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She shakes her head. “Not at all. Just don’t go demanding we move in with you right away,” she taunts.
I lean back in my chair and lace my fingers behind my head. “Notrightaway. But eventually, yes, you’ll move in with me.”
She puffs out a tedious breath. “We aren’t uprooting Chloe any more than she already has been.”
“Cat, my place is huge. She’ll have her pick of rooms, a pool on the roof,the hot tub.” I waggle my brows. Okay, maybe that incentive is more for my fiancée. She always did love the hot tub.
Her exhale is harsh instead of airy like I hoped. “I could have all those things too, Jay. I’m not marrying you for your money.”
I chuckle softly. At least she’s dropped the being forced into marriage bit. She’s almost got me convinced that she wants it too—that she wantsustoo.
“I’m aware, Kitten. Fuck, am I aware. I just…” I scrub a hand through my hair. “I want to give Chloe everything. I’ve missed out on so much.”
She gives me a soft smile, her lip tipping up as if she’s in on her own joke. “I’d like to say all she wants is your time, but she does like the finer things in life…” She laughs and gets this far-off look. “Last week, Cynthia took her to Sienna Langfield’s shop, and she hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
“She likes fashion?” I’m desperate for any information she’ll give me about our daughter.
Cat’s smile grows. It’s full of pride, and she wears it so fucking well. I love seeing her like this. Easy. It all comes so damn easy to her. There’s something so beautiful about that. Cat has struggled her entire life trying to figure out who she is, what she is, who she wants to be, but there is no struggle when it comes to her role as a mother.
“She loves fashion. And music…” She peeks up at me through her black lashes, and a moment passes between us.Music. It’s always been our thing.
“I can work with that.” I rub my hand over my mouth and blow out a steady breath, then add, “Thank you, Cat.”
“For what?” Her brows knit together.
I ache to smooth out those lines, to kiss that very spot.
“For sharing. I know this isn’t easy, and I know it’s not the life you envisioned…” I study the wood grain of my desk. I can’t look at her, or I’ll lose my nerve. “But I hope you’ll give us a chance. Givemea chance.” True hope ignites in me for the first time. Not just a spark, but a real flame, small as it may be. I risk a look at her to gauge her reaction, hope daring to peek out after a decade in hiding.
She holds my gaze, her eyes more amber than their usual whiskey color, and I get lost in a dream that life could be different for us. That she and Chloe and I can be a real family. She clears her throat and finally speaks. All my focus is fixed on her lips as the words form. “I’d like that. But if I’m being honest, I’m still not sure I trust you.”
“But you’re open to trying? To letting this be something more than just an arrangement?”
“Yes.” Her answer is quick but quiet. Like she couldn’t keep it from slipping out. She appears almost surprised by it.
“Fuck, why can’t you two just move in with me? God, I want to skip all the awkward parts and get to the good.”
“Jay,” she laughs, “I said I’d try. We aren’t even dating yet.”
I smirk. “You’re my fiancée, Kitten. I think we’re past the dating.”
“But that’s my point,” she murmurs, pushing her hair behind her ear. “We never got to date. Not even back then. I was always your dirty little secret.”
I fling myself back in my chair and ball my hands into fists on the armrests. “No, you weren’t. We may have liked things dirty, Cat, and I know for a fact you still do,” I growl, “but make no mistake, I told the people who mattered.”
She arches a brow. “Not my brother, who was allegedly your best friend.”
I blow out a breath. This won’t be easy. “I really did like Carter. At times it put me at war with myself, but I was dedicated to my father. To our revenge.”
Her chin stiffens. “And me?”
“You were everything. Youareeverything. And I know it will take a long time to prove it to you, and I know I’ve made millions of mistakes and will likely make more, but trust me when I say that I’m going to make it right. I’ll give you the future you deserve. One you both deserve.”
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears as she gives me a slight nod.
Giving in to the need to be closer, I stand and settle myself in front of my desk with one ankle crossed over the other.
In the chair in front of me, Cat runs her tongue along her lips and gives me a thorough once-over. Every inch of me her eyes rake over ignites until I’m afraid I’ll burn the building down.
