. Besides, why would I be a third wheel if I have you? That would put us in the quad category, would it not?”

“You’re assuming I won’t want to invite my own special someone.”

The conversation immediately ceased being fun. Tionne and special someone were words that didn’t go together. “Are you saying that the man who put his hands on you was your plus one?”

“No. That’s over and done with.”

In ways she wasn’t even aware of. “Then how many men are you seeing right now?”

Tionne sat up in her chair. “The only man I’m seeing right now is the crazy one in front of me, but who knows who I’ll be seeing in a few months if we actually go on the trip. I do date, you know.”

Misha crossed his arms over his chest. “No, I actually don’t know. Why don’t you tell me more about this newfound social life you have?”

“There’s nothing new about it. I’ve been dating since I was sixteen. You should know, you went on my first date with me.”

He didn’t need to be reminded of that horrible experience. “You were sixteen. There was no way in the world I was going to allow you to go out unchaperoned.”

“And every date thereafter until I went away to college.”

He frowned as he did a quick mental rewind. “I don’t recall there being that many more dates.”

“I can’t imagine why, can you? Who in his right mind would want to go out with a girl, her guardian, his cousin, and their security detail?”

Misha smiled at the memory. “Ahhh…the good old days.”

She shook her head as she picked up her water glass and took a sip. “Something about you is just not right.”

“If you’d let me chaperon your dates now, things like what occurred last night wouldn’t have happened.”

Tionne held her hands out as if she were weighing the pros and cons. “Bad date that ended in a scratch on my back, or bad date that ends with you and your goons standing behind me with your hand on your gun as the guy nervously tries to lean in and kiss me good night.”

She’d be lucky if he only put his hand on the gun and not around anyone’s neck. “Kissing on the first date is unladylike.”

“I’m willing to bet you do more than kiss on a first date.”

“I’m not a lady, and I don’t date.”

“Lies.”

“I see women from time to time when the need arises.”

“You’re not the only one with needs Mish.”

This conversation just kept getting worse and worse. “I better be the only one acting out on them.”

“So you’re allowed to be lustful, and I’m supposed stay up in my tower pure and chaste.”

“I know you’re being sarcastic, but I don’t have a problem with this plan at all.” In fact it suited him just fine, because the very thought of Tionne being intimate with another man made bile rise in his throat.

“Of course,
you
don’t.”

“It’s different for a man than it is for a woman.” Even he didn’t believe that lie, but he was going to try to sell it.

“No, it isn’t.” Tionne shook her head, obviously not buying his bull. “A woman has needs just like a man does.”

“I’m not talking about needs.” He tiptoed the other way, still intent on having his cake and eating it too. “Everything on God’s green earth has a need; that’s not just a human thing.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her voice took on a mocking tone. “Then what’s different?”

“Men need a place to have sex; women need a reason,” Misha said off the cuff, silently congratulating himself for delivering that line without flinching.

From the look that appeared on Tionne’s face, he could see he’d failed. “That’s sexist.”

“It doesn’t make it less true. You’re more than a place. You’re a reason. You should wait to give yourself to someone who knows the difference.”

“And if that means I’m alone forever?”

“You’ll get a lot of reading done.”

“That sounds fun,” she said, her voice thick with sarcasm.

“There are some really great books out there.”

“Books can’t keep me warm at night.”

“If you buy enough of them, they can. Just pile them on the bed and climb under them.”

“Great idea, thanks, I’ll do that.”

“Wonderful.” Misha looked down at his watch. “We still have an hour or so to spare before my meeting. Plenty of time to pick up a dress.”

“Oh.” Tionne waggled her eyebrows. “Finally getting in touch with your feminine side. Sexy.”

“Not a dress for me, but for you. You do realize the benefit is next weekend, right? I’m willing to bet you haven’t picked out a dress yet.” The formal dinner was an annual event that raised money for the people of Bosnia that he’d started five years ago in honor of his deceased parents. The benefit was a special event for all of them, but knowing Tionne as he did, even though she enjoyed the benefit and even went out of her way to help out the coordinator in every way possible, he was willing to bet she was probably still waffling on what to wear.

“Why do you always assume the worst?”

He arched an eyebrow. That wasn’t a yes. “Well, have you?”

She held strong for a second, then wavered with a sheepish smile. “I have them narrowed down to my favorite two. You know I hate shopping for these things. Hell, shopping in general. There should be someone who does that. An old white chick with a magic wand, who can bippity boppity boo me.”

“Why do you make this so complicated? Just buy both.”

“That would be a waste.”

“A beautiful dress is never a waste, but if you want a second opinion, I’ll gladly go with you to look at them.”

“You hate shopping.”

That had nothing to do with anything. “I enjoy spending time with you.”

“We can do that without going to the store. Besides, Kristyn said she’d go with me to pick something out.” Tionne leaned in closer. “Though, between me, you, and the birds, I think she’s really just trying to make sure I don’t outshine her.”

Misha grimaced. The mere mention of Tionne’s coworker and so-called friend brought a frown to his face. “I don’t suppose she actually bought a ticket.”

Tionne nibbled her bottom lip. “Well…she’s kind of my plus one.”

“That’s what I thought. Freeloading.” And Tionne was too sweet to see it.

