so she couldn’t hear. “Take it that means the guest hasn’t arrived.”
My eyes stayed on Juliet, again watching for a reaction that didn’t come. “No.”
There was a hint of lightness in his tone. “Good luck.”
I’m going to need it.
“Nothing?” Juliet asked when I clicked off.
“No.”
“Damn.” She tilted her head to the side. “You, uh, handled the Sullivan’s goon. Do you think they—”
“No. He was making a mess for them, they were fine with me cleaning it.”
“Then I’m back to nothing. Maybe whoever it is will give up.”
It was doubtful, but the fact she wasn’t scared as shit showed she trusted me to take care of her.
Which was exactly what I was doing.
Even if it made her lose her shit.
I gripped her hips to stop any escape attempts. “I need you to get ready. Someone is coming over.”
“Who?”
“You remember meeting Ella Adams and her husband at the warehouse fight?”
She took a second. “The ones who sat next to us?”
“Yes. Ella’s a psychiatrist.”
Juliet’s entire body went so rigid, I worried she’d shatter in my arms. Hurt filled her eyes, shuttering the easy brightness I’d had shining on me for three days.
Her voice was soft and wounded and flat. “You do think there’s something wrong with me.”
“Never.” Cupping her face, I made her meet my eyes. “There’s not a single thing wrong with you. You’re perfect.”
“Then why do you want me to talk to a shrink?”
“You’ve been put through a lot of shit. More than you should’ve ever had to deal with.”
“I’m fine.”
“I don’t doubt it. But I wouldn’t be a good Daddy if I didn’t make sure of that.”
She was quiet for a moment as she mulled it over. Reaching a decision, she slowly nodded. “I don’t know if I’ll be comfortable enough to actually talk, but I’ll meet with her.”
“Thank you.”
She moved off my lap. “But you owe me sushi for dinner.”
I grinned. “Anything you want.”
“Should’ve held out for more,” she muttered.
“What if I threw in going to a fight tonight?”
Excitement lit her face. “The warehouse?”
“Moonlight.”
Her excitement dimmed a little. “Better than nothing.”
She prefers the warehouse fights.
My girl is bloodthirsty.
Creating Juliet was the only good thing Shamus McMillon had done in his sorry excuse for a life, and that’d worked in my favor. Who I was and what I did wasn’t an adjustment for her. She was used to violence and lawlessness. And since it wasn’t directed at her, she thought it was a good life.
Starting for the hallway, she paused for a moment by the door before looking back. “I won’t tell her about how we met or any of your work stuff,” she said, again proving she was the perfect fit for me. “But should I act like we have a typical relationship?”
“Never.” She still looked unsure, so I told her, “Ella and Tony have a similar relationship, just more casual.”
Juliet worked to hide her smile. “So he’s not a control freak, got it.”
“Juliet…”
“Maximo,” she mocked as she hurried from the room.
Limited time or not, I was about to go after her when my phone rang.
Damn.
Juliet
Awkward.
Soooo awkward.
Sitting in the center of the couch, I looked across the coffee table to where Ella Adams sat in an armchair. Unlike when I’d seen her at the fight, she wasn’t glammed up in a Jessica Rabbit-esque dress. Instead, she wore simple jeans and a sleeveless blouse, looking stylishly professional.
I enviously watched as she took a drink of her giant iced coffee.
I should’ve held out for sushi and a late afternoon coffee.
She set it down on the table before smiling at me. “Awkward, right?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Right.”
“I get it. And since Maximo is like Tony but cranked up to a million, I’m betting he sprung this on you last minute and didn’t give you a choice.”
“Right again.”
“Figured.” Crossing her legs, she seemed totally at ease whereas I was tense, my legs bent up to my chest. “Maybe it’ll help if I tell you a little about me first.”
“Okay.” I was unsure anything would help but it couldn’t get worse.
“I’ve been a psychiatrist for seven years. When I’m not working, I like to cook, garden, and chase after my two kids. Tony and I have been married for eleven years, but I’ve been his sub for thirteen. I found him and BDSM when I was this,” she held her hand up with her index finger and thumb nearly touching, “close to dropping out of med school.”
Her casual mention of being a sub was surprising. She spoke of it like it was just