Page 59 of She's Like the Wind

“Absolutely,” I replied, infusing my words with mischief. “Otherwise, Kadisha’s going to think I’m slacking off.”

“Speaking of which, where is your trusted sidekick?”

Kadisha had met and approved of Jonah even though she worried he might be too “suit and tie” for me, but had magnanimously given her approval for me totryhim out to see if he fit.

“At the courthouse. One of her clients is being sentenced.” I set the steamer down. “Which means she might come back either heartbroken or elated.”

Kadisha worked with people who had mental illnesses, advocating for them to be incarcerated in a medical facility and not Angola. Last month one of her clients had gotten life without parole, and she’d been devastated.

“She needs to learn to compartmentalize.” Jonah picked up a silk chemise and looked at it critically.

“It’ll come with time.”

“And needs to stop getting so affected,” he added.

“If she isn’t affected then she’d make a shitty social worker and should find a new lineof work,” I quipped, more heated than I intended. “I think it’s her empathy and compassion that make her a great social worker.”

He faced me then, speculation in his eyes. “All okay?”

I let out a long sigh. “Feeling testy.”

He bobbed his head. “Gage been by again?”

He’d found out what happened with Gage because he’d been out with Aurelie, her gang, and me a couple of days ago, and she wouldn’t shut up about it.

“No.” I began to go through the hangers that I’d set aside for the trunk show.

I felt him behind me, and he set his chin on my shoulder. “Babe, something is not right.”

I clenched my jaw. I had to tell Jonah that we weren’t going to happen. I turned, and he straightened.

“You’re…lovely.” I waved vaguely at his polished shirt and subtle cologne. “And smart. And kind of annoyingly hot.”

“But?” he prompted, stroking a finger down my cheek.

“But…we don’t have…you know?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

I licked my lips. “Chemistry.”

“Ah.”

I hesitated for a moment and took the plunge. “And…I’m still sorting my…you know…Gage out. It feels unfair to keep you in orbit when I’m stuck in place.”

Jonah tilted his head. “What if I like to orbit?”

I gave him a look.

“Let’s check on the chemistry, yeah?” he suggested.

He didn’t wait for permission.

He just stepped forward—steady, quiet—and placed his hands on either side of my waist. I didn’t move, didn’t breathe.

Then he leaned in.

It wasn’t rushed.