I dropped into the closest chair, feeling my breath vanish. "What?" I gasped. Because ten grand was a fuckload of money.
"She won't have student loans," Ash promised. "She'll be able to go to an Ivy League school if she wants. She's family, Luke. She's Lilac, and we're going to take care of her, regardless of what happens with you. Gran's goal was to make sure that we'd succeed, and that our kids would do even better. In case you missed it, Violet and I don't have kids to worry about right now."
"Shit," I breathed. "I don't deserve that, Ash."
"Has nothing to do with you," he promised, "and Faith definitely deserves it. We're going to make sure she has all the same chances we did, but I want to use her in the spring catalog. I want to show her as a kid. I want to prove to her that she's pretty without making her starve until she's a size double zero. Yeah, that happens. It's also why Violet got hired as young as she was. I want to change the fashion industry, Luke, and that means I need beautiful women who aren't starving. Faith's one."
"But after Brody?" I asked.
He nodded. "Which means she's going to get a lot of say. I want to give her the control back. I want to teach her about consent, and that this is all in her hands. If she backs out after we do this, then I will pull those images out and make it clear she canalwayssay no. Even if she thinks it's too late. I want to do this to help her learn that her body is hers. Not mine, not some man's, and not even yours. She is the only one who can say what she's ok with."
So I nodded. "Ok. And if you think me being in on it will help, then I'll try. I just don't have the first clue how to do that shit."
"You really do," he promised. "Stand there, look pretty, and flex a bit. With a kid in the shot, you'll need to keep your dick down to a semi, but there'sa kid in the shot."
I laughed. "Yeah, does kinda kill the sex appeal." Then I stood. "Ok, I need to talk to Cess."
"I already picked clothes for you tomorrow. If you don't like it, feel free to raid my closet. Pretty sure everything I have will fit."
"You're a little leaner in the waist," I pointed out.
He just smiled. "And tight works for you. It'll fit, Luke. We're only off by an inch." And his eyes dropped down to my waist, then kept going until I felt the blood dropping.
"Quit," I hissed. "I just got that under control."
He laughed. "Cy, huh?" Then he waved me out. "Go talk to your attorney. Grab a beer and one of the red ones for her."
I left trying to figure out which "red one" he was talking about, but when I opened the fridge, it made sense. Someone had bought a few girly drinks to stack up beside the beer. Pomegranate somethings. Wine coolers, basically, but without the wine. Holding one of those and a beer by the necks, I headed for the door to the guest suite and knocked.
"Come!" Cessily yelled on the other side.
"I am under orders," I told her as I stepped in and closed the door behind me.
She sat in one of the reading chairs in the corner. The small table was filled with her papers and there was another stack on the floor by her feet. This woman was something else, and almost as pretty as Violet. In other words, intimidating, but she looked up with a smile. I twisted off the top of her drink and passed it over, then did the same for my beer and claimed the other chair.
"So, tomorrow?" I asked. "Ash said he's already picked my clothes."
"We've got a problem," she said, dropping that on me. "According to Violet, Paul Simmons is now invested in this. That means Meredith will have more available funds for her case. Darnell is going to be keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious hanging around the property, but assume that anything off the grounds is going to be scrutinized. I need you on your best behavior until this is over."
"I can do that," I assured her.
She lifted a beautifully sculpted brow. "Can you? I need you to be a committed, monogamous, and completely reliable man. No fighting, Luke. If someone comes after Ash, call the cops. Don't jump in. If those boys flirt, you need to laugh it off. If a sexy woman walks down the street, you will look away. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, ma'am," I promised.
"And do not forget that Faith is also a witness in this. No grinding up against some guy where she might walk in on it. No risks, Luke."
I sighed. "I'm trying, Cess."
"I know you are," she assured me. "I also know that the chemistry between you four is real. Look, I don't care what happens while Faith is at school. I just need you to be sure you can close it down when she's home. You and Violet Dawson are real and very serious. It's a committed relationship. You are a good example to your daughter. You will continue to go to church every Sunday."
I nodded. "That's the plan."
"No bed swapping," she added.
"Uh..."
Cessily lifted a hand. "I don't care if you're seen in Violet's bed. But the only other person in it had better be Violet." She paused to take a drink and her entire body seemed to relax. "Luke, you were arrested for assault. Now, I'm going to make that go away, but - "
