So I have to leave her tonight and every night, because I plan on seeing them every single day, and go back to my lonely condo, leaving them here unprotected.”
“You do know we’ve lived on our own for tow years without incident.” “That’s not the point and you know it.”
“You said it yourself, it’s not very realistic for you to expect me to just jump into the situation no matter how much I may want to.”
“So you do want to.” I dropped the dish back in the soapy water and snatched her up. “Well what’s stopping you?”
“Put me down before dad comes in here, he’s nosy.”
“Uh-uh, tell me, what’s stopping you? Is it fear of the unknown? I could say the same you know. I’m worth billions, how do I know you won’t take me for all I’ve got?”
“How would I do that?”
“When I marry you, you will be entitled to half my assets, and when you get to know me you’ll learn that I hate to lose, so you see, we both have something to lose.”
“Somehow I don’t think it’s the same. I don’t think you can compare paper to a broken heart.”
“Who says you won’t break my heart? You stand as much chance of breaking my heart as I do yours. Or are you one of those women who think that men have no feelings and are only interested in one thing?”
She bit her lip and seemed to be giving my words some thought. “You know what your problem is baby, you think too much. Let’s take a chance on each other.”
“If it were just me, but the boys...”
“Don’t you see? This is as much for them, as it is for us. I just met them yesterday and I’m already in love with them. I want to give them everything that I had as a kid...”
“That’s just it, how can I trust that? How can I believe that you want my boys when their own father has never even seen them?”
“I thought I told you I wasn’t about to pay for some other asshole’s fuck ups? He was a kid you said right? I don’t know why he ran, but I’ll tell you what, I’m happy as fuck that he’s out of the picture.
I don’t know what I would’ve done if you’d told me that you were taken. I’ve never reacted this way to anyone before in my life. Not mentally or physically.
The bottom line here is that I will always be a part of your life from now on. I will never let anyone else have you ever, so you’re pretty much stuck.
Now I’m trying to respect you and give you the time you need, but it’s going to be hard. If you drag this shit out it’s going to be torture.”
“We’ve known each other a little more than twenty four hours, you’re acting as if I’ve been stringing you along for months or something.”
“It feels like fucking forever already and knowing your stubborn ass it’ll take you that long to get your shit together. Here’s what we’re going to do.
I’ll give you time to get to know me, but no space.”
“What does that mean?” she frowned up at me before wiping the forgotten dish in her hand.
“It means that I’m going to be here with you every minute that you’re not at work. I want to spend as much time as possible with you and the boys until you’re all comfortable with me.
I’ll try not to rush you into bed, but I will touch you at every opportunity. With that said, the two weeks rule still stands so I hope you get whatever it is you need before then, because Laurie I promise you, that is the one thing I will not give in on.”
“What if I say no?”
“You won’t”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because by then I would have won you over, I already have the boys so that’s done. Just think about it okay.”
Chapter NINE
It felt like something was off when I went to the office the next day. Like I was missing a limb. I wasn’t at my desk five minutes before I was reaching for the phone.
I’d already spoken to the boys this morning when I woke up, and I know she starts work in another hour, but I missed her like hell already.
I changed course and did something I’ve never done for anyone else but mom. “Hey Mel, this is Brett Cantone, I need a couple dozen pink roses delivered.”
“Pink, but your mom likes yellow roses.” Oh shit, I guess I know who her next call will be. Why didn’t I think of that? Oh well, too late now.
“These aren’t for mom, and Mel, I need them to go out ASAP.” I gave her the name and address and hung up.
Five minutes later mom was crowing on the phone. “Pink huh, so she’s a girly girl?”
“Mom, I’m working here.”