The woman smiled professionally, though amusement flickered across her face. “Excellent choice. Is there anything else, or is that it?”
“I believe that’s it. Can you guarantee us twenty-four-hour shipping and assembly?”
As Leo discussed delivery windows with the saleswoman, I found myself watching him more than listening. For most of my life, I’d been the one handling problems, making arrangements, and ensuring everyone else was taken care of. It had never occurred to me that someone might step in and do the same for me. Even if it was only furniture and delivery dates, Leo approached it with the same quiet determination he brought to everything else.
It was a stupid thing to get emotional over, butthatwas the reason only Leo could be the one.
I was so deep in thought I didn’t realize what was happening until we were at the cashier’s desk and Leo pulled out his wallet.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? Paying for the couch.” He took out his credit card, but I grabbed his elbow before he could hand it over to the cashier.
“It’s my house.”
“I know.”
“I can afford my own furniture.”
He sighed like I was being tedious. “I know that too.”
“Then why are you paying for it?”
Leo finally looked up at me fully, calm and completely unbothered by the argument already forming in my head. His quiet authority was one of the most attractive things about him. I found it irresistible.
“Because I want to,” he said. “Because of me, you bought a whole lot more things than you planned to, and I know you can afford it, but I want to do something for you too.”
“Leo—”
“Dollface.”
That voice hit me immediately. Soft enough not to drawattention from anyone nearby, but firm in a way that made my stomach tighten pleasantly. He knew well enough what that tone and that endearment did to me.
“You’re getting the couch,” he continued. “And I’m buying it. Stop arguing and be good.”
Be good.
Damn it. I never wanted to be so good for anyone else in my life.
I wanted to argue but, given our next stop, that could turn out badly if I didn’t allow him to do this. I dropped my hand and watched him pay for my luxury couch as if it didn’t cost an arm and a leg. He made a lot of money as a surgeon, but it was nowhere close to the kind of money I had.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“You’re welcome.”
Then he kissed me hard on the lips before accepting his receipt and his card from the cashier.
32
LEO
By the time we left the furniture store, I was starving, tired, and far more pleased with myself than I had any right to be.
I had gone into the day expecting discomfort. Maybe awkwardness. Maybe one of those outings where two people pretended things were normal because neither of them wanted to be the first to point out how much history sat between them like a loaded gun. Instead, I had spent the past few hours arguing over furniture with Sergei as if we were nothing more complicated than two men building a home together. It should have terrified me more than it did.
The sun started its slow descent by the time we stepped out into the parking lot, warm light spilling across rows of cars and catching on the black surface of Sergei’s SUV. My stomach grumbled as I folded the receipt for the couch and tucked it into my wallet, already thinking about the nearest place we could get something decent to eat. While shoppingwith Sergei had turned out to be pleasant, it had also drained the last of my energy.
“Food,” I announced as Sergei unlocked the SUV. “I have given you furniture, my time, and my excellent taste. I require payment in the form of something hot and delicious.”
