Page 35 (1/2)

Woods

I'd had Jiet it out of the fridge While Della finished getting dressed after I'd feasted on her in the shower, I went and got everything ready

I cleared the table froian waffle, then added the orange cream and shaved alurt with figs and goat cheese These were all items that Jimmy said Della ordered off the breakfastout of the bedrooain and she was dressed for work Good I had to talk to her about the new board

"I hope it's okay if I go to work today," she said as she walked into the room

"Whatever you want to do," I told her, then pulled back her chair

She took in the food on the table, then cut her eyes back at ot Jied No use in denying it "I wanted to get it right"

She stopped and pressed a kiss to ht" Then she sat down at the table and let out a pleased sigh "I' will do that to you," I replied, and sat down across fro "Yes, I guess it will"

I was sticking with a Belgian waffle and butter The fancy shit wasn'ta drink ofmyself to ask her to be on my board

"I fired the board of directors I hired a new one People whose opinions I care about," I said, getting straight to the point

Della put her fork down and stared at e; you need those close to you helping you with this"

I was glad she agreed Not that I expected her not to "I want you on the board, Della"

She had started to pick up her juice but she set it back down and looked at e

"What?" she asked

"I want you on my board I already have your paperwork ready You just need to sign it"

Della shook her head "I don't think that's a good idea I ht nowthat's a hasty o you and Jace orried aboutan issue I can't be on your board I'm better, but what if I relapse? You don't want that there and I know your friends agree I heard Jace He's gonna want to see that I'otten about that damn conversation she'd overheard I stood up and moved around the table, then knelt down in front of her "Della, I need you to listen to me What you heard wasn't what you think it was We weren't talking about you Never you We were talking about my mother She had called boardher because, unlike you, she really is crazy Baby, I would never call you those things or allow anyone else to call you that"

I could see the relief in her eyes She believed ht and I'd been so daht about it But das It was hu

"Oh," she said simply

I smiled and stood up and kissed her "Yeah Oh"

"I should have asked you about it I wasI didn't want to hear the truth I was scared of it"

"Never be scared to hear the truth from me," I told her

She nodded "I'm sorry I didn't ask you about it"

"I' about you"

She sat there and studied her hands a moment, then looked up at me "I want to be on your board"

"Good I can't do this without you"

She went back to eating and I had to force myself to eat, too, and not watch her I just wanted to watch her do everything Letting her out ofto be hard

I stepped off the elevator and Vince looked up to greet me He started to speak and stopped I watched him as he observed me