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She met my gaze and didn’t blink for several heartbeats. “What?”
“You’re sexy.”
“Me?” She tilted her head sideways slightly.
“Yes. You.”
A smile formed on her lips, and this time, it was genuine. “You like an independent woman?”
“I don’t have a type.” As long as she was beautiful and subservient, I didn’t care. Her personality, religion, and beliefs were irrelevant. I’d never paid enough attention to a woman to learn anything about her. “But I was raised by a single mother. She worked as many hours as she could to provide for Bates and me. Not once did she complain or seem weak. So I do have a soft spot for a woman who takes care of herself.”
Her eyes slowly softened, and the smile on her lips faded away. Her fingers rested against the rim of her glass, and the playfulness she’d shown just seconds ago was gone. “I didn’t know that.”
“You’re not a very good stalker.”
“I guess I didn’t think your childhood mattered.”
“Every boy becomes a man. But the man never forgets who that boy was.” It didn’t matter how rich I was now. I could never forget what it meant to struggle. I could never forget the winter nights we couldn’t afford heat and the summers we couldn’t afford air conditioning. I could never forget picking up food at the homeless center when Mom got laid off from the cannery. My suits were as expensive as cars, but underneath my skin, muscle, and bone was the memory of where I came from.
“Your mother must be proud of you.”
“Yes.” It didn’t matter how old I was, my mother seemed to relish any opportunity to compliment me. “My father took off when Bates and I were young. Being a father and a provider was just too difficult for him. My mother had to be two parents and two incomes. But she made it work and always made us feel loved. She’s a badass…and there’re not many women out there like her.”
Siena’s eyes filled with emotion, like that story was as touching to her as it was to me. “That’s sweet. I’m guessing you take care of your mother now.”
“Of course.”
“That’s even sweeter.” She didn’t seem interested in her wine anymore, only focused on the conversation we were having. “I lost my mom a few years ago. We were really close, and it’s never been the same without her. She was always so strong and driven. She was a homemaker, but that didn’t stop her from being my role model. I’ve been trying to pick up the pieces since she left, but I feel like I never make any progress. Anytime the holidays roll around, I have to start over.”
I could see the devastation in her eyes the second she mentioned her mother. Without a father and brother in the picture, she was really on her own. Bates and I didn’t exchange heart-to-hearts, but he was still a prominent figure in my life. I had him and my mother. It seemed like she had no one. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. She’s the reason I want my own family. I want to be a mom the way she was my mom.”
I didn’t know her well, but I could easily picture her surrounded by three kids. I could picture her making dinner for an imaginary family, all living under this small roof. It would be cramped, but they would still be happy. My future didn’t involve a wife or kids. Bates and I knew we could never marry, not when it was impossible to trust anyone besides each other. So Siena was right—I could never be her type.
I grabbed the glass and took a drink, keeping my eyes on that deep brown hair. Her fair skin contrasted against the darkness of her hair, creating a captivating beauty that was impossible to ignore. The only reason I’d noticed she’d been following me was because she was the most stunning woman in the room. I’d have to be blind not to notice her.
“What brought you here tonight, Cato?” Her eyes followed my movements as I lifted the glass and returned it to the table. “What exactly do you want?”
I rested my arm on the table and felt my watch tap against the wooden surface. “You.” I could have gone out with Bates and found someone to occupy my bed for the night. I could have called up one of my regular girls for entertainment. Instead, I’d been fixated on one woman.
She held my gaze with her usual look of bravery. She must have been expecting that response because she didn’t have a perceptible reaction. This was the second time I’d shown up unannounced, tracking down her location because I had the power to do whatever I wanted. “You might own the world, but you don’t own me. I don’t appreciate being followed on my date or you showing up on my property like this. You have my number—you can always call me.”
