Page 37 of Saint
Again, my outstretched limbs reached for her, but she took a step back. Tenacious, I was, inching closer before she finally allowed me to wrap her in an embrace. Initially, Dream’s limbs were stiff, reluctant to accept the affection I was giving. The longer I remained, the more she relaxed in my arms, hugging me back. No one could resist the power of my hugs.
“I’m still mad at you, Tori. Are you sure you’re okay? Ever since you returned from Indonesia, you’ve been acting differently.”
“I’m fine,” I assured, ignoring the quizzical expression written on her face. “I’ll be at brunch in a few weeks. I promise.”
“Mmhmm. I better get some explanation for the weirdness you’ve been on lately, too.”
Dream and I said our goodbyes, and I returned to the plant I’d been hawking. Without further delay, I stuck it into my cart alongside a few others before making my way to the cashier to pay. Returning to the house, I noted Saint’s car in the garage as I pulled in, prompting my internal smile.
“Hey, Beauty,” he greeted me as I exited the car. Barefoot, he padded into the garage and planted a wet kiss on my lips.
“Did you miss me today?” I asked, toying coy as I swayed in his arms.
“I did,” he revealed. “Do you take the same way home every day?”
“Uh… yeah, why?”
“Start going a different route. Sam informed me you had a tail on you.”
“Sam? Who’s that? And what tail?” I asked, my brows fighting to connect.
“Sam has been providing you extra protection since we got married, Beauty.”
My heart quickened in my chest. “Is something wrong? Who’s tailing me? Should I be going to work?” I swallowed, trying to combat the lump growing in my throat. “You promised I would be safe. Saint, you’re scaring me.”
“Don’t be,” he urged, tightening his hold on me. “I plan to clear all of this up before it becomes a problem. You are safe. No one is tailing you anymore. We made sure of that.” He locked eyes with me as he spoke and then nodded in the direction of the end of the circular driveway. A lofty and hefty Polynesian man waved in my direction. Though he stood a distance away, it wasn’t difficult to note that he was armed.
“That’s Sam,” Saint announced, reassuring me. “Just don’t make a habit of taking the same route home, babe.” Turning his head toward my car, he nodded upward. “What’s that?”
“I bought a few plants to liven up the place.”
Stepping toward the car, he opened the door and removed the two plants I’d purchased, giving them a long look. One of them was as tall as he was. “Where are these going?” He asked with an unreadable expression.
“So… I was thinking it would give the place some color. I didn’t want to encroach on your–”
“Tori, baby, I don’t care. I just want to know where to put it. And here.”
He reached into his pocket and removed his wallet. I’d expected a wad of cash to be shoved into my hand, but instead, I was awarded the sleek black card bearing his name.
“Next time, spend on the card. Buy yourself something, too.”
There were many next times. The newest edition to my wardrobe was the Chanel bag I’d been eyeing for the last two years. Void of the nerve to purchase the pricey purse, it remained on my vision board until the day I’d gotten ahold of Saint’s black card. The singular purchase was the only thing I indulged in strictly for myself. Everything else was for the home. I may have purchased ten plants in total –most of them fully grown– to invite color into the blasé color scheme of the home. Dull light fixtures were swapped for more extravagant statement-like fixtures. Large vases were purchased to add subtle art to corners. There was only one thing left that I needed to rectify by the end of my expensive home shopping spree.
The bite of cold tile pierced my skin, reminding me that rugs were a necessary addition. The hallways were wide, and the lower floors coated in concrete. I wasted little time locating Persian rugs similar in color to the home’s décor to line the offending halls. Saint was skeptical upon their arrival, fussing about them housing dirt because heated floors would have been a better investment, although pricier and blah, blah, blah. Once the rugs were placed, we tracked down the halls several times until I’d made him a believer.
“See? Now you can comfortably take me down on the ground,” I flirted, causing him to shove his bottom lip between his teeth.
Saint
“So, my parents want to meet you.”
Leisurely, I introduced the topic as Victoria, and I lounged outside on the beach. Where the rest of Paramour was ripe with overcooked souls from the unrelenting heat, Paramour Beach issued a calming breeze and shaded palm trees. Technically, it was rainy season, but today, the weather was mild. With our bowl of fruit and her bottle of wine, we indulged in the hospitable day.
“Okay, when?” She asked, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat.
“Next weekend, Beauty.”
My announcement caused her to sit up in her seat. I’d spent the last few months getting to know my spitfire of a wife. I knew what was coming and prepared myself for it. No stimming required.