Stirring Up Trouble(64)
George smiled fondly at Lola. “I’m happy to report my future daughter-in-law has passed all the audits and met the conditions of the Will.” He laughed and turned to Braden. “And with the tape she made of Jon, I can assure you he will not bother you again. In fact, he’ll be lucky if he doesn’t go to jail.” Growing serious, he tilted his head toward Lola. “Have you decided what to do about the lease?”
Although she answered George, she kept her gaze on him. “Braden can have the lease for as long as he wants it. I’m sure Ryan and Portia will want to celebrate all their anniversaries here.”
Not giving a crap about the lease, he didn’t know how to react. Didn’t she have any response to his song?
George clapped his hands together. “Wonderful. Like Portia and Ryan, you’ve inherited five million dollars for completing the conditions. Chump change for you, Braden, but—”
Braden interrupted, eager to skip over the details and get to the heart of the matter. “I’ll donate mine to Portia and Ryan’s arts foundation for underprivileged children.”
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that,” George said.
Lola licked her lips. “I’m going to donate mine as well.”
Braden innocently placed a hand on her shoulder then snatched it back. She didn’t belong to him anymore. “You should hang on to it. I’ve no doubt you’ll be a huge sensation in Hollywood, but until then you’re going to need money to live on.”
She grabbed his hand. “No I won’t, because I’m not going to California.”
Everything stopped. Around them, the room grew pitch black. Everyone else disappeared. Only he and Lola remained, a single candle allowing them to see each other. “You’re not?”
She moved closer, throwing her arms around his neck. “I turned down Rand’s contract. I decided I’ve moved enough for one lifetime. I’d like to try staying in one place for a change.” Her eyes glowed. “I love you, too.”
He slammed his lips over hers and crushed her against him in a dominant claiming, a silent promise of their future together. She melted against his chest as he ran his hands over the silk of her dress as he’d desperately craved all night.
Ripping his mouth away, he slid his fingers up her neck into her pink hair, bracing the back of her skull in his hand. “You’re really turning down a record deal?”
Her eyes flashed with arousal at his show of possession. “It’s not my dream anymore.”
“What is?”
A slow smile spread over her face. “I thought I’d help you cross over into the catering business.”
“Just as long as you stay out of the kitchen.”
“Hey, the critic loved our food. Of course, it helps that I can manipulate pheromones. If I cook for all the critics—”
He kissed her. “The only one you’re cooking for is me. But you know, I’m a billionaire with a music studio in my mansion. You don’t need Rand Baker to make a record. Hell, I can buy you a record label if you want.”
“Tempting. How ‘bout we start as a tag team? I’ll write the music, you write the lyrics.”
Someday soon he’d put his ring on her finger and show everyone she belonged to him and only him. For now, he’d take as much as she was willing to give. “Move back in with me. Not because you want to avoid your mother or because we have to because of the conditions of a Will, but because you want to. Because I want to. I want to wake up with you drooling on my chest. I want you in my kitchen making coffee. I want to make love with you every night in our bed. I want to lick my way around every tattoo on your body.”
She slapped a hand over his heart. “Save it, Romeo. I already have an answer for you inked on my back.”
He nuzzled the side of her neck. “What is it?”
She moaned softly. “It’s your most valuable possession. Acropolis.”
He cradled her face between his hands. “But Acropolis isn’t my most valued possession. You are.”