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“That’s difficult,” I admit. “I can hire staff and have them on hand in Boston, but—”
“I need you to move closer,” he says, staring into my face. “If you want to join my family, I need you to join for real.”
I don’t know what to say. I’ve been in the Dallas area for a long time—it’s my home base, it’s everything I know. But what do I have there, really? An empty apartment? Carmine and Ford? They can take weekend trips to visit. Evander’s in Chicago and Lanzo’s all over the world; I still count them as my best friends.
“I’ll consider it,” I say cautiously, not ready to commit to a move just yet. “But it’s on the table.”
“Good. I wouldn’t expect you to say yes right away. Only decide sooner rather than later.” He laughs and yanks open the door. “Let’s get something to eat. We can discuss more business later.”
As we sit down, Fiona gives me a look, eyes narrowed like she’s asking me something. I squeeze her thigh and give her a smile:everything’s okay. At least that’s the look I try to convey.
This is happening. Orin wants me to be his lawyer. He hasn’t said the words yet, but he’s talking about loyalty and cross-country moves. That’s serious business.
I’m close to getting what I want.
So why do I feel absolutely nothing right now?
Chapter24
Fiona
“Dinner was good,” I say, climbing into bed. I pull the sheets over me as Gareth stands nearby in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, looking like he’s on set for an underwear modeling job.
“You get along well with Molly,” he says, watching me, eyes roaming over to the empty side of the bed. “Did you really mean what you asked about kids?”
“Absolutely,” I say, feeling sleepy and barely resisting it. Lying out in the sun all afternoon took a lot out of me. “I think I got a sunburn on my arm.”
He moves closer, still looking at me. His face is tense, almost anxious, but I don’t know why. “Orin said something to me while we were outside. He wants me to move to Boston.”
I roll over to frown at him. “Really? That’s a lot to ask.”
“He’s not a normal client. Anyone else and I’d tell them to fuck off. But Orin Crowley?” He shakes his head, clearly torn. “This is my chance, Fiona.”
I sit up on an elbow. I like the way his eyes drift down my arm, to my shoulder, to my chest, back up to my lips. I lick them, giving him a little teasing show. Why not? I can still feel that orgasm pulsing between my legs.
“Is that something you’d want? I mean, you’ve been in Dallas a long time, right?”
“I lived on the East Coast in college.” He tilts his head. “But most of my life has been in Dallas otherwise.”
“Your friends are also there,” I point out.
“Carmine and Ford can travel. They have the means.”
“But they also have little kids.” I flop down on my back. “I’m just saying, it’s a big ask. That’s all.”
“You wouldn’t come with me?” He asks so quietly, I almost think he didn’t say it.
The light snaps off before I can respond. The bed creaks as he climbs in beside me, the heat of his body rolling across the mattress.
“I don’t know,” I admit, uncertainty buzzing through my body. “What do I have waiting back in Dallas? A burned-down apartment. No best friend. No family to speak of. I had a job, but—” I shrug a little. I smile in the darkness, but I don’t think he can see my expression. Dallas has been my home, but I also went to the East Coast for college, and I could move there again for a while if I had to. Nothing’s holding me back. Only fear.
“We promised we’d do this for a year. That’s in the contract.”
“No sex is in the contract too and you found a loophole.” I stretch my legs, eyes fluttering. I feel so exhausted I could pass out. My body gets that sense of heaviness as everything goes relaxed. Sleep’s not far now. “Why not keep me for longer?”
He doesn’t answer right away. I close my eyes, thinking about his mouth against mine. Dreaming about it. But then his voice pulls me from the brink of sleep.
“Would you really do that? When we agreed to this, it was supposed to be temporary.”
