Page 81 of Anyone But You

“I won’t fight you, Gio, but I’m leaving you if your leg falls off. My ride-or-die days are over.”

He snorted, “Says the woman who paddled miles out to sea on a whim to save my life.”

“It wasn’t a whim. I told you that God spoke to me.”

“Now, if you would only listen to me like you listen to him, then we’d get along beautifully.”

I smiled genuinely. “I have two words for you, Gio. Coconut crab.”

He barked out a laugh and limped to a drawer where he retrieved a rolling pin. “If you think about it, we might not have been found had I not disobeyed your orders.”

I’ll let him have that.

“Can I have your opinion on something, Gio?”

The pleased look on his face tickled me. He loved being needed by me, and I loved needing him.

“How can I be of assistance?”

“I want to do something special for my friends for holding it down while I was gone. What should I do?”

Knox snorted and mumbled under his breath.

“Spending over $100,000 on your friends wasn’t enough?”

“Oh, wow. I didn’t know I was dealing with a brokie,” I teased.

“Cut your bullshit, woman.

“I will as soon as you give me an idea. I need to show my appreciation more.”

He tilted his head to the side as he contemplated and dusted the rolling pin with flour.

“You should redo your Miami trip and go all out. I’ll charter a jet, and the Knox Make-a-Wish Foundation will cover all expenses.”

“Are you serious?”

“As serious as a snake bite,” he replied with a charming smile.

“And you’re not gonna follow me?”

“No.”

“And you’re not gonna blow up my phone every time I turn around?”

“No.”

“And you’re not trying to get rid of me so you can work like a dog when I’m gone?”

“No, of course not,” he answered with that stupid chuckle he does when he’s lying.

“You are.”

“I’m not. I just want you to have a nice week-long vacation in Miami with your gal pals. You can drink, party, and twerk on tabletops in style.”

“I’m a spiritually married woman. I don’t twerk on tables any longer.”

He laughed warmly. “That was a test, and you passed. Get with your friends, pick a date, and I’ll make all the arrangements.”