As I buckled my seatbelt, and he made the engine purr underneath us, I had made up my mind. He was checking traffic over his shoulder. Before we pulled away, I needed to tell him.
“Cash?”
“Yes, beautiful?” He was watching his mirrors, waiting for a hole to squeak out into the flow of traffic.
“I’ve just gotten out of a shit storm of a relationship, and I’m actually in therapy because of it. I want to see where this goes, but I also need to build a firm foundation of trust and friendship before anything happens, or we become official or whatever.” I knew I was rambling on and on.
He looked at me.
And his face eased, softening, as he tipped one side of his mouth up.
Chapter Twenty-Six:
Cash’s POV
I knew she’d been in a shitty relationship. I figured that out at the office, seeing the footage from Sara. I was willing to wait however long it took for her to be ready. Women like Devin didn’t come around that often, so when you found one, and she was single, you grabbed hold tightly. You didn’t let go and showed her just how much you love and appreciate everything she does.
“I thought so. But, I want you to know, that’s totally fine with me. Since we need to work on that foundation of trust, I’ll start,” I pulled away from the curb after making sure it was safe to merge.
“I saw you first at the Christmas party. The one at the manor that Clint holds every year.” I glanced at her, and she looked like a deer caught in headlights, probably thinking that I witnessed her husband’s infidelity that night.
“When I saw you…damn woman. You knocked me off my feet. I thought you were the most stunning woman in the entire room. You complimented that green dress so well. And the shoes, those were an excellent choice. I also want to confess that I asked Clint to set me up with you, and he kept pushing me off.” I was offering up whatever I could think of. I wanted to be upfront and honest, giving her the information before she could ask for it.
“I did go on a single date with three different women after that party, but none of them caught my interest. It was dinner, and nothing more. I dropped them off, walked them to the door like a gentleman should, and left. No kisses were had,nor was anything else.” She was quiet, so I kept talking as I drove us to the restaurant. Hoping I hadn’t just put my foot in my mouth, but I also wanted not just honestly, but transparency. I wanted her to feel like she could see everything about me and not find any surprises.
“Seeing you at the Anti-Valentine’s Day party was a stroke of luck, that I took as fate, and I’m so fucking thankful for. Also, my assistant is your neighbor, and showed me a video of what happened most recently.” Her hand went to mine, gripping it tightly. I glanced at her, keeping my eyes on the road. She looked like she was terrified to know how much I knew.
“I heard shouting and asked what she was watching. She told me it was some drama with her neighbor and she wanted to help you get proof to be able to move. I looked up as the video showed you sitting on the floor in your apartment. I restarted it and watched it again. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through that with your ex, and his mistress.”
“He’s calling me as a witness in the trial against for raping him,” she all but whispered. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I wanted to fucking bash his face in. Hard.
“I also got his former job when he was fired. I, uh,” fuck this was going to be awkward, “I dabble in real estate. So, I, um,” just say it. “I bought your apartment. I’ve got a crew coming in as soon as you can move into the one in the building Eddie and I live in, and getting it rented. I also own that building, but no one knows. Just my lawyer and real estate agent. And now you.”
“Wow,” she breathed out.
“Please don’t think too much about me owning the building. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes landlord. I just do it for the paycheck. It’s a nice boost in my income and will help mebe able to secure a nice spot to build a house out of the city if we want, or if you want to stay in the city we can. Whichever.”
“Wait. What?”
“Sorry,” I chuckled, having caught her off guard, “I plan to pursue you. I like you. There is something about you that I want to get to know more about. You are kind. Beautiful. Smart, from what Clint has said. You have excellent friends, who clearly know that you’re too good for me. I’m a thirty-nine-year-old bachelor. I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone to make me feel something. Something more than just, ‘eh. This is fun for now’ but not seeing anything long term. You know I volunteer with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. And I feel like I’ve done enough talking for the night. I want to know more about you.”
“Wait,” her face scrunching up, her head shaking, and her hands going out in front of her, “Wait. You’re really okay with getting to know each other, and going slow? Like, friends first and then relationship?” I can see her looking at me, watching my every movement out of the corner of my eye. Thankfully it was a red light. I looked at her, and grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it. Her skin was so soft, I wanted to constantly be touching her.
“Yes. I am. I want to know you, and I’m willing to wait however long you need to be ready for me. However,” the light turned and I started forward after making sure it was safe to go. I had the most precious cargo I could carry in here with me. “I will be hitting on you, letting you know what you do to me, learning all I can about what you like and don’t like. I will be pursuing you. Relentlessly. Please know that.”
She nodded. I squeezed her hand as we pulled up to the restaurant. The valet came over to open the door for her before Ihanded him my keys. I opened her door and held my hand out. No one but me would be doing that for her. She smiled up at me, and I swear everything was right in the world. There was nothing anyone could say to make me think or feel otherwise tonight.
I couldn’t wait to get to know her.
*****
Devin’s POV
We’d been at dinner for an hour already and we were still talking, and laughing. God my stomach hurt from all the laughing he’d had me doing tonight. It was belly laughing, in the middle of a fancy restaurant. The first time in, I didn’t know how long. I was embarrassed at first until he let out a belly laugh of his own, eyes twinkling at me from across the table. Everyone stared, but he insisted it was because of my beauty. I would have rolled my eyes so hard if I hadn’t seen the utter sincerity in his.
“Alright, so, your Mam’s parents are local, but you guys don’t have anything to do with them because they aren’t very…kind? Loving?”
“Honestly? I’m not too sure. My Mam said something happenedyearsago that caused her to leave and have no contact with them. She’s seen them around, but they’ve just ignored her, acted like she wasn’t even there. She said it felt like she was just part of the scenery. Then when they found out she’d married and had a baby, they tried to come around because of me, and this time she was the one to shut them out. My Pa’s parents were from Ireland.”
