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“Casper… this is crazy fast, but I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d rather jump all in and be reckless with.”
“Yeah? So, we can get off this stupid ice and find an estate agent?”
“You want to look for a house right now?”
“I want to do everything right now. This is all I’ve wanted for such a long time.”
“Slow down,” I say, laughing when he pulls me closer, my feet gliding towards him. It’s hard to say no to him when he’s saying things like that and looking at me like I’m a miracle, but it would be stupid to jump too far, too soon.
He kisses me long and slow until I’m dizzy. “Don’t make me wait too long for anything. I’m so fucking in love with you. You’re it. You’re everything. I’m going to make you happy, I promise.”
“You already do. Find me a nice place to live and provide me with a lot of orgasms.”
Chuckling, he kisses me again, neither one of us paying any attention to the skaters whizzing past us now.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
I’m so nervous that something will go wrong at this event: the entertainment doesn’t turn up, we run out of champagne, the kitchen explodes. I’ve left my lucky sunflower drying out at home. Casper thinks I’m ridiculous with that flower, but it was the first thing he gave me.
My stomach is empty because I’m far too anxious to eat. Reggie and I have checked and double checked everything. We’ve called everyone involved in the event already. I don’t think there’s anything else we can do, so now I’ve lost control and have to go with the flow.
Not something I find easy. Particularly on my first paid event.
In an hour, the place will be filled with lawyers and the odd judge. I think Casper mentioned other people from court were coming, but one, I’ve forgotten their names and titles, and two, he was shirtless, so I probably wasn’t listening very well.
It doesn’t matter to me if it’s the judge or the court clerk, anyway.
I wonder how many professional connections are made at things like this. How many bribes and how much corruption is involved.
Unethical and illegal, yes, but isn’t that how it works? If Casper ever thinks about pulling that shit, I will be right there to slap some sense back into him.
I’m not worried because I know first-hand how good he is at fighting. He won’t need anyone else on his side to kick legal arse.
“Ainsley, you’re wearing a hole in the stone,” Casper says. He’s casual, leaning against the counter, drinking coffee while I pace the kitchen.
He’s done a stellar job at keeping me occupied over the last few days. We’ve viewed about a hundred apartments, but now the day is here and there’s nothing he can do to stop themassivebutterflies.
The chefs are working on the posh carnival-themed food. They work quickly but calmly, calling out their instructions.
I need to channel their tranquillity because I’m not calm on the surface and an even bigger mess underneath. A duck, I am not. I’m more like a moth trapped in a glass.
I’m watching to make sure the food is prepared correctly, even though I don’t know what the right way is. I can cook to keep myself a live but that’s about it. That’s how neurotic I am this evening.
“This has to go well,” I say, wiping my palms on my thighs.
Casper puts his coffee down, pushes away from the counter, and tugs me into his arms. “Everything will be perfect and they’ll all be drunk within the first forty-five minutes, so no one will notice if the food’s shit or the weirdos on stilts fall over.”
Two of the highly trained, Michelin-starred chefs shoot him evil looks, and I slap his chest.
“Shh! Don’t say that. It’s your fault if something goes wrong now.”
He shrugs with ease. “There you go. Blame me if something happens andrelax.”
That’s all very well, but this event is a chance for Reggie and me to make connections, too. No one else will want to hire us if we fail.
“Not helpful. Can you—”
He silences me with his mouth, knowing it’s my favourite thing in the world, his lips sliding against mine in a maddeningly slow kiss that he controls. My head is light as he shows me how much he cares, how much he wants me, and how much he thinks I need to get a grip.
