6
Ansel
I’d filled the last few days with work and a solid plan of protection for Regina. Surprisingly, I’d done so without cornering her. She and I had settled into the new place as we continued to feel each other out.
Starving, the delicious aroma of Gigi’s cooking sent me in the direction of the kitchen.
A girlish ranting sounded as rapid Spanish filled my ears upon my approach. Gigi greeted with her usual bright smile, and a shy wave was flashed from Regina.
“Thanks, Gigi,” I voiced with appreciation as I leaned down to let her peck me on the cheek.
My gaze remained on Regina the entire time. I hadn’t missed the way Gigi and Regina had been giggling together over the last few days. It had become clear that Regina had a certain magnetism about her that drew people in, and I wasn’t immune.
It had surprised me yesterday when I’d walked in on them firing off rapid Spanish at each other. As exotically beautiful as she was, Regina’s caramel complexion with its silky bronze tint should have reminded me of her Hispanic roots.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, boss,” Gigi stated as she smiled at me and winked at Regina. Gigi cooked breakfast and lunch in the mornings and returned to cook dinner in the evenings. I took my seat behind a steaming pan of the Tex-Mex Lasagna she’d left on the table.
“Gigi is going to teach you how to cook?” I questioned Regina, in Spanish. Was I trying to impress her? Fucking right I was. The surprise in her gaze at hearing me speak Spanish wasn’t missed.
“You speak Spanish?” she questioned. Her open-mouth smile showed her surprise.
“Yes, I speak Spanish. Not well, but enough to get by,” I stated in the best broken Spanish I could muster to confirm my answer.
Her smile grew wider at my words, and it was hard to miss the intrigue that filled her gaze. I wasn’t ashamed of where I’d come from, but I was determined to be more than just some redneck, gun-running biker from Florida.
However, I believed Regina already knew as much. She knew that if I didn’t know something, I wasn’t too proud to admit it or too lazy to figure it out. Our MC dealt with people, some who spoke varying languages. I found it helpful to know if people were plotting my murder in their native tongue.
She finally answered my question. “When I mentioned not knowing how to cook, Gigi agreed to teach me.”
She picked up her fork, preparing to eat, avoiding my gaze as she adjusted her plate a third time.
“Ansel,” she called in a soothing tone brimming with seductive undertones I didn’t think she was aware of.
“Yes.”
“Do you think it would be okay for me to start working again? Not now, but when it’s safe. Do you think it will ever be safe enough?”
The pleading in her gaze wasn’t lost on me. She was ready to get back to the business of being a doctor, but her family still had her shaken.
“Let’s give it a month,” I suggested, hoping I could offer her more. “For now, I’d like to keep eyes on you when you go out. Either one of my friends, or me, will be with you until we are sure there is no threat. I think you should also consider changing at least your last name. It will make it that much more difficult for anyone to track you down.”
“Okay,” she agreed without argument. If only she’d agree this easily to the other question I’d asked her.
She still hadn’t given me an answer and my patience regarding her being my sub was gone. Every dark, twisted, and nasty fantasy I could think of had been played out in my head. Regina had my devil stirring, and I was ready to unleash him. But, I forced myself to maintain control, knowing I needed to be careful. From the moment I’d met her, I knew Regina wasn’t used to anyone like me.
“Doc,” I called, breaking into her statement about how much she liked the penthouse and the pool.
She’d talked us through dinner, and we sat in front of empty plates. It didn’t surprise me that things like swimming, golf, and tennis had been part of her physical education program at the private schools she’d attended when she was younger.
Her gaze rose as her words stopped. “Yes,” she answered.
“Would you accompany me to the living room and sit with me for a moment before you run from me and retreat to your room.”
My words froze her for a moment before a smile danced across her lush lips.
“Sure,” she answered, but a twinge of uncertainty lingered in her tone.
I reached across the table and took her dishes before turning and depositing them into the sink. When I finished, I turned and waited, my eyes glued to her.