We wrap ourselves in fluffy towels, and I head to the closet to grab my robe.I’m going to have to get one for Gabriel too.Because, seriously, the only thing I want to do right now is lounge in bed and listen to the sound of his heart beat.
I know. I have it bad. But I don’t care.
Maybe I should, given the gravity of the situation outside these four walls, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my happiness in this moment to the anxiety of worrying about what could happen in an hour or a week or a month. I’m going to be present.
With a smile on my face, I head back to the bathroom to replace my towel on the bar. Legend is in front of the mirror, lathering up his neck to shave, and he shoots me a wink.
“I’ll be done in a few.”
“Take your time,” I say with a smile, knotting my robe and checking to see that Roux is still curled up in her dog bed in the corner of my bedroom, taking a nap.
We both freeze when the intercom sounds at the same time as Gabriel’s phone buzzes.
He moves first. “I’ll get it.”
I hold up a palm. “Let me check the intercom. Then we can decide if you need to go out there in a towel and scare someone away.”
His gaze narrows, but he nods. “Deal.”
With goose bumps rising on my lower legs, despite the plush robe, I pad to the back door and press the button.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me. I need to talk to you. I’m freaking out, and I don’t know what to do.” It’s Monroe’s voice, and she sounds like she’s about to lose her shit.
“Come on up, babe.” I press the button to unlock the door. “It’s open.”
“Thank you, Scarlett.”
“Who is it?”
I whip around to find a shaving-creamed Gabriel standing behind me.
“Monroe. Something’s wrong.”
Gabriel’s brow furrows. “You sure you can trust her?”
My head tilts sideways. “Yes. Of course. Why?”
He reaches out to tug me closer by the belt of my robe. “Because I’m not taking any chances with you.”
I press a quick kiss to his lips, dodging the white foam. “It’s fine. I promise.”
He nods but doesn’t return to the bathroom.
“Are you waiting for something?”
He stands his ground, totally buck naked except for a towel. All six-foot-something of him. And he’s all mine.
“I’ll leave you two alone after she comes in.”
It occurs to me that Gabriel must be afraid that someone is using Monroe to gain entrance, and part of me wants to ask if he’s got a gun stuffed in the back of the towel wrapped around his waist. But I decide I don’t want an answer to that particular question.
A knock comes on the door a few moments later, and Gabriel steps in front of me to open it.
So this is what it’s like to live with a super-protective man. I’m not mad at it.
My budding grin blooms when I see Monroe’s eyes go as wide as saucers and her lower lip falls to the floor.