Limitless Love (Lotus House #4)(18)

I chuckled. “Think so?” It made sense. Tragedy brings up a variety of responses in people. Some handle it well, others not so much. I, apparently, turned into Tarzan, and Monet was my Jane.

“Know so. If anything like that had happened to Mila, I’d have lost my shit, and that’s after being with her for a year. Does this mean you’re going to become a regular fixture around the Holland household?”

Atlas’s question was direct and no-nonsense. I appreciated that side of him. No-holds-barred all the time.

I didn’t even take a second to consider it. My answer flew out of my mouth unfiltered and honest. “Yes, it does.”

“Cool. She needs a good guy giving a shit about her. It’s been a while for her, and after what happened, I don’t know how easy it is going to be for her to trust again.”

Trust.

I tipped my head and checked out my Nikes. “Good thing I know a little something about that particular issue.”

Atlas nodded but didn’t question me further. Now was not the time to dredge up old wounds with my friend.

“Should I expect this to mean you’re going to drop your one-nighters and cling-ons?”

I frowned and gritted my teeth. “Look, my bedroom activities are not up for debate here.” He didn’t know jack shit. Just because I didn’t bring women around my friends didn’t mean I’d only had one-nighters. Most of the women I dated I saw at least three or four times, but the last several were gold-digging trophy women. They didn’t want to settle down, have a family. I was thirty years old, had a steady career, a secure future, and I wanted a woman to share it with. Build on.

Atlas scowled. “Fuck if they’re not. If you’re going to go after a woman I consider my sister, you’re going to look me in the eye and promise me she’s the only one you’ll be seeing. Moe deserves that. She is not a button on your speed-dial list of hotties to hook up with. Feel me?” Atlas’s tone had turned hard and acidic.

I couldn’t blame the guy for being protective. She brought that shit out in a guy. I’d been in her house two days and was half-gone for the woman and her kid. Besides, I agreed with him. Monet was not the type of woman to be strung along. “Wouldn’t do that to her, man. And yeah, she’s going to be the only woman on my mind for a good long while…okay?”

He stared me down, not letting up. Damn, he had this brother role on lock. “And you’re going to take it slow,” he stated, not questioned.

I frowned. “What is this, therapy hour with Atlas? What happened to bros before hoes?”

Wrong thing to say. Atlas’s eyes turned as hard as steel. “Don’t ever refer to Moe in that manner.”

“Christ, dude. I was joking. Lighten up.”

Atlas shrugged. “Can’t. She’s important to me and my future wife. What happens to her directly affects us. As you can see.” He displayed an arm out and around the room. This was a home away from home for them. Something I wanted for myself. I couldn’t blame him.

“Man, I’m not going to hurt her. Any numbers in my phone will lie uncalled while Monet and I feel this out.”

“And you’ll take it slow?” he asked again.

“I’m not an asshole. I was just in there cleaning and bandaging her wounds. That ex of hers did a number on her. She hasn’t even entered the first stage of her mental recovery. She’s too busy dealing with the physical pain and making sure everyone else is okay. But I’m not a stranger to this. She’s going to flip her lid and soon. Once she allows herself to deal with what happened, truly understand that she almost died and that her ex-husband tried to kill her, she’s going to need every one of us to help her through.”

“We’ll be there,” Atlas proclaimed.

“So will I.” I glared, making sure he understood how serious I was about this woman.

“Fair enough. I’m gonna go say good night and get Lily settled for bed. You heading out?”

Was I heading out? Fuck. I didn’t want to, but they needed time alone together as a family.

“Yeah, I’ll follow you and say good night.”

As we approached Monet’s bedroom, I finally took a moment to take this side of the house in. The hallway was lined with pictures of Monet and Lily, Mila and Atlas, and some of the yoga staff too. Another wall had black-and-white photos of people I assumed were Monet’s parents and grandparents. Where were they in all this? I’d have to ask Monet when she was feeling better. A spark of excitement skittered around my chest. For the first time in a long time, I wanted to know more about a woman. Was looking forward to hearing about her past and her family as well as sharing my own. Hell, if this went the way I thought it was headed, I’d be taking her and Lily home to my own family one day. My mother would be ecstatic.

Both Mila and Lily were in bed with Monet. She was lying on her good side, with Lily in the center telling them a story and Mila looking on.

I took that time to enjoy the sight of the three ladies on the bed. If Monet hadn’t been hurt, the scene would have been right out of a family movie. Atlas went over, sat next to Monet’s feet, and put a hand on her ankle.

“How you doing, sis?” he asked.

“I’m good. Really good now that I’m clean, bandaged, and in bed with my girls.” She blinked sleepily.