Page 47 of Love’s Strongest Soldier

“And yet, here you are.” She playfully rolled her eyes, and I closed mine.

Something rustled in front of me. A drawer opened, then closed. I heard her moving around, followed by the sound of something heavy being placed on the coffee table.

“Don’t peek.”

“I ain’t fucking peeking.”

“Your left eye is twitching.”

“That’s because you’re getting on my nerves.”

She laughed. A few seconds later, her hands settled on mine.

“Okay, open.”

My eyes opened, and the air left my lungs. A black presentation case sat on the coffee table. My name was engraved across the top. Not Ghost. My actual fucking name. I stared over at her. She was grinning from ear to ear.

“Open it.”

I sat down slowly. The case had some weight to it when I pulled it closer. I released the latches and lifted the lid. A custom pistol. Not some off-the-shelf piece she’d picked up because she knew I liked guns. The mufucka was beautiful. Matte-black finish. Deep burgundy accents. Custom grips. My initials engraved along the side and tucked into the lid was a small plaque.

For the man who makes me feel safe.

My body went rigid. Completely fucking still. For a long moment, I didn’t even touch the gun. I just stared at the plaque and then turned my attention to Luxe. She was watching carefully. That excited smile she’d had a second ago was starting to slip.

“Do you like it?”

I looked back down.

“Babe . . .”

She shifted her weight.

“I know you collect them, and I remember you showing me that one you wanted. I couldn’t get the exact same one customized the way I wanted, so I had someone help me put this together. And before you start fussing, yes, I made sure everything was done legally.”

I barely heard the last part. My eyes were still on those words.

For the man who makes me feel safe.

She’d been through enough shit to make anybody afraid of their own fucking shadow. And she’d written that about me.

“Ghost?”

I closed the case, not because I didn’t like what was inside. But because if I kept looking at that plaque, I was liable to embarrass the fuck out of myself.

I reached for her.

“C’mere, Luxe.”

She stepped between my knees. I wrapped my arms around her hips and pressed my forehead against her stomach. She went quiet. Her fingers circled my hair. I held her tighter.

“Nobody ever did no shit like this for me.”

Her hand stopped moving. I exhaled.

“I mean, my mama always made sure I had something growing up, but this?” I shook my head. “You went out your way to do all this shit, and I ain’t even tell you what today was.”

She gently lifted my chin. I looked up at her.