Page 74

I nearly throw up the tofu she made me eat last night.

“I'm good,” I rasp, trying to keep the non-food food down. “Just the milk and honey will be great.”

I mirror her wide smile. Yes, she's annoying with the hovering, but seeing her like this, clean and happy, my heart is so full I almost think it could burst.

Until…

“Have you considered your womanly health?”

“Huh?” This is not happening.

“At the center, they've taught us to take care of every inch of our bodies. Including sexual health.”

“Mom, not the time.”

She shakes her head, her limp, mousy hair swishing from one shoulder to the other.

“No, the director says we must treat our bodies as a temple. We've abused our bodies—”

I hold up a hand, stopping her. “We?”

Her eyes scan the area like she’s searching for answers. It dawns on me then that she doesn't mean anything by it; she’s just a little confused.

“Mom.” I sit up, wrapping my forearms around my shins. The two guys make some lame excuse to step out of hearing distance. I make a mental note to hug them for that later. I pat the end of the lounge chair, urging Mom to sit. “I didn’t get to this role by sleeping my way to the top.”

A blank stare is her only response. Okay, different angle, then.

“You know I went to law school, right? You remember that part.”

She nods.

“You know the president, Kyle Birmingham?”

She shakes her head.

“Okay, well, he's the president, and I went to school with him. It's how I'm the VP now. Nothing shady or illegal going on for me to be in this role.”

“Ma'am.” I turn my attention to Champ, who's walking with a purpose from the massive house we rented out. “The call you’ve been waiting on is on hold.”

Normally my admin or secretary or someone else would let me know about phone calls, not an agent, but these days security is tight. We can't let anyone outside of the people we trust know what I'm doing behind the scenes. So only me, T, Trey and Champ. Not even Taeler knows what's really going on. Her only focus is that I've finagled it for her to study in Oxford this next semester instead of being on thewhyI went to so much effort to get her accepted with zero notice. Hopefully the fruit basket I sent the prime minister was enough of a thank you.

“Oh, and Mom.” Her light eyes turn up to mine. “If you ever see the president, Kyle Birmingham, or if anyone comes to the rehab facility looking for you who’s not me or one of these guys standing around me… I want you to run. Slip away and run as fast as you can.”

With a confused look, she nods, nibbling on her lower lip. “Thanks.” I pat her still too thin thigh and stand with a groan.

“If your muscles ache, I can get some essential oils…”

I stride away before she's done explaining the concoction of pricy oils she’ll make me slather on later. I shiver. As long as she doesn't try to rub it on herself. Now, Trey on the other hand….

I sneak a glance over my shoulder and smile.

“Do I even want to know?” Trey asks.

I shake my head.

“At least we know your mom talking about sexual health is one quick way to make a hard-on vanish.”

A snort escapes as I snag the phone from Champ's outstretched hand and hold it to my ear. “This is Randi.”