“I don’t think so. I’m actually really tired, and I have to wake up early to work at Eve’s Center. Would you mind just taking me back to the Mile?”

Her expression is so pained; I can’t fucking stand it. I shift my body over the console and unbuckle her seat belt, bringing her into my arms so she’s in my lap.

“I’ll bring you back to your room. But tell me you forgive me.” I grip her head in my hands.

“I forgive you,” she whispers, finally giving me her eyes. They swim with emotion as I bring my mouth to hers, kissing her lips.

“I’m worried about you,” she whispers against my mouth.

I don’t reply. It takes every ounce of strength in my body to push back and not take her here and now in the seat. But I’ve put her through enough tonight.

When I pull back, we’re both breathing heavily.

“I really like you, Lauren. I want us to have a good time together.”

She pleadingly looks at me. “Okay, but you can’t pull this shit, Slade. It was wrong on so many levels.”

I close my eyes for a split second because the shit I pull isn’t always in my control. “You haven’t known me for too long. But, if you give us this time together, I promise, I’ll make it worth your while.”

“You’d better.” Her relief is apparent in the cadence of her voice.

I smile, and for the first time in God only knows how long, it’s full blown. After I help her back into the passenger seat, the rest of our drive is quiet and warm. Dropping her off, I vow to keep myself under control. I’ll do whatever it takes.

15

Lauren

“Lauren, your one p.m. is here,” Eve sings out melodically, knocking on my door.

I’m helping Eve out at her Center this week. It’s a nice-sized, newly built house on the rez with small apartment-type residences attached to the back.

With a small but clean communal indoor playroom for the children as well as an outdoor jungle gym, a hang-out living room area for older kids, and a tearoom for the mothers, the Center is a safe house in all senses of the word. Even the newly built apartments are perfectly constructed.

My makeshift office is filled with brown boxes, which have been pushed to the back corner of the room. But, with a small, square folding table and chair, a phone line, my own small laptop, and some pens and legal pads, I’m already knee deep in work. It hasn’t even been one full day, and yet I’m already feeling the fantastic pulse of making a difference. Not least, working with Eve is second nature to me. After years of working for her at the law firm, I know exactly how she likes things done and know what she needs done before she even asks.

Seeing abused women with their children isn’t easy, but I’ve already begun organizing cases and scheduling updates and reminders. On the boat in Lake Powell, I managed to order a nice closet filled with clothing, shoes, and even undergarments for these women to keep. Having a crazy rich husband like Vincent, who wants nothing more than to make Eve’s dreams come true, means a lot of financial support. Eve wants these women to get jobs and have a few articles of clothing to start them off? Done. Eve wants a beautiful, clean library, so the kids can have a safe place to read and relax? Yes. Eve wants a daily cleaning service to ensure everything is always spotless? Check. I’m not sure why she hasn’t hired an assistant to help her yet. Eve says she wants to learn all aspects of the Center herself before she hands it out to someone else. But, clearly, as evidenced by how much work I’ve been doing, she’s ready for that now.