The Right Swipe - Alisha Rai Page 0,117
power he loved. Revenge, you know? But mostly, I’m happy because it means it’ll be harder for him to hurt someone else.”
Samson still wanted to punch Peter. That would be the only thing that would fully satisfy him, but this was a start. “Use me for whatever you need.”
“I’ll try to ask for help. Old habits are hard to break, you know.”
“I know.”
She got quiet. “My trust issues will probably take eons to work on.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I told you my mom was a lawyer.” Samson snuggled closer, because he could. “She used to tell me about this thing called the eggshell plaintiff rule.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m probably messing up the explanation, but basically, if you walk up to someone with a thin skull and hit them in the head, and they get hurt, you’re responsible for the damage you caused. Even if hitting someone with a normal skull wouldn’t have resulted in any damage.”
“I’m not following.”
“The lesson she meant for me to take away, is that you take a person as you find them.” He thought of how Lulu had stubbornly stuck by his father’s side. He’d been angry, sometimes with her, after the Switch. Angry that she hadn’t been more angry at his father’s fate.
Now he knew. His mother had taken life as it was. Grateful for every extra moment she got to spend with the man she loved, in sickness and in health.
“I’m patient, Rhi. I’d like it if you could give me the benefit of the doubt, not jump to conclusions without hearing me out if you’re feeling nervous about me . . . but I will take you as you are, baggage and all. The flip side is, you have to take me as I am.”
“Easy. You’re almost perfect.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “I definitely am not. I don’t really know how to be with someone like this. I’m learning, and I’ll probably get scared and freak out and mess up. I don’t know what the future holds.” He thought about one day unfolding after another with this woman. How long had it been since he’d thought about the future and not been terrified? “We can, however, communicate and be patient with one another.”
“We could.”
“In that case, will you answer my earlier question? Can we be serious?”
She gazed down at him. Her eyes were so pretty, endless pools of dark brown. “Yes.”
“Yeah?” His smile widened.
HIS HAPPINESS SCARED Rhiannon, because God knew if she’d be able to keep him looking that happy. She’d fail. Or he would. “Though I’m not the kind of woman you probably envisioned when you wrote your Matchmaker bio,” she said. “Kind and sweet and loyal.”
He stroked her arm, leaving goose bumps. “You’re all those things and more. Also . . .” He winced. “Uh, don’t tell anyone, but Tina wrote that bio.”
She huffed out a laugh, thinking of how many times she’d obsessed over those three words. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope. As of right this minute, the Crush bio you swiped right on is the only thing I’ve ever written.”
Well, damn. Damn. “How about that.”
“The Matchmaker quiz, though, I did take, and so did you.”
Rhiannon’s eyes narrowed and she recalled what he’d said, about Annabelle engineering their meeting. “Wait. Did she make us all take that questionnaire so she could see if you and I were a good match?”
“Yup.”
“Diabolical.” But she said it with admiration. Annabelle might not be a standard businesswoman, but when had Rhiannon ever surrounded herself with conventional people? “I might actually enjoy being her partner more than buying the business outright.”
“You don’t want to know our match percentage?”
“Nah. I don’t believe in it.” She yawned, but then opened one eye. “We scored high though, yeah?”
“Yeah, overachiever, we scored high.” He rolled his eyes, but high-fived her when she sleepily offered her hand.
They lay in silence for a while. Rhiannon had a million things to do, but for the first time in a long time, she felt . . . light. Like she’d gotten closure on multiple fronts, had laid down weights she hadn’t even been aware she was carrying.
He nuzzled her temple. “I’ll probably love you soon.”
Warmth bloomed in her chest. “I’ll love you soon too. And then it’s all over for you. I look out for the people I love even when they don’t look out for themselves.”
“Same.” He pressed a number of kisses on her face, including the tip of her nose. “You said you were the only one who could protect your heart, but I’m going to protect the hell out of your heart.”
Ohhhh. Well, there went said heart, turning to mush.
“I’m also going to make you take a break. Like right now.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“In a few minutes you would have hopped out of bed to check your phone or email or Twitter.”
“Ugh. You know, I should check my Twitter. See what the damage is.” The dread in her voice must have been apparent to him, because it was loud and clear to her.
“I’ll never tell you how to run your business, but . . . you could not do that.”
“No. I have to. I should—”
“Or . . . hear me out . . . you could not.”
Her smile was reluctant.
“You have marketing and lawyers, right? Let them handle it for now, and take a beat for yourself. Let’s nap. We’ve both had a hectic time lately, clearly.”
“But—”
“What did you just say, about looking out for your people when they won’t look out for themselves? Seems like you should take some of your own advice sometimes. That’s the fair thing to do.”
She harrumphed. “Fine, damn it.”
He kissed her, and after a beat, she responded. “This is going to take some getting used to,” she murmured. Delegating. It’s just delegating.
“We’ll go slow. We’ll talk. Trust me, we can make it work.”
“I like your confidence, buddy.”
“I have enough for both of us.” He touched his finger to her nose. “I’m so glad I swiped right on you.”
Rhiannon smiled and ran her hand over his stomach. “Me too. Now run out and get some condoms.”
“There should be an app for that.”
A flare of interest had her sitting up, and he shook his head. “No.”
“An app that delivers condoms. And food.”
“No.”
“And the person who delivers it is your hookup.” She gasped. “Call it PostDates.”
He groaned, but again, high-fived her.
She liked him so much.
“Not now, Rhi. Make a note, but shelve the empire for a night.”
Rhi. Would she ever get tired of hearing it? Probably not. “Fine. I’ll take over the world tomorrow.”
“Good.” He yawned and hugged her tight. “I’ll hold your purse.”
“I never carry a purse.”
“I’ll hold your sweatshirt then.” His smile was warm, and so was his embrace. “Or better yet, I can be your sweatshirt.”
Acknowledgments
A NEW SERIES can be an intimidating venture, and it’s important to have the support of professional and personal superstars in your corner. Thanks to Erika Tsang and the team at Avon/, and to Corey, Jenice, Zee, Allie, and Lillie for reading early drafts of this book. A special thanks to Sarah Wendell, who is an invaluable source of kindness and inspiration.
All my love to Aly, my emotional support system, who lured me to the best coast and has made my transition such a joy (your glee in introducing me to people is secretly my favorite thing); to Kristin, my first (and finest) roommate and an eternal friend; to Jen, my most steadfast supporter and wine-tasting companion; and to my family, who are so proud of me but constantly ask when my books will be made into movies already. Call me, Hollywood, it would make my mama really happy.
Finally, I cannot thank you enough. Seriously. Every book feels like the hardest book I’ll ever write, and the most satisfying part is when I reach the end and know that soon it’ll be in the hands of readers who need it and love it and get it. To slightly paraphrase the great Jason Mendoza, you make the bass drop in my heart.
We’re all in this together. Much love.*