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Her chuckle fed his soul. “That it does. It was like growing up in a museum. A very ugly museum.” She rested her chin on his chest and peered up at him. “Being here makes me miss your home. It’s so warm and comfortable. I love being there.” Her face flushed, and her eyes went soft.
Without even trying, she hit him in the feels every time. “I love you in my house.”
He’d just used a very powerful word to describe her in his home. He didn’t regret it. He’d tried fighting it, but it’d happened anyway. He’d fallen for this woman and wanted her in his bed and by his side for the rest of his days.
Was it fair to ask her to be his? To tie herself to him and be his ol’ lady when he had so many years on her. Probably not. Definitely not. She deserved someone to walk through life in the same season as her. Hell, she was young enough to have a whole horde of children if she wanted. It’d been his dream once, but no longer.
“Well, isn’t this cozy? Hello, sis. What a lovely surprise.” Lorenzo strode into the room, wearing a suit that likely cost as much as Ty’s Harley. His wingtips clacked on the marble floor, which had probably been imported directly from Italy.
Kelsie stiffened and tried to pull away, but Ty didn’t let her. He gripped the back of her head, leaned down, and kissed her hard. As he raised his head, his gaze met Lorenzo’s. The tick in the other man’s jaw was nearly as satisfying as the kiss.
Nearly.
Lorenzo cleared his throat. “So, to what do I owe the honor of this unannounced visit?”
Ty released Kelsie. She turned but didn’t move away from him. Instead, she rested her back against him. He wrapped his arm around her and splayed his hand over her stomach in a possessive, blatant territory marking.
“I see I was wrong in my initial assumption that you’d come to your senses and returned home to accept Andrew’s proposal.”
“Yeah. You assumed wrong. I wouldn’t marry that asshole if he were the last man on Earth.”
Lorenzo wrinkled his nose. “Your language has certainly deteriorated in the time you’ve been away. See what happens when you slum it?”
Was that supposed to be an insult? Ty snorted. It would take a hell of a lot more than a few well-chosen words by an entitled prick to pierce his skin.
Kelsie seemed to be of the same mind, seeing as how she didn’t take the bait. “I’m here to see Father, actually.”
“He’s busy in his office. I’m positive I can take care of whatever it is you need. Money? Is that it? Or are you hoping you will melt Father’s heart, and he’ll back off Tyler’s business?”
Kelsie barked a loud laugh. “Look at you, making jokes.” She shook her head. “No, Lorenzo, I figured out many years ago that Father doesn’t have a heart. I’m not stupid enough to appeal to his emotions. What I need to discuss is business.”
“Discuss it with me.”
“No.”
Ty grinned. Dayum. A confident and forceful Kelsie was a sight to behold.
Frustration flashed across Lorenzo’s face, but he banked it quickly. “Fine. I have my own business to attend to. I trust you know the way to his office?”
With a snort, Kelsie took Ty’s hand and started for one of the two staircases circling up to the second level. “Seeing as how not a damn thing has changed, I’m sure I can find it.”
“This changes nothing,” Lorenzo announced as they hit the first step.
Ty turned around with a feral grin. “You’re wrong. This changes everything.” He winked, then trailed Kelsie up the long staircase.
“Regretting this yet?” she asked as she reached the long hallway at the top of the steps.
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Fuck no. Who’d regret a chance to see how the other half lives?”
Making her laugh never failed to boost his ego to the stratosphere. Given the way they’d met, when she’d been so traumatized she couldn’t function, every laugh felt like a gift.
He vowed to himself he’d never take those smiles and laughs for granted.
“There is no other half. My father is a one-of-a-kind asshole. Hope you’re ready for this.”
“Bring it.”
She snorted and then stopped in front of a heavy set of mahogany double doors with intricate carvings. Her slender fist looked out of place, knocking on such an ostentatious door.
