Happiness, like I hadn’t experienced in years, bubbled up so aggressively that I thought I would explode. Needing an outlet, I threw my arms around my dad and lost myself in his accepting warmth. I’d been so busy proving how great I could be that I forgot to stop and just be with my dad.
Both our eyes were wet by the time we pulled back.
“I thought about giving it to Lucian, but I wanted to give it to you myself.”
“I’ll make sure I pass it on,” I promised, tucking it back inside the box.
“Do you have much more work to do today?”
“Not in the office. But I do have an opening act I need to check out tonight, and then I’ll head home.”
He leaned back and smiled, just watching me.
“What?”
“Being in a relationship looks good on you. I’m glad to see Lucian making you so happy.”
“Me, too. Especially because if he didn’t,” I said, my smile turning wicked. “I’d kick his ass.”
“That’s my girl.”
“What the hell are you wearing?”Lucian demanded, his dark voice full of tension, contradicting his relaxed position in bed.
I raised my brows in challenge, as if to say,Excuse me?
“I’m wearing a shirt.”
“That is jewelry. Is there anything even under it?”
Pursing my lips, I looked down at the collection of pearls attached to form a loose tank top…kind of. Slowly, I tipped my head back up with an antagonistic smirk. “Just me,” I taunted.
A low growl rumbled deep in his chest—his bare chest.
I dropped my purse on the dresser and slowly stalked to the bed, taking in his broad shoulders and sculpted abs that eventually disappeared under the sheets. The bedside lamp illuminated enough to make my mouth water and make me want to see more.
“Is there anything under the sheets?” I asked, slipping my heels off and kicking them aside.
“Just me.” His dark eyes flashed behind his glasses.
I hummed as I reached the bed and crawled on, holding his heated gaze until it dropped to watch myshirtgape, revealing my swaying breasts. Wanting to prolong the tension between us,I went to my own pillow and lay on my side, resting my elbow to support my head. “I didn’t know you wore glasses,” I said before he could move his laptop aside.
His brow furrowed. “Do they make me look old?”
“Not at all. I think they make you look very sexy.”
“That’s good. I only use them at night.” He studied my wicked smile and sighed, resigned to play my game. “So, how was tonight?”
“Good. I signed a new band. They’ll come in next week to finalize the paperwork. There were even two other competing companies there, and I still managed to sway them to Quinn.”
“If nothing else, the past few months have taught me not to doubt you.”
I threw my fist up, pumping the air in victory, earning a laugh from him. “So, how was your day at work?”
“Good.”
My face scrunched. “What do you even do? You know, other than stealing companies from entitled princesses before marrying them.”
“Other than that,” he said dryly. “I invest in other companies to benefit my own. Meanwhile, we have our own operations in manufacturing, shipping, and insurance. It’s a lot of balancing that.”
