“I bought Caroline three new books, Skittles, and a box of Popsicles.”
“Did you buy anything for yourself?”
“Deodorant. Oh and a pack of gum so my ears wouldn’t pop on the plane.”
His mouth curls into a smirk. “When’s the last time you bought yourself something nice?”
“I don’t need anything,” I whisper.
He kisses my lips. “I know what you need, baby.” He knows he’s got me now.
With every kiss he draws from my mouth, he weakens my resolve. I’ll give him this. He needs it. I don’t know why but he’s always had this insatiable need to take care of me. But now it’s my turn to take care of him, to love him, to make him as happy as I possibly can. He deserves more than I can ever give but there’s no way I could ever let him go.
I wrap my arms around him, pulling him in close. “Okay, shopping, then what?”
“Dinner with my agent and a few big wigs from the label then the rest of the week I’m all yours.”
“You mean half the day on Sunday?”
“No, I mean until Friday when we fly back together.”
“My flight leaves Sunday night at six.”
“Not anymore it doesn’t.”
I tense, anger swiftly stealing my good mood. It was enough to get me to come for the weekend, now he wants me to stay the whole week. “I can’t stay until Friday. I have to work.”
“I already took care of it.”
“You took care of it?” I ask, raising my voice. “What do you mean you took care of it?”
“I called your boss.” He looks completely unashamed.
Shoving him aside, I hop down from the stool. “I can’t believe you called my boss.”
He laughs. “Mitch is a nice guy and he was more than happy to give you the time off. Said you deserved a long vacation.”
I huff in frustration at Mitch’s generosity and Linc’s blatant interference. “Is Mitch gonna pay my bills while I’m off for an entire week?”
“No, I am.”
Folding my arms, I gape at him, thinking he cannot be serious. But by the smug look on his face, he totally is.
“Linc, you’re not paying my bills for me. And what about Caroline? I can’t leave her for a week. I just can’t.”
My chest constricts and tightens. It took everything I had to leave her this morning.
Linc takes a tentative step forward. “She’ll be fine. Your parents were more than happy to have the extra time with her.”
“You called my parents too? I can’t believe you did all of this behind my back.”
“I didn’t do anything behind your back. I wanted to surprise you. And I was afraid if I told you earlier you wouldn’t come.”
“Well, you would’ve been right,” I snap. “I’m so pissed at you right now.”
“I can tell.” He smirks.
He moves closer and I try to look anywhere but his eyes. They are sparkling with amusement, and I know if I look I’ll cave. Knowing that he’s gone to all the trouble to spend more time with me all but eliminates my anger.
