Page 73 of Speechless
She wiped the tattoo as she worked, tilting her head, and inching her stool closer to me. “I hate to downplay your powers of persuasion, but I think her book club friends had more of an impact when they told her all about the deadbeats their daughters married.”
I chuckled. “Hey, I’m not gonna complain. As long as she doesn’t want to take a hit out on me anymore.”
She sniffed, shaking her head. “Crazy old lady. She actually talked to me about marrying you and security, and all this stuff I never thought in a million years I’d hear my independent, feminist mama say.”
“Maybe she’s mellowing with age.” It was hard to imagine. She still seemed like a pistol to me.
“She says she’s lonely, maybe even too rigid in her thinking when she was younger. And I think she worries about being a burden to me and Gracie in her old age.” She glanced up, her expression amused when she said, “But I don’t think she’d have any qualms about being a burden to you, should we ever end up together. Just so you know.”
I grinned. “Oh, we will end up together. And as for your mama? She can burden me all she wants in her old age. I figure it’ll even the score, since I’m probably responsible for half the grey hairs on her head.”
She laughed. “And I’m responsible for the other half.”
“And how ‘bout Gracie? How’s she doing?”
“She’s great, finished school now. She’s renting a little office in a medical building, with a couple of doctors, a naturopath and a chiropractor.”
“Good for her.”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “I’m so damn proud of her. Can’t believe, given where we came from, that she’s a therapist. I kind of thought we’d be the ones needing therapy our whole lives, not helping others.”
“She’s making a real difference,” I said, quietly. “I can’t tell you how much it’s changed my life.”
She looked up suddenly and her eyes collided with mine. “Really? You took my advice?”
“Sure did.” I’d been talking to a therapist online for the past few months and it was really helping me to understand my addiction. Myself. And my connection with Codie.
“I’m so glad, Mav.” She smiled. “It’s a gamechanger for people like us, with tons of baggage, and addictive personalities.”
“Can’t promise I won’t always have my vices.” My voice was low and husky when I said, “Like you. I’ll always be addicted to you and that’s a craving I plan to satisfy for the rest of my life.”
Her inhalation was shaky when she said, “No wonder people are downloading your songs by the millions, Stone. You sure know how to evoke… a feeling… with just a few words.”
“Oh yeah? What are you feeling right now?”
“Hot.”
I smirked. “You have an office with a lock on the door, right?”
She laughed. “Yeah, but I have another appointment right after yours, unfortunately. When do you have to leave town?”
I wanted more than a quickie with Codie. I wanted all night and morning. “Seven tonight. Gotta do a guest DJ thing on a satellite radio station in the morning.”
“That sounds like fun, but I’m not gonna lie. I’m a little sad you have to leave so soon.”
I didn’t know how she’d feel about seeing me again, so I was relieved it had been a welcome surprise. “You could always come to another show. We’re in Kansas City this weekend.”
She sighed. “I’d love to, but we’re swamped at the shop. I really can’t get away right now. Not even for a few days.”
“That’s cool, no problem.”
Her eyes narrowed when she glanced up at me. “Since when are you so easy-going? I thought you’d be trying to beg and bribe to get me to go. Or are all those pretty groupies a good distraction?”
“Nothing and no one could distract me from thinking about you 24/7, gorgeous.”
She rolled her eyes, “Whatever you say.”
“You don’t have to believe me, but it’s true.”
