Page 38 of Power
“It’s not decided,” Reece argues with me. “I’m perfectly fine here.”
Tash puffs her cheeks, then slowly blows out the air. “Mr. President, I say this with all sincerity, but, good luck with this one. She’s iron-willed, and you’re going to need luck on your side.”
I chuckle. I like Tash, she’s an interesting person. “Have a good night with your date, Tash.”
She rolls her eyes and huffs. “It won’t work out. I’m too picky. But, hey, if you’re bored one day sitting over there in the Oval Office, you could always set me up with Grayson.”
“I’m not a matchmaker,” I say.
“Tash!” Reece scolds. “Go.” She flicks her hand at Tash and shakes her head.
“Love you, and I’ll call you later.” Tash leans down and gives Reece a kiss on the top of the head. There’s an awkward silence when she looks at me. “Bye?”
“Goodbye, Tash.” She leaves the room, and I turn to make sure she’s out of hearing distance. “She’s an interesting one.”
“She saved Emily and me when we first moved here. I owe her everything, and if she ever needs me, I’m there in a heartbeat. There are two people I’d give my life for, and she’s one of them.”
“How did she save you?” I ask as I sit back and make myself more comfortable on Reece’s sofa.
“It’s a long story, and I’m tired. I think I’m going to go to bed early, Bennett. Do you mind leaving?”
“I’m ready to go when you are.”
“I’m not going with you. I’m perfectly fine here in my own home.”
“You’ll be even better in my home, where I can keep an eye on you.”
“Do you have any idea how stalkerish you sound?”
I stand and reach for her hand. “Come on, you need to get ready.”
“I’m not going.” She drags the blanket up over her torso, snuggling into it while leaning her head on an oversized cushion.
“Get up, now.”
“No. I’m tired, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I click my tongue. “You have no other option, Reece. You’re staying with me.” With her eyes closed, she waves me away. I grab the blanket she’s snuggling into and pull it off her.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re coming with me.”
I bend, grab Reece, and toss her over my shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “Are you kidding me?” she attempts to argue. “Put me down!” I walk out of the family room. “Put me down.”
“Get the car ready,” I tell Mark.
“It’s in the garage, sir.” Mark is a couple of feet ahead of me, leading us to the garage. “This way, sir.”
“For God’s sake, stop being a caveman,” Reece is still trying to argue.
In the garage, the back door to the car is already open. I slide Reece to her feet. “Stop acting like a damn child, and I’ll stop treating you like one.”
She looks to Mark and shakes her head. Without another word, she slides into the back of the car. The car pulls out, and thankfully, the dark windows give us the gift of privacy. “My face hurts, my neck is sore, I don’t have clothes and I want to wallow in my own self-pity.”
“Good, you can do that from my suite.” I reach across and drag her over to me. Reece’s resistance quickly fades as she relaxes into my arms and lays her head on my shoulder. I’m careful when I lean over and kiss the top of her head. A small mewl passes through her as I tenderly draw lazy circles on her arm while she nestles closer to me.
“Bennett?”
“Yeah.” Please don’t argue with me, not now.
“Thank you.” Reece lays her hand on my thigh and angles her body closer to mine.
I kiss the top of her head again and tighten my arms around her.
