Page 166 of Diego

I stare at him. “You bought it from the people who just bought it?”

“They were willing to sell.”

“After they just bought it?”

“I'm very persuasive.”

I groan. “Oh my God, how much did you offer them?”

His smile deepens. “Enough.”

“And you didn't consult with your broker?”

“I didn't think she would agree with the decision,” he simply says.

“You're damn right she wouldn't have. I can't even imagine how much money you threw at this house. I'm judging you, you know?” I glance toward the windows again, still trying to process this. “When did you do this?”

“After you told me about the baby.”

That pulls my attention back to him.

His expression shifts, some of the humor leaving it. “I started thinking about the penthouse differently after that.”

“How?”

He glances around the room as if the answer is obvious to him now. “I liked it because it was simple. Low maintenance, streamlined, efficient. That's what you said, that day you showed it to me. It was everything I needed and nothing I didn’t.”

“That was literally the appeal.”

“I know.”

I wait.

He looks at me for another second, and he looks kind of… vulnerable? I must be mistaken.

“Then I found out I was going to have a child,” he continues, “and suddenly that sounded kind of sad.”

I stare at him.

“For a child. I thought this was better suited.”

Well, he is right about that, but...

“Hey.” I push myself a little higher against the pillows, offended on professional principle now. “This house is streamlined and efficient too. I would not have been trying to sell you on it if it wasn’t.”

His grin returns instantly. “Always the real estate broker.”

“It's in the blood.” I look around the room, satisfaction creeping in despite everything. “I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

“I knew this was the house for you.”

“You did not.”

“I absolutely did.”

“You told me you saved the best for last. The penthouse.”