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“And you?” His fingers circling on my thigh are relaxing.
“Summer, Bunny, and I were kept together. I don’t know how or why, but I’m so grateful because I could take care of them. I was able to soothe their nightmares, help with homework, tell them stories about our parents when they asked. I got to help them heal.”
“Who helpedyou?”
Stunned, I stare at him. I’ve never thought about that before. It never occurred to me that I might need looking after. Not then and not now.
“You had control of the tight-knit world you were in, but then you’d lose it when you were forced into a new home?” I nod. “And as soon as you turned eighteen, you had no problem creating a life that your sisters could join when they aged out.” I nod again. “And now, you’ve discovered something that entices you, but you never thought you’d get it.”
“Right.”
“Tell me why you want it, what your expectations are.” He’s sure asking for a lot.
Getting to my feet, I need a little distance. The cake catches my eye, and I wander my way over to it. Sliding a finger through the red and white icing, I suck it off. Buttercream, my favorite.
I don’t turn to look at him as I speak. “I want to work, still. I enjoy my job, interacting with people. I want to be able to see my sisters; I love them. But I’m tired, Roman. So tired of always being the strong one. The one to make all the decisions. I want to trust and love someone enough to hand them my control, the power I have, and in turn, they take care of me. Shoulder some of the burdens I feel.”
“Not they, little love, me. Tomorrow is your last day of making decisions for yourself. Going forward, I’ll take care of you. I’ll hold your troubles, carry your burdens, and I’ll make sure you feel enough love to last a lifetime.” Spinning me around, Roman lays claim to my lips, capturing them and devouring me whole. Exactly how I want it to be.
CHAPTER6
Roman
I’ve been irritable all fucking day. Nothing is making me happy, and I’ve caused my assistant to cry once already before lunch. It’s bullshit because I had an amazing evening with Valentine, never dreaming I’d find the perfect girl on a blind date, and right under my damn nose for so long. She’s mine now. Things are moving quickly, too. Just how I like it.
But not how my lawyer likes it.
He wants a contract from her.
To protect my assets.
I woke up this morning smiling and full of hope for the future. Despite dropping Valentine off at home before midnight, never going further than foreplay because I needed her to be certain this was what she wanted as well, I was thrilled with our plans.
The minute I awoke, I called my lawyer, waking him up, too, and explaining that I needed him in my office first thing this morning. He came around ten, and I’ve been pissed ever since.
He thinks I’m moving too fast with Valentine, that I need to give this some time before I change my will so that everything goes to her in the event of my death.
He disagrees that opening a bank account and credit card in her name and depositing half my funds is a good idea.
What the fuck does he know? He’s been divorced three times. He’s as jaded as they come.
But then he made a call to my mother.
Who then said I was being foolish for acting so impulsively. When I reminded her of how wantonly she fell for Ethan, she shut right up. But her words continue to wreak havoc on me, same with the lawyer’s.
Allan, the aforementioned lawyer, is now drawing up a contract for Valentine to sign before he does any of the things I ask of him. He wants it in writing that should I die within the next five years, she gets nothing except what I’ve given her thus far and the house we reside in.
Heart Construction would go to my closest living relative, and all my assets would revert to my stepsister, as it is now. I built this company from the ground up when I was in my early twenties; I should damn well be able to do with it as I please.
I recognize that Allan is just looking out for my best interests, but I’m still allowed to be pissed at him about it. I also don’t want Valentine to think I don’t trust her because of this.
Rechecking my watch, it’s half past two. Valentine agreed to be here by four, after her shift, and I’m growing anxious.
When I dropped her off last night, I told her to inform her sisters that she would be moving out but that their rent would be paid for as long as they chose to stay in the apartment. I also let her know that the house I own in a gated community has a cottage suite, and her sisters could live there instead if they liked. She laughed and called me silly before kissing me and getting out. I don’t believe she thinks I was telling the truth about owning a house on a piece of property large enough for that.
I was, and I’ll show her this weekend when we go out there so she can confer with the designers on what she’d like changed before we move in there full-time instead of living in my penthouse in the middle of downtown.
Checking my watch again, it’s barely been ten minutes. Frustrated with the entire fucking day, I text Callie to check on Valentine.
