I shook my head. “No, not entirely. I stayed because I needed time to think about things. She’s the only family I have. I needed her to help me through this.”
He grabbed my hand. “You know I’d be your family if you’d let me.”
I looked away sheepishly. “Leo, don’t be so nice to me. I don’t deserve it.”
He ran his hand through my hair and cradled my cheek. “My love, don’t punish yourself for following your heart.”
I looked up at him with guilty tears flooding my eyes. “How can you say that? Maria told me she could feel your pain when Vance and I...when we...” I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud. “Oh God, Leo, I was such an idiot!”
He shook his head. “Shh, don’t say that. And don’t worry about me. My feelings for you haven’t changed.”
I fell into his arms and started sobbing. “How can you be so forgiving? So kind?”
He tilted my chin so I was looking up at him. “Because I love you. And I hope that one day you will be able to say the same.”
I wiped my tears. “Leo, I do----”
“Don’t, my love. Don’t feel obligated to say anything. You are in pain, and you need time to heal. I just wanted to be very clear that I will wait as long as you need me to.”
I stretched out in bed, completely exhausted all of a sudden. “Will you stay with me? Hold me until I fall asleep?”
He lay down next to me and pulled me into his embrace. “Of course.”
I snuggled up to him and inhaled his manly soap smell. “Thank you.”
He squeezed me tighter. “Anything for you, my dear.”
*****
I woke up in Leo’s arms. I opened my eyes and noticed that he had moved an armoire over the half-moon-shaped window to block out the sun. There was a light knock on the door which woke him up as well.
“Draga, come down whenever you’re ready. I just wanted to let you know that the drapes are drawn so it is safe to move throughout the house, with the exception of the sun room of course.”
I glanced over at Leo who was smiling. “Thank you, Irina,” I called.
He stretched before kissing the top of my head. “Good morning. Did you rest well?”
Now it was my turn to stretch. “Yeah, I did. I slept better than I have in weeks actually.” I sat up in bed. “What’s been happening since I left?”
He got out of bed and walked over to the chair on which he’d placed his black slacks. Yikes, I’d been in bed with Leo while he wore only boxers and a t-shirt. I was trying really hard not to stare at his amazing body, but I wasn’t doing a very good job.
He cleared his throat, bringing my eyes back to his face. “Have you spoken to anyone in Vegas since you left?”
“I called Erica on my drive here with the new cell you got for me. Thanks for that by the way. And for lending me your car.”
He shrugged. “What’s mine is yours, my dear. You only have to ask.”
I blushed. “Anyway, I’ve spoken to her a couple of times since to check on her, but not for very long. She said she needs time to herself.”
He jerked his head. “She said that, did she?”
“Yeah. Why do you ask? Do you think she wanted me to push for more?”
“I don’t know, my dear. Perhaps you should call her now.” He walked to the end of the room and opened the door leading to the stairs. “I’ll go visit with Irina and give you some privacy.” He closed the door as I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. Huh, that was weird. I shrugged it off and dialed.
She answered on the third ring. “Hey, Kar.”
“Hi, Erica. How are you doing? I’m sorry I haven’t been calling much. Is now a good time to talk?”