Tiger Lily: Part Three Read Online Free Page B

mused.
    I glanced down at his mention of ‘while.’ It was best to remember we had a time limit for our togetherness. “I’ll start looking for a permanent place,” I promised. “I’ll pay rent here until then, though I suspect it’s well out of my range.”
    He laughed. “I make your yearly salary quicker than you could turn over.” I looked away, and he continued. “I’m not saying that to hurt you, but the idea of you paying rent here is ridiculous,” he said.
    My mouth went dry. “I don’t think it’s silly,” I mumbled.
    He stroked under my chin. “I do admire your willingness and pride. No one I have ever been with before has challenged me on this, and you have so much less than most of them.”
    My body went stiff. Jonas cleared his throat. “You’re here because I want you here. What I want and do costs. And I want you with me. So we both benefit.”
    I didn’t say anything, so he continued. “As I told you before, we ended the companionship. This is about us, together. I go to a lot of public functions and events. You will come with me. Right now, your clothing doesn’t fit you properly. I want to fix that.”
    Now I wanted to respond. “So, what am I supposed to be? I wasn’t raised to be a burden. I can’t do that, not even if I only had a couple of dollars. Maybe I could clean and cook here? You can send Lin back to Dani,” I said.
    Jonas looked at me as if I had sprouted a new head. “Not a chance. I don’t want you serving me. Well, not in that way,” he joked, but leaned in and kissed my lips when he noticed how his words hurt me.
    “So, I’m to take and take, until you’re done and leave me? No way.” I moved to turn over, but he took hold of my hips and pinned me down on my back.
    “Where am I going? You already have me gone before we’ve even started. Stop telling me how I feel and listen to me, have a little faith in me. If you’re worried about taking, how about you do something I want from you that doesn’t cost money as payment?” he said.
    “What’s that?” I asked.
    “You go to counseling for what happened to you. Dani has a friend, Isla, who could see you this week.”
    I furrowed my brows. “I appreciate Dani’s offer, but I’m not a head case. I know I messed up with everything. I don’t plan to do it again. I’m on board with fighting Declan, even though that scares me. But I took care of myself. I kept my apartment, went to work, and was trying to turn my life around.”
    He laid on his side, facing me, then placed an arm along my waist. “I know, and I admire that about you. I think you’re resilient, trying to keep your life together after all that happened. But now you’re not alone. I’ll be here, and so will Dani, Alan, and Gregor. Even Paul would be willing to help you,” he said, kissing behind my ear.
    “Why? I don’t understand. Gregor is my boss and friend, but your family barely knows me,” I said.
    “Because we trust each other and our instincts about you. I went against them when you disappeared, but I trusted Dani to tell me what happened. Though we are both saddened that she kept your attack from me.”
    I took his hand. “Dani did that for me and I’m sorry. She wouldn’t stop calling or texting, even though I didn’t return any of her messages.”
    “That’s how she’s been since I met her. Once she declares you her friend, she won’t let go. Even if you never spoke to me again, she would never have left you. Can you believe she still has friends from grade school? Even after we separated, she called me every day. She doesn’t throw anyone away,” he said.
    My heart constricted. I kissed his chest. “I didn’t throw you away,” I whispered.
    “I understand that now.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway. Counseling may help you gain perspective on everything, and Isla can give you an introductory session before her scheduled sessions in a couple of days. You don’t have to go forever, but trying would be an