“Would they have to be yours biologically?”
I think about the life Wren has had. The loss of their mother at thirteen. A father who didn’t care, much like my own. “I’d be happy to have biological kids. But I think I’d be equally happy giving a home to kids who need a better start in life than the one they’ve been dealt.”
And the smile Wren gives me in return suggests they would too.
21
WREN
“It’s time for bed,” Catfish says several hours later, his fingers lingering on the lid of my laptop, slowly but surely lowering it closed.
I quickly save what I was working on before my fingers get caught. “But there’s still so much work to do. I’ve barely begun?—”
“And it will all still be there in the morning. And you might be able to see the problem and challenge from a different angle if you get a decent night’s sleep.”
“But you’re all out on a limb for me. Feels like the least I can do is find the rest of your money, or—” My words say one thing, but inside I feel a little mushy that he notices I’m tired and encourages me to stop. It feels like something I’m incapable of doing by myself.
“Wren.”
“I’m so close. I’ve filtered all my communication with?—”
“Come. To. Bed.”
When he says it like that, I have little choice in the matter. Because I want to follow him. No, maybe it’s more than that. I want to please him. Please us both.
Because if I had to put a hand on a Bible and swear what I really want to do right now, it’s not track crypto or ward off federal agents. It’s get naked with this man and continue what we started in the shower.
I stand, and Catfish cups my cheeks before kissing me like he’s trying to burn me into memory. Like he’s waited years, not days, to have me again like this.
When he’s done, a slightly mischievous grin races to his face, making him look younger than his nearly thirty years. “Let’s get upstairs before I strip you and take you on the counter.”
“Given the way my body just responded to that kiss, I’m not sure I’d mind if you did.”
He pats the cool marble. “I’m making a mental note that we need to christen it, but tonight, I want you in bed.”
I take his hand but let him lead us up the stairs. “I appreciate the romantic sentiment.”
“Got to be honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever tested my romantic tendencies.”
I huff at that. “You’re a liar.”
He stops on the landing with the wide wooden banister that looks down over the main family area. “What do you mean by that?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, but realizing when I was overstimulated and kicking everyone out so you could drop the lights and make me dinner was romantic. Finding a way to get us out of the bakery and go for a ride on a horse. That was pretty romantic too. And let’s not mention how you took care of me when I dropped the mug, and you carefully patched me up.”
He runs a knuckle down my cheek. “That was just me looking out for you.”
“Which is inherently sexy and romantic.”
“If that’s all it takes to keep you happy, Wren, you got to level up your expectations.”
We walk to the bedroom, the large one with a wooden four-poster bed and view towards the mountains in the daylight. Now, all I can see is uninterrupted stars.
“You want me to test your romantic tendencies?”
Catfish chuckles as he removes his wallet from his pocket, takes a condom from it, and tosses it down onto the bed. “Not sure that’s exactly what I was saying, because they could be shit for all we know. Maybe you’ve already seen the best of them.”
I reach for the buttons of the denim shirt he’s wearing and begin to undo them. “Then I guess we’ve both got some growing and testing and learning to do.”
