“What are you going to do about work?” I twist my head so I can look down at her. “Don’t get me wrong, you can be a lady of leisure as long as you want. I’ll support you, keep you naked and barefoot in my kitchen, making me fresh pasta for the rest of our lives, if that's what you want.”
She’s outright laughing now, but little does she know I’m at least a tad serious about my offer. She’s giving up everything to be with me. Which means, whatever I can do for her, I will.
“I will make you pasta whenever you want, but the naked and barefoot part might be reserved for days off. I’m actually going to be working at Piatti.”
I frown. “The restaurant in Vancouver?” I haven’t had a chance to go there with her yet, to meet the chef and owner she’s befriended, but I’ve heard about it plenty.
She nods, her arms tightening around my middle. “Yep. I went to have lunch with Gianni and Paul yesterday, actually.” She pauses. “Or was it the day before yesterday? What time is it, anyway?” She goes to lift her head, but I push it back down to my chest.
“Focus, baby, what happened when you met with them?”
“They offered me a job. A partnership, actually, but we’re going to start with me just working in the kitchen as Gianni’s assistant, maybe handling one or two days a week so he can have some time off. But eventually, I might buy in as part owner. They want to expand soon; they’ve got this amazing rooftop space that would be perfect for events in the summer.”
I push up to sit and look down at her, my mouth open. “You…you might get to own a restaurant. In Vancouver.”
She nods, smiling up at me. “Yup.”
I grab her, pulling her up and into my lap, burying my face in her neck. “Baby, that makes me so damn happy.” My voice cracks at the end, and she strokes my back comfortingly.
“Hey. Kai. What’s wrong?”
“I was worried you were giving up everything for me. And…and I didn’t know if I could be enough for you if you did that.” I rush the second part. There’s no one I’d be this open with, this vulnerable, other than her.
“Oh Kai,” she murmurs, taking my face in her hands and tilting it so I’m looking in her eyes.
“Even if they hadn’t offered me a job, I’d still stay for you. Don’t you get it yet? I’m staying for you. You’re worth that and so much more. The job is just a beautiful surprise, but you’re the reason.”
I stare at her, taking it all in. She means every word. I can feel that truth settling over me. She chose me. A smile creeps across my face.
“You’re gonna marry me someday.”
A burst of laughter escapes her as she throws her head back. “Is that your idea of a proposal?”
I shake my head with a smirk. “Nah. You’ll know when I propose. That was just a warning.”
“I don’t consider your proposal something I need to be warned about.” She smiles, twisting my hair around her fingers. “But you could make it a promise.”
I lift one hand, my pinky extended. “Promise.”
She links her pinky with mine and brings it to her mouth to kiss. “Promise.”
I twist us back down to the bed so that she’s straddling me. “Let’s seal that promise with round four.”
Her head tilts to the side. “Four? By my count, it’s at least five. Or did I dream you eating me out in the middle of the night?”
“It was a dream come true for me, baby.” I smile wickedly. “One I plan on having again and again and again.”
Chapter thirty-eight
Isabelle
“You better leave me some hot water,” I call through the open door to the en suite as I drain the last sips of coffee from my cup.
I can hear Kai’s chuckle over the sound of the shower. God love him, but he takes long-ass showers sometimes.
Today is not the time for that. I’ve got to be at the restaurant in half an hour, but Kai just got back from a team meeting and light practice, and jumped in the shower before I could remind him I was under a time crunch.
This is what I get for trying to surprise the man.