“You really don’t like her, do you?”

That was a very big understatement. “Not even a little bit.”

“Why?” She placed her hand over his. “You barely even know her.”

The unexpected touch surprised him, and it took him a second to answer her. “I know enough.”

“Fine,” she said, pulling back. “But it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to like her. She’s my friend, not yours. If her coming to the benefit is such a big deal, then I’ll tell her she can’t come, but I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to go back on my word.”

He missed her touch instantly. “You’re a much better friend to her than she is to you.”

“I don’t keep tally on things like that.”

“I do, and trust me, you could do better.”

“You feel that way about everyone in my life.”

Misha grunted. “That doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

“Doesn’t mean you’re right either.”

“In this case. Trust me when I say I am.” He raised his hand and signaled to the waiter for their check. “Since we’re obviously not going to eat, or shop, how about we go for a walk.”

“You really are trying to avoid work today, aren’t you?”

“Just for a little longer.” By then, everything would be cleared up, and they could go back to life as he knew it. “Care to be my enabler?”

“It’s a hard job, but someone has to do it.”

So was looking after her, but she was his, and he would take care of her for as long as he was able, whether she liked it or not.

* * * *

“I waited all night to hear back from you.” Tionne looked up from the coffee she was nursing and over at her friend Kristyn, who was standing in the doorway of the break room. The statuesque redhead teasingly moved her perfectly arched eyebrows up and down as she walked closer to Tionne. “Should I take that as a good sign?”

“Um…no.” Tionne snorted. “The exact opposite.”

“Nooo!” Kristyn cried out in mock despair. “Tell me it isn’t so.”

“It’s very much so.”

Kristyn groaned. “You’re killing me, kid. Killing me.”

“What can I say? Another one bites the dust.”

“But Troy had promise. I’m willing to bet you didn’t give him a fair enough chance.”

That was a matter of opinion, and Kristyn was welcome to hers, but Tionne knew the truth. Even before the nail incident, Tionne had already pretty much made up her mind. “Five dates was more than fair. It just didn’t work out. He was too”—she grimaced as she tried to think of the right word—“grabby.”

“What do you expect? Five dates of heavy petting with no payoff would make anyone grabby.”

Tionne was happy the break room was empty with as much sharing as Kristyn was doing. “The petting didn’t come until date four, thank you very much.”

“Which is why he probably assumed he was getting the prize on date five.”

“I’m the prize,” Tionne said with all seriousness. “Not what’s between my legs.”

Her “I am woman”
moment was lost on Kristyn, who let out a derisive snort. “Sounds like you’ve been talking to Misha again.”

Tionne smiled at the mere mention of his name. “So what if I have?”

“His old-world beliefs are going to make you an old maid.”

“Right, because your new-world beliefs have netted you a hubby and a happily ever after.” Even though there was no love lost between Misha and Kristyn, Tionne still didn’t like to hear her friend speak dismissively about him. As far as Tionne was concerned, she could talk bad about him until her jaw went numb, but no one else could. “Yeah, I must have missed that wedded bliss.”

“You don’t have to be so defensive. I’m just looking out for you.”

Tionne was getting tired of that tune. “You and everyone else.”

“Look”—Kristyn leaned in closer and lowered her voice—“since I’ve known you, you’ve gone on lots of dates, but none of your dates have gotten on you.”

“And what’s your point?”

“You’re too beautiful to be sitting on the sidelines hoping one day Misha is going to put a ring on it.”

“I’m not holding out for a marriage proposal.” She was just holding out for Misha, but Tionne knew better than to say that to Kristyn, because the other woman would never understand. She wasn’t trying to land Misha. She was in love with him. And that hadn’t changed, no matter how many dates she’d gone on.

Kristyn sat up. “Then what are you waiting for?”

“What makes you think I’m waiting for something?”

“Because you’re not trying to take the next step. I mean, seriously, it’s not normal to be your age and a virgin.”

Maybe it wasn’t normal for Kristyn, but Tionne didn’t have a single problem with still having her cherry at the ripe old age of twenty-four. “I’m not going to have sex just because you want me to. And I’m sure not going to have it because Troy bought me dinner a couple of times.”

“Don’t get so defensive. I’d hate for you to let Troy slip away because of your little commitment phobia.”

“Don’t get it twisted. Troy wasn’t a catch.” The only reason she’d defended him to Misha was because she didn’t want Troy to end up six feet under. “If you think he’s so great, you sleep with him.”

“I would never try to step on your toes.”

“You’re not. Trust”—Tionne paused long enough in the middle of speaking to smile at another coworker who came into the room—“me on that. Troy and I—”

“Oh, so you’re the one with the four-one-one,” the portly Asian man said as he opened the cabinet. “I was wondering who was in the know.”

“The know about what, Ando?” Tionne frowned in confusion.

“About why Troy was handed his walking papers. I’m thinking it had to be something serious, because he was flanked by security as he picked up his stuff, but not just any security. They had the head honcho do it.”

“Nicholi?” All the blood drained from Tionne’s face.
No, he wouldn’t.

“Yep, yep. Dude must be having the worse day ever, because not only did he get canned, he looked like he found himself on the wrong end of someone’s fist.”