Trey rolled his eyes. "She told you the story of how I was jilted at the altar six years ago? And how everyone got so shocked when the altar boy handed me a note from my ex saying she couldn't marry me because she didn't really love me and didn't want to have my children? But that she was thankful for this and thankful for that, blah, blah, blah?"
His mother's oldest sister loved telling that story to everyone she met. He suspected that was the most exciting thing that had ever happened in his aunt's life.
"Yeah, something like that. I'm sorry that happened to you," Kris said softly, then she shook her head vigorously. "Actually, I'm not sorry," she said in a strong voice. "You're better off without that woman. And if you were married to her now, then we wouldn't be together."
He grinned a face-splitting, sunshiny-bright grin. With just those words, Kris had swiftly and efficiently erased whatever residual pain he still carried from that day. He lifted her from the floor and hugged her tight.
She giggled. "Baby, you're crushing me."
He set her back down and looked into her eyes. "If we ever bump into my ex in the future, remind me to thank her for dumping me."
"Best thing that's ever happened to you, huh?" Kris teased.
"No," he whispered. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." He kissed her, hoping his mouth conveyed all the love and tenderness he felt for her at that moment.
Kris moaned and tried to deepen the kiss. He was more than glad to comply but there was something else he wanted to discuss. He leaned back.
"Move in with me," he blurted out.
Kris gaped at him for a long second before giving him a radiant smile. "Okay."
"And no, you're not paying me rent," he said sourly.
She sighed. "Okay. But I'm buying the groceries whenever I feel like it and you won't complain if I want to buy you dinner or take you shopping every now and then," she said sternly.
"Okay." He could live with that. But he'd make sure he topped whatever gifts and experiences she gave him. He was a highly competitive man, and he loved looking after this particular woman. He adored her.
Kris frowned, as if remembering something, and her face clouded.
"What is it?"
Her cute lips formed into a worried pout. "I just hope Blake is impressed enough with me at work that he'll want to keep me here after the three months are up."
"Do you want to stay? To move here permanently?" he asked softly.
"Of course. You're here. And I do love my job at the studio. We have great clients there."
He smiled. "Then I'm sure Blake will give you your role permanently."
"I hope so."
"I know so," he said in a low voice.
"How do you know?" she asked.
He led Kris to the couch, hoping she wouldn't be upset that he'd butted into her professional life. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap.
"Remember how Blake mentioned some complications that he had to get around before he offered you the job?" he started.
"Yes."
"I asked a connection of mine to do some digging, and it appeared Blake was in some financial difficulty. When I went to see Blake, I told him I was willing to help him out. In the process, I discovered that Blake's actually a decent guy. He told me about his issues. It turned out that the main investor for his Melbourne studio has some gambling problems. Because he was keen to get started straight away, Blake borrowed big, using the Sydney studio as security for the loan before he got the money from that investor. Well, the investor failed to honour the contract, and Blake was caught not having enough liquid capital to open Melbourne, and having to pay all the debts with Sydney earnings. He was able to get a small, short-term loan from his family; that was why he was able to give you that three-month contract.
"Anyway, I offered him a deal. I said I was willing to step in as an investor for his studios—with specific terms, of course. First, that you are on the payroll. Second, that he treats you as a valued employee and nothing more. He readily agreed. He said you're a shoo-in for any role you want anyway, even without my terms. After your contract here is up, you have a choice of going back to Melbourne to work in the studio there, or stay here in Sydney."
Kris stared at him in disbelief. "You now own shares in Blake's studios?"
"Yes."
Her face remained a picture of shock.
"Kris?"
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because I didn't want you to feel pressured into continuing to work with Blake after the three months are up. I wanted your decision to be independent of my actions."
"If I decided not to work for him anymore, what would happen to your investment?"