I shifted in my seat so I could look at him… really look at him. “What sort of idea?”
“I have a penthouse with six bedrooms, a rooftop terrace, and the best private school in Chicago is two blocks away. I’m not saying we have to stay married, but there is no reason you can’t stay with me. You can work if you want to or not. It’ll be totally up to you. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you”
My jaw dropped. “What if you want to bring women to your house or something?”
“I haven’t had a woman in my penthouse since I began the coup against my father.”
That long? He’d planned that even before I began working for him. “Haven’t you been lonely?”
His gaze lowered to his lap. “I hadn’t thought about it. I just…” He lifted his head, and his gaze caught mine.
My breath caught at the depth of sadness reflected in them.
“I’m fine.” He smiled. “I just thought I’d offer. That way I know you’re safe, you have plenty of room for little man, and all that space isn’t wasted.”
I leaned the bottle against my chest and palmed his cheek. “You haven’t been fine in a long time. It’s okay if you aren’t. You don’t have to be, especially with me. If anyone asks, your Superman suit is still firmly intact.”
He grunted a laugh. “Hardly.” The word was soft and barely audible.
“But you are. To me and Elias. I don’t know what I would have done without you. The lawyer, the marriage…” I held up my hand. “This ring, which is beautiful and perfect. You’ve been a superhero to me.”
“Your sister wanted you to have Elias. You’re the better parent. It shouldn’t be a fight, but it is. We’re going to fight to win. If Colter thinks he can use small-town politics to defy the wishes of your sister, he’s going to learn how wrong he is, quickly.”
And when Jason talked like that, it filled my cup of hope to the rim.
“I’m sure the appeal was filed today.”
“Yeah, probably. Rex will call us as soon as he gets the notice. I suspect tomorrow or the next.”
Elias finished eating, I set his bottle to the side, and grabbed a burp cloth before lifting him to my shoulder.
“Are you hungry?” Jason asked.
“A little.”
He smiled. “I know you enjoy Cookie Crisp but you could probably use some protein. Anna brought us dinner home after their date.”
“That was sweet.”
“Yeah, it was. I could go warm it up if you like.”
I gave a small nod. “I’d love that.” My growling stomach punctuated the statement.
He laughed as he pushed off the couch. “Late, late night dinner coming up.”
Once Elias was burped, I joined Jason in the kitchen. I took a deep breath, and my stomach growled again. “Wow, that smells great.”
“My sister said they were famous for their chicken fried steak with homemade cream gravy, so that’s what she brought us.”
I grinned. “I’m so down for that. Although I might save some room for a Cookie Crisp snack later.” I teased.
He laughed with me. “Of course.”
As Jason took the meal out of the microwave, Thomas came flying in, gun drawn. “Get down.”
He didn’t get the last word out before shots rang out. Jason lunged toward me, pulling us both to the floor behind the kitchen island. He shielded me with his body while I curled around Elias, protecting him from whatever was happening outside.
“What’s happening?”
