Her brows drew together.“Nash…I can’t do overnight with Mia.”
Even though I knew she’d say it, the words still stung.Only because Iwantedher to stay, tonight and multiple nights after.I kissed her forehead.
“I know.But you can’t blame me for trying.”
Two hours later, my penthouse had been transformed into something I'd never experienced before—a home.
Clara sat at my dining table, her laptop open.She'd tied her hair up in a messy bun, and she was wearing her glasses, which I'd never seen before and found unreasonably sexy.Every so often she'd pause, chewing on her lip as she thought through whatever green space portfolio problem she was tackling.
Mia was sprawled on the floor near the play area, coloring with an intensity that suggested this was the most important artistic endeavor of her life.She hummed to herself, occasionally narrating her work in a whisper.
And I was supposed to be reviewing the documentation Clara had suggested I compile—other hotel projects with similar environmental profiles that had been approved.Building my case to prove the planning department was treating us inconsistently.
Instead, I kept finding myself watching them.
The way Clara would absently reach out to smooth Mia's hair when the little girl wandered over to show her something.The comfortable silence between them, punctuated by Mia's questions and Clara's patient answers.The ease of it all.
The romance and the sex was fucking incredible.But this?This domestic rhythm made me feel like my space was filled with life instead of just expensive furniture.The Botanical Garden plant sale haul didn’t hurt things either.I’d already reached out to a contractor to build a special indoor greenhouse just for these plants, until each one found their forever home.
"Nash?"Clara's voice pulled me from my thoughts.She was looking at me with amusement."You've been staring at that same document for fifteen minutes."
"Just thinking."
"About the permit?"
"Among other things."I forced myself to think about work things again.And then an idea hit me.“Are you still looking for properties to include in your green space portfolio?”
“I am.I have two so far, but I need three.”
“What if you used something from the Queens neighborhood?”I thought about the buildings we’d purchased, or even the Meridian complex itself.“Between the buildings Archer and I bought and the other properties there, I’m sure something could work.I could probably get blueprints of any place you wanted, too.Including the Meridian site itself.”
Her eyes lit up.“That’s a great idea!”
“You can come visit with me and look around personally,” I said.“My next visit to meet with the neighborhood is coming up.You’ll love them, too.Everyone’s so great there.Total mom and pop vibes.Just…feels like home.”
She got a dreamy smile on her face, an expression so warm and adoring that I had trouble holding her gaze.My gut twisted, and I heard that same voice from the morning whisperingshe won’t stay once she’s allowed to go.Nobody stays for you.
I tried to shove the thoughts out of my head.Luckily, Mia appeared at my elbow, tugging on my sleeve."Naff, you help me."
I blinked, looking over at Clara.Had I heard that correctly?Judging by the growing smile on Clara’s face, she’d heard it too.
“What’s his name, sweetie?”Clara encouraged.
“Naff,” Mia said.
Hell if that wasn’t the cutest thing I’d ever heard.Warmth radiated through me as a grin overtook my face."What's the problem, Miss Mia?"
She held up her coloring book, pointing to a castle."We color the towers?"
"This is a big coloring job," I said seriously."What color should this tower be?"
"Purple!But you have to colornice."
For the next few minutes, I colored a purple tower while Mia worked on a blue one.She corrected my technique multiple times and told me increasingly elaborate stories about the princess who lived in the castle.
We ordered in for a late lunch—pizza for Mia, Thai food for Clara and me.Mia was in the middle of explaining why dragons were actually very nice if you gave them the right snacks when my phone buzzed with a news alert.
BREAKING: Cross Developments Announces Major Queens Project
