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“You said we need to talk. Obviously not about the weather. I figure it’s best if we do it face-to-face. No more secrets.”
He had a point. But she wasn’t dressed and Carmela had to be up early.
Even as she was rounding up her defenses, Lizzie was in her room, checking on the baby, who was sound asleep.
“Okay,” she said softly. “Give me a few minutes.”
Hanging up, she pulled on orange sweats, a T-shirt and a dark blue hoodie, which she zipped almost to the chin. She stopped in Carmela’s room, just letting her friend know she was stepping outside to talk to Nolan for a few, and when Carmela sat up, she pushed her friend gently by the shoulder. “Go back to sleep,” she said. “I just wanted you to know I’m not here in case Stella cries. But I’m taking the monitor with me.”
She wasn’t going anywhere with him. And the talk wasn’t going to take long.
“Be careful, Liz.”
“Always.”
Carmela’s worried glance followed her to the door.
Chapter Fourteen
Watching as Lizzie walked out toward the parking lot where he waited for her, he was reminded of the few mornings last year he’d been lucky enough to wake up next to her. He wanted to kiss her. To take her in his arms, hold her tight and not let go.
“Hey,” she said, walking with him to a pony wall that separated a grassy area from the sidewalk.
“Hey.” He sat with her, his shoulder touching hers purposefully. She scooted down, clearly stating her purpose.
In his short-sleeved black T-shirt, with the jeans and black boots, he could have fit into any bar in the area. His family wouldn’t recognize him.
“You asked me what my parameters would be if you were to buy a place here and I were to live in it with Stella.”
Thank God. She wasn’t saying goodbye. That in itself was a relief. “Absolutely. Tell me what you need.”
Back in New Orleans, he knew how to keep business partners happy. To keep his family happy. This moment felt more important than either of those.
“First, my name and only my name would have to be on the deed.”
He’d planned on both their names. But he wanted her happy. “Done.”
“I choose the place. I won’t live in some fancy neighborhood where I constantly feel out of place. Where my car will stick out and people will raise their eyebrows.”
He’d have liked to have her in an upscale house in a part of town where she’d be looked after in his absence.
“As long as it’s safe, with safe neighborhoods all around, fine.”
His negotiating skills, usually a strongpoint, sucked.
“When you’re in town, using the house, you’ll have to let me know your schedule. No just popping in and out unannounced.”
She was seriously considering his offer. He held back a grin. “Fine.”
“You’d have your own set of rooms, and be responsible for keeping them clean.”
He’d figured he’d be hiring a housekeeper, but chose to keep that conversation for another time.
“Yep.”
Relief was almost as much of a high as sitting there with the woman in his dreams, knowing that they had a child together.
They could spend the rest of his time in town looking at places. Or at least as long as it took to have an accepted contract on one. He wanted it done before his ten days with her were through. To know they were settled and safe. To know he could see them every possible chance he got. He wanted to have a place to come home to twice in January.
