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Not when my control is hanging by a goddamned thread.

There's an obvious solution.

“I'll buy the property.”

She blinks.

“What?”

“Retail value. Cash. No financing. No inspections. You can be gone by tomorrow.”

Her mouth falls open.

I keep talking because this is a problem money can solve, and those are the kind of problems I understand.

“I'll cover your moving expenses too. Whatever you've already spent getting here⁠—”

She's staring at my stomach.

I stop.

Wait.

Is she?

Yes.

She absolutely is. A laugh threatens. I haven't felt anything remotely like amusement all morning.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Hmm?”

“Lady.”

Her gaze snaps upward.

I raise an eyebrow.

“My eyes are up here.”

Her cheeks turn pink. Fucking adorable.

“I know where your eyes are.”

“Didn't seem like it.”

She glares. My mouth twitches.

Interesting. Very fucking interesting.

“And I said, how much do you want for this dump?”

Wrong thing to say. Her entire demeanor changes. Those warm brown eyes flash.

“Sorry. I didn't get your name.”

“I didn't give it.”