For a rich girl who’d planned to become a lawyer, cleaning guest rooms in the Safe Haven retreat might have seemed like a step down, but Ana hadn’t minded. The physical work had been therapeutic. After a lifetime of studying her ass off to impress a father who viewed her as a failure no matter how good her grades were, it had been satisfying to do a job that did not leave room for interpretation. When she was done cleaning, the place was spotless, and no one could accuse her of doing a less than perfect job.
Folding the duvet, she put it on top of the dresser. “I’ve never thought of it like that, but you are right. I have much more appreciation now for people who do that for a living. It’s hard work, but it is oddly satisfying.” She reached for the bundle of bedding he was holding.
He shook his head. “I’ll carry it.”
Call her old-fashioned, but she liked Leon’s macho side. Well, she liked everything about him, but that was particularly sweet. She’d never expected to fall for a bossy guy who adhered to an outdated code of chivalry, but evidently life was full of surprises, and Leon was just perfect for her.
She followed him out of the room, enjoying the sight of his backside and powerful thighs. “We need to take stock of what food is left in the pantry and the fridge.” Ana groaned. “You might have to go grocery shopping, and I hate the idea of you riding that motorcycle. And even if I had no problem with that, there isn’t much you can store in its two small container thingies. We need a car.”
“I can ask Okidu to make a delivery.” He started up the stairs.
“We need a car, Leon. What if Margaret has to go to a doctor? How is she going to get there?”
The washer and dryer were inside the upstairs bathroom, which was a really bad location for them. Whoever designed the cabin must have added that as an afterthought.
She opened the washer, and Leon stuffed the bedding inside.
“Good point. I’ll call one of my buddies and arrange for my car to be delivered here.”
Ana cast him a smile over her shoulder as she pulled out the detergent from the cabinet. “I’m glad that we see eye to eye. Now, go check how many containers are left in the freezer.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He trotted back down.
For someone as bossy as Leon was in the bedroom, he was very easygoing outside of it, which was just perfect.
What was the catch? Because there had to be one.
Leon was beyond hot, smart, considerate, and last night he’d told her that he had fallen in love with her. She couldn’t have dreamt up anyone better, not even in her wildest dreams.
Perhaps the catch was his job?
Ana wasn’t happy about what Leon did for a living because it was dangerous, but saving victims of trafficking was a noble cause. Her man was a modern-day knight, fighting evil and protecting the weak, and she should be proud of him, which she was, but she was also scared.
In fact, she was terrified.
In her experience, good things didn’t last, and being happy was the privilege of the lucky few who hadn’t been slapped around by fate yet.
They could live with the illusion that life was good, and that nothing terrible could happen to them, until it did. Almost no one got to reach old age without suffering the loss of a loved one or experiencing one sort of calamity or another.
Life was about suffering, with a few happy moments thrown in for contrast, just so people would know how miserable they were the rest of the time.
Leon was responsible for the happiest moments Ana had experienced to date, but the question was how long her sojourn in fairytale land would last.
With a sigh, she set the program to sanitize and headed back down.
“You were right. We are running low.” Leon put another meal container on top of the short pile he’d already stacked on the counter. “That’s all there is. We have enough for today and tomorrow. Can your friend cook?”
Ana chuckled. “I have no idea. But even if she can, Margaret will be in no condition to do that. I guess we will have to take a YouTube crash course in cooking.”
“I can grill steaks.”
She was about to tease him about that when his phone rang.
He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. “It’s Bowen.”
Ana tensed. Was something wrong with Margaret? Did she need to stay another day in the hospital?
“What’s up, Bowen?”
When Leon frowned, her gut clenched.
“Are you sure about that?” Leon asked.
“What’s going on?” Ana whispered.
He put his finger over the mic. “Bowen decided that he’s not going to just drop Margaret off and leave. He’s going to stay and take care of her.”
“Why?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.” Leon removed his finger from the microphone. “I see. Yeah, you are right. How are you going to get here?”
He listened for several moments. “While you are at it, can you ask Theo to do a grocery run as well? We are running low on everything.” A moment passed as he listened to Bowen’s reply. “Anastasia and I will make a list, and I’ll text it to Theo. When do you think you’ll get here?” Another moment passed, and then Leon smiled. “Don’t worry. There is still enough left over from what Okidu prepared for us. We won’t let her starve.”
When he ended the call, Ana arched a brow. “What’s Bowen’s deal?”
Leon shrugged. “The guy has a soft spot for females in need of rescuing.”
“He’s already done his part by getting her to the hospital and staying with her through the night. Doesn’t he trust us to take care of Margaret? And what about the widow you told me that he was seeing?”
Leon waved a hand in dismissal. “I thought that something was going on between them, but Bowen was offended by the mere suggestion. Who knows? Maybe he fancies Margaret? You said that she’s pretty.”
“She is, but Bowen is much younger than her, and he is a major hunk.”
Leon’s brows dipped low. “A hunk, eh? You noticed.”
Was he jealous?
That was adorable.
Sauntering up to him, Ana wrapped her arms around his neck. “Bowen is handsome, but he has nothing on you. You are the man of my dreams.”
“Am I now?” His lips lifting in a satisfied smirk, Leon put his hands on her waist and drew her against his body.
“You are better than a dream.” She stretched up on her toes and kissed him. “You are my dream man and kinky fantasy put together, and I never imagined that the combination was possible.”
4
Syssi
“Good morning.” Amanda leaned down and kissed Syssi’s cheek. “I applaud your initiative to invite the wedding committee for breakfast. It’s a beautiful day, and the café is not too busy on Saturday mornings.” She looked up at the cloudless sky. “It’s a bit chilly, though. I hope it will get warmer soon.” She pulled out a chair and sat down. “Who else is coming?”
“I’m afraid that it’s just us. Callie is studying for a test, Jacki said maybe, and Edna is in the meeting with Kian and the others.” Syssi frowned. “How come you are not in there with them? You are a council member.”