Free Resignation by Missy Jane Page B

he lifted her chin with one hand.
“I heard everything that son of a bitch said to you. I know exactly what
happened and I swear I’m having your locks changed first thing in the morning.”
    Her laugh turned into a sob and he pulled her back to his
chest. He let her cry away her fear as he rubbed slow circles on her back with
one hand, gripping her tightly with the other.
    I’m never letting you go.
    A few minutes later she’d calmed down enough to speak and
relayed the whole story. From the moment she woke, to the moment Sol walked in,
she repeated every second of her harrowing experience. He hated to make her
relive it, but she seemed to need to, gripping his shirt in her small fists as
she repeated the words Marc had said to her.
    “Is it true? Did he really get you fired?” she asked, biting
her lower lip in concern.
    He ran a hand through her hair before wiping the last of her
tears from her eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips.
    “Yes. When I arrived I was told to gather my belongings. But
just before she left, Heather told me I still have a job.”
    She let out a sigh and leaned into him.
    “I’d never forgive myself for getting you fired.”
    He laughed humorlessly. “It wasn’t you at all. It was all
Marc. Luckily that dumbass is in too much trouble now to have time for either
of us.”
    “I hope.”
    He kissed the top of her head and breathed her scent deep
into his lungs. Relief filled him at arriving in time for Marc to do no more
than scare her. Sol was pissed the asshole had even gotten into her loft.
    “He didn’t hand over your key did he?”
    Her startled expression answered for her.
    “No, he didn’t. Oh my god, I just wasn’t even thinking about
it there at the end.”
    He hated the look of fear in her eyes. No way in hell would
he let Marc hurt her.
    “Pack a bag. You’re staying at my place for a few days until
we can get the locks changed and find out what’s going on with him back at work.”
    She looked surprised by the offer and perhaps a little
uncertain. He tried not to worry. He would protect her no matter who tried to
stop him…even Darina herself.
    “Um, okay. Are you sure you don’t mind? I mean, I can get a
hotel room or something. I don’t want to intrude.”
    He gave her the look that comment deserved before his eyes
were drawn to the tempting lip she held clamped between her teeth.
    “I’ll be spending the entire weekend with you either way.
It’s your call on which bed we sleep in.”
    A faint smile finally lit her face and chased away the chill
he’d felt since answering the phone to hear Marc’s voice.
    “Okay, if you insist.”
    “I most certainly do. I can come back tonight and change the
locks, or do it first thing in the morning. Whatever you decide, I just want to
make you happy.”
    She sighed before leaning into his chest again.
    “You do, Sol. You really do. This could’ve been one of the
worst days of my life, but with you it’s going to be so much better.”
    He wondered if she heard his heart racing beneath her head
as he squeezed her tight. He felt so much for her. Now there was no way he
would give her up without a fight.
    Nothing will make me give you up…nothing.

Chapter Six
     
    The next morning came too soon and Sol fought to wake from a
dreamless sleep. Darina snuggled against his chest, rubbing her face over his
heart as she slept. He smiled down at her and ran a hand through her soft hair.
Anger still loomed in the back of his mind over Marc’s antics of the day
before, but Sol pushed the memory away. It was the first Sunday of the month.
Darina didn’t know it yet, but this was a very significant day in his family.
Now all he had to do was convince her to meet them and pray they didn’t scare
her away. He chuckled and she moaned in response.
    “Sol?”
    “Right here, kitten. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
    She smiled up at him sleepily and lifted one bare shoulder
in a lazy shrug.
    “It’s