Free The Lioness by Mary Moriarty Page B

the states.”
    “I don’t know if anyone has a normal life, well maybe
my Mom. She does the same thing, day in, day out but she’s very happy and has
her grandkids nearby so she can cook for them and bake. I just never wanted to
live back down in Georgia after College.” He brushed back Rose’s hair and saw
she still looked a little tired from her ordeal. The doctor guaranteed her
wounds would heal. She seemed to be fine, though she had some real nightmares
the last couple of nights. Enough to waken him from a sound sleep. He was glad
he was with her so he was able to hold her and talk her out of them. Always the
same thing. The man and the little girl and her losing her grip on the little
one’s hand. She would lay in his arms for what seemed forever, sobbing, holding
him tight till they either made love or she fell back to sleep. Either way he
was happy he was there. Happy to be able to hold her while she was sleeping and
dreaming. He always left before Hasina got up for the morning, though he kept
his door locked.
    “Do you think about us?”
    Rose looked up. “Yeah, about us, back in America,
figuring how we would handle a commuter relationship, you in New York City, me
in Boston.”
    “Would it have to be commuter? Why couldn’t it be,
either me coming up your way or you coming down my way? We don’t work for any
one place, since we freelance. Our life is really easier than most, though I’ve
had some offers, one from CNN, the other from the New York Times.”
    “Would that mean you’d be in one place? Could you live
like that?”
    “I’ve done enough traveling, eating and sleeping in
sand, wondering if I was going to be blown up, not that living back in the
states is a piece of cake, but it has its benefits. Maybe a certain someone
would be there….” He looked over at her and smiled his smile he knew melted her
heart.
    Rose scootched in close, glad for the contact because
as soon as she did he pulled her in. “Maybe we could talk about it more, later
after….” She didn’t get the rest of the words out, he covered her mouth with his,
silencing her, bringing out the moan in both of them.

Chapter 7
    “So how many rooms does your apartment have?” Rose
asked, looking up into Ty’s face.
    They walked out of the Post Office after mailing the
artwork. Ty took her hand and signaled for a Cyclo. Getting in, he pulled her
in close. He couldn’t get enough her. “Two bedrooms, a small kitchen, but it’s
sunny and well equipped. A large sunny dining and living area.  My bedroom is
large with a large window. The other is my guest room but doubles as my office for
the moment. I re-did the bath, I think you’d like it, large tub, plenty of room
for you and me. The floors are all hardwood, except for the bath and kitchen.”
    “Can you have pets?” She was thinking of her older
cat. Her dog Gigi would be fine if she had to leave her with her mom, but her
cat, she had a hard time without Rose.
    “Pets are ok, if they are small. I had a cat but he
died. I miss not having a pet.”
    “I have two, a small dog and my older house cat. She’s
the one I’m concerned for.”
    Then it sounds like we’re the makings of an American
family, all we need are the kids.”
    Rose craned her neck to look up at him. “Do you want
children?” She had always wanted at least a couple but never gave it much of a
thought with Ty.
    “I always did, but the last couple of years I didn’t
think I’d even find someone to share my life with, never mind making babies.”
He laughed ruefully. He was warmed by the pressure her hand gave to his.
    “How about you?”
    “Mm, I’ve always wanted a family. I come from a happy
one so I hoped to some day find that with someone.”
    “I think we are on the same page.”
    They told the Cyclo driver to just take them around
town. “I was planning on going down to the coast after spending a day or two
here in Phnom Penh. Would you like to do that?”  Rose asked as she leaned