I look into his darkened eyes, my stomach clenching. Sterling is a gentleman, like everyone says he is. But he’s no saint. I know he had a fight with Rory. He told me how Rory came to the apartment after he tried to pay him off. And I know Rory took the first swing, but that Sterling ended it.
I also know Sterling has the strength to kill him with his bare hands if he’d wanted to.
But he didn’t.
“I don’t want you to do anything that could get you in trouble. I know Rory. He’s just trying to stir things. But that’s all he’s got. We need to ignore him.”
Sterling sucks in a breath, his nostrils flaring and his hands flexing against his thighs. I reach out and take one in mine, feeling it soften instantly before he entwines his fingers with mine.
We sit in silence for a few minutes as I stroke the back of his hand with my thumb, watching the tension slowly ease from his body.
“Do you want to hear what else I did today that I think will make you feel better?” I ask in a sweet voice.
His eyes soften a fraction. “Of course, I do. Tell me what you got up to, Baby girl.”
“So after I spoke with some potential new clients, I met up with Sinclair and Zoey, and we had a video call with Sophie. They want to plan my bachelorette party.”
Sterling smiles for the first time since he came home, and the sight makes my heart swell.
“Whatever you want to do, just let me know how much you need.”
“You can’t pay?—”
“Hallie.” He arches a brow. “We’ve had this conversation before. I want to take care of you. You’re going to be my wife. I’m paying for it.”
I hold back my huff as I look into his unwavering gaze. I want to argue it out with him but now’s not the time. He’s only just starting to relax.
“The same as the wedding,” he adds. “Your mom and dad want to buy your dress, but I asked if I could take care of the rest.”
“And my dad agreed?” I shake my head with an incredulous laugh. “Gosh, he must really like you to let you talk him into that. He can be so stubborn.”
“That’s where you get it from, then?”
His eyes twinkle as I bat him on the chest.
“How about you? What are you going to do? I know Mal has some ideas, and Sullivan said he’ll take care of all the planning.”
Sterling brings our joined hands to his lips.
“I don’t need one.” He turns my hand so he can press a kiss to the inside of my wrist.
“Yes you do.”
“You know what I do need?”
“What?”
He pulls me into his lap so that I’m straddling him and looks up at me as he slides his hands down my sides and curls them around my hips.
“Right now, I need to make love to my fiancée while I have the chance. Because if you think I’m waiting a long time to make you my wife, then you’re wrong.”
I settle happily in his arms, rolling my hips and smiling at the aroused groan that rolls out from the back of his throat.
“We need time to plan it.”
“One month,” he rasps, pressing a kiss to my windpipe as he uses his hands on my hips to grind me on the erection in his pants.
“What? That’s impossible. I need at least nine.”
