Enemy Mine

Chapter 49

Because I'm mated to an over-the-top bastard, I found myself prepping for a helicopter flight to DC the next morning. Amelia had no problem filling in as Mr. Pearlman's caretaker once Nurse Kathy clocked-out, and Griffin planned activities for the afternoon. Apparently, a game of Chinese checkers was suggested, and the trash talk had already begun.

Vincent didn't give me a chance to dwell on the fact that I had never flown in a helicopter, reminding me of the numerous times I'd flown by gollum and demon. On our way up the elevator to catch our ride, he continued his distraction techniques with conversation. Yes, willing conversation.

"If you want to adopt your gollum form while we fly, feel free," he said. "Scooby knows the full scoop. But I must warn you, it's a pain to strap in with wings."

"I doubt my wings would help me if I fell from a helicopter. I can barely fly from padded wall to padded wall," I offered sarcastically. "You would have to save me again."

"That kind of self-abuse is going to get you ten lashes."

"And the ten lashes wouldn't be abuse?"

Our banter went on like this for the next two hours, interspersed with witty quips from Scooby, who was looking forward to playing tourist at the Air and Space Museum while Vincent and I did our thing. My stomach had finally caught up with my body when we arrived at my parent's doorstep.

"I don't know why I came to the front door," I said, looking absently at the hedgerow below the window. "I always walk through the gate to the kitchen door."

Vincent squeezed my hand as he stared down at me in earnest. "I will always be right here when you need me. I will never let you down."

"What was that for?" I asked, blinking up at him.

"You've got that lost look. The one you wear when you get over-emotional."

"Over-emotional?"

"Yes, and I was reminding you that I will never abandon you. Not in this life or any other."

As I stood on the front stoop gazing at my lover with adoring eyes, my mom opened the door and popped her head out.

"What are you two doing out here?"

We were quickly herded inside where Dad waited at the wet bar, holding up a bottle of brandy.

"Rémy Martin Extra, thirty-five years young," he said. "Shall I?"

Vincent offered my dad his boyish smile. "I'd like to know how you managed it?" he said as he kissed my head and walked over to join Dad in conversation.

"How are you, sweetheart?" Mom's voice echoed at my ear, and I turned to find her staring at me. Her eyes looked refreshed, but a few drops could tackle that.

"I'm good. How are you?"

She shook her head at me. "Oh, Reese. This is your mother you're talking to." Her arms came around me and she pulled me in for a hug. As soon as I caught a whiff of her scent, infused with coconut shampoo and peppermint lip balm, the waterworks started again. And I had been doing so well.

It turned out, Mom harvested the squash before the cold front moved in, and she whipped up a perfect pot of winter soup. While every conversation that related to Theo ended with somebody crying, we also did a lot of laughing, and the time flew by all too quickly. Before I knew it, Scooby was dropping Vincent and me off on the rooftop and wishing us a happy holiday season.

The helicopter buzz finally wore off when we reached the penthouse via the sex elevator, but the hallway was not vacant when Vincent and I arrived. Raised voices greeted us as we walked into an argument between Bates and Wren in front of Vincent's apartment.