“Yeah, so look—I can give you a wedding, however big or small you want it. You’ll have protection. Malice should be here soon. He’s your bodyguard and driver. I don’t want to put you on a leash, but you gotta be safe.”
“Can I keep running my business? It’s all I have.”
“Of course. I’m going to support you in that.” I paused, knowing the next part might not go over well. “Also, I may come home, I may not some nights.”
“What? No, that’s a deal breaker.”
I straightened up. “Can’t be. I’m a busy man, Co. It ain’t personal or because I don’t want to be here with you.”
“No,” she said, finally turning her back to me. “Even if you have to leave back out to do what you do, you come in, you eat my food. You let me lay eyes on you or at least call.”
I watched her cook, the efficient way she moved, how she seasoned, she knew exactly what she was doing.
She handed me perfectly scrambled eggs, steak tips, French toast and fruit. It looked better than anything I’d eaten in weeks.
“Where do you want to live? Is here okay for you? I have a home in Vireaux Pointe, but it’s a family home. Too much for a single man like me. But you can make it a home.”
“I would like to keep my place.”
“Meaning? You being in your spot and me in mine is a deal breaker.”
“I mean, I need to keep the bills paid there. I don’t want you going behind my back and selling my property. I worked hard for that house, and it may not be muc…”
“Chill, I hear you,” I said. I appreciated her hustle. And while I didn’t see this ending, I would give her what she wanted. “Your crib is safe. But I want us to stay together as often as possible.”
“We can stay here for now. I’ve never lived in a penthouse,” she grinned. I smiled back. I wanted to wake up to the smell of breakfast cooking, wanted to come home to someone who cared enough to make sure I was fed. And if she would do that for me, I’d do what she asked of me and come home unless I couldn’t.
We sat at the island, the morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She’d made herself a smaller portion but was eating slowly, watching me.
“My steak is good huh?”
“You know it is. That’s why you watching me eat. You a light eater?”
“Not really. I am nervous to be honest.”
“It’s okay to be nervous, but people are going to be watching us,” I said between bites. “Family, rivals, people who want to see if this marriage is real or just for show.”
“So we need to be convincing.”
“Yeah. Date nights, public appearances, acting like we can’t keep our hands off each other.” I paused, fork halfway to my mouth. “You good with that?”
She looked up from her plate, a small smile playing at her lips. “I think I can manage.”
The way she said it made heat pool in my stomach. This woman was going to be trouble. And I wasn’t sure I was equipped to handle.
“There’s something else,” I said, needing to focus on logistics before I reached across the counter and pulled her to me. “My father wants to meet you. Officially. As my wife.”
Her fork stopped moving. “When?”
“Soon.” I could see the apprehension in her eyes. “He likes to get the measure of people. Make sure they’re... compatible with the family.”
“And if I’m not?”
“You will be.” I reached over and covered her hand with mine. “You handled yourself at the dinner. You’re stronger than you think, Colecion.”
Saying her name made her breath catch, just like it had the other night. I liked the way she responded to it, the way her composure slipped just a little.
“What else?” she asked, her voice slightly rougher.
