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The other was Kima. I wanted the two to meet as soon as I could make arrangements. However, I hadn’t yet determined how much I would tell her about how she came to be a part of my life.
As I’d said to her the day she had the run-in with her mother, she read me well. I wouldn’t lie to her except by omission when it was absolutely necessary. Did this qualify?
My reason for not wanting to get into specifics was solely related to Saint. I’d told El it was best not to delve into what caused the animosity between her cousin and me, adding there was no reason for us to drudge up something that couldn’t be undone. She’d accepted what I said and informed me Saint had not elaborated on the reasons he and I would prefer not to discuss the other and, more, not be forced to be in the same room.
So how did I tell her about the vow I’d made to my mentor and Kima’s stepfather without her guessing it was what stood between Saint and me?
Maybe I was planning this with an overabundance of caution, but I’d do everything I could to keep El from feeling she was in the middle. She’d made it clear that if I forced her to choose, it wouldn’t be me she stayed with.
“What’s on for today?” she asked, coming into the kitchen, where I was preparing breakfast for us both. It was something we took turns doing, or at least that had been the plan. We’d said whoever was up first would handle it. There hadn’t been a day in the last fourteen when she got out of bed before me. She did make up for it in other ways, however. Mind-blowing sex, of course, but she also frequently prepared dinner.
“I should pay a visit to Shere, which brings up something else I’d like to discuss with you.”
She sat down and sipped the tea I placed in front of her. “Go on.”
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet. I work with her in Shere, but more, I’m her guardian of sorts.”
“I’d love to meet her.” Eliza rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand. “Would you like to invite her to dinner, or should we make arrangements to get together there?”
I leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“What was that for? Not that I’m complaining.” She raised her face to me, and I kissed her lips.
“You being you is all.”
She smiled. “So? When and where?”
“I’ll discuss it with Kima—her name, by the way—and ring you later this morning. I’d like her to visit Brighton, but I’ll let it be her decision. If she does come here, it might be best if she stayed the night.”
“Of course. Whatever’s best.”
I smiled and shook my head, which El noticed.
“There’s something you’re not saying.” She dug into the bowl of yogurt and fruit I’d also set in front of her.
“Kima was the daughter of a man I served under. Before he died, he asked me to watch over her and her mother.”
“You’re a good man, Levi.” She rested her spoon on her bowl and reached for my hand.
“She and I have a big-brother-little-sister relationship. She often reverts to a sixteen-year-old when she’s around me. I assure you, she is not that way in our professional environment.”
El kept her eyes on me and was smiling. I brought her hand to my lips and kissed the back of it. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Your dimples are especially deep when you talk about her. It’s the same when you mention Casa Melro. She’s obviously someone very important to you.”
“God, you make things easy on me.”
“What was our agreement? To know whatever we each do is with the best intentions for the other.”
I leaned forward, but not close enough to kiss her. “I love you, Eliza Fox.”
She studied me long enough that I worried I’d said the words too soon, but when she launched herself at me, nearly knocking the chair and both of us to the floor, covered my face with kisses, and between each one, said, “I love you, Levi,” I knew everything was right in my world. Missions, mafia syndicates, stubborn operatives, demanding coalition leaders, and things that happened years ago could all be damned. Eliza loved me and I loved her. What else mattered?
She settled herself on my lap with her arms around my neck. “You know, I’ve never said those words before. Not romantically, anyway.”
“Neither have I.”
“Truly?” she asked. “Wait, I wasn’t suggesting you weren’t being honest. It was more of an exclamation. Like, ‘wow.’”