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Enzo’s words dance around in my brain. The image of Keller cuddling a broken little Max. This might be a massive mistake, but something inside me screams at me to say yes.
“Okay.”
CHAPTER33
KELLER
When Paula called early this morning, I didn’t hesitate to jump in the car and come to Max. I knew how it felt to be abandoned. Hell, I was in his shoes once. All I wanted was for someone to tell me it was going to be okay.
Maybe if I did, I would have turned out a hell of a lot better.
As I walk Sienna to the car parked around the back of the unit, her eyes never meet mine, and she twiddles her thumbs while she walks. My heart is racing, being so close to her. All I want to do is scoop her up into my arms and tell her how much I miss her, how much I fucking love her.
I know I can’t.
I’m so worried about her. She has no spark. She must have lost over 10 pounds now. Her face is drawn, which just emphasizes the gray haze on her complexion.
It fucking kills me that I have done this to her.
I’ve pushed her too far, so far, I don’t know if she will ever forgive me. The moment back in the room where she melted into my embrace, all the tension built up within her visibly left her body. It felt like I was home. For those few minutes, everything was right in the world again.
On the drive to our destination, she keeps her eye line straight out the windshield, her nervous tell evident as she picks at the skin surrounding her chipped maroon fingernails.
“So, what is it you wanted to show me?” she asks.
“Ah, now that would ruin the surprise, Baby.”
Her breath just slightly hitches at my words. Shit, I don’t want to scare her away before we even get there. After seeing the panicked state she got into after seeing me at the gym the other day, I realized I had a long way to go to get back into her heart. I just hope her hatred isn’t stronger than her love for me.
We drive in silence. I catch her glancing at me a few times. Just having her back in my company brings calmness to my life.
Pulling into the drive, I stop outside the large black metal gates, lower my window. The icy breeze blows into the car. Leaning over, I pad in the security code-110620. The night we met – a night that changed the course of my life forever.
The gates slowly open and I make our way down the gravel drive, either side surrounded by acres of green, sparkling in the morning frost. Finally, the magnificent mansion comes into view. A 15 bedroom estate, painted white, with ivory climbing to the roof. It might not look perfect now, but it will be once I’ve finished with it.
I park up next to the grey stone round water fountain, and let out the breath I’m sure I’ve been holding since we entered the gate. Sienna’s eyes fixated on the building before her, her plump lips slightly ajar.
“Wow.”
“Wanna come see inside?”
“Oh my gosh, yes! This is the kind of place you read about in books. It’s beautiful.”
The excitement in her voice makes my heart flutter.
I lead her in through the archway to the wooden front door. Grabbing the key from my jean pocket, I slip it into the lock and push, motioning for her to walk over the threshold. Her face lights up as she scans the home. Our home. One day, I hope.
A grand staircase greets us as we walk through. Don’t get me wrong, this place needs a facelift. It needs those finishing touches to bring out its character. That’s the plan, a place for us to create together and call our home forever. Everything at the moment is outdated, from the orange tinted kitchen units to the dark red frayed carpets. Despite that, Sienna is still in awe of its beauty.
It’s why I bought the damn place. As soon as I saw the listing, I envisioned Sienna sitting cross-legged by an open fire, surrounded by her filthy book collection all stacked in her ceiling-high bookcase. I imagined the gym we could build, the nursery, the acres of land for a dog to run around. Money doesn’t mean anything to me. I want a home, a family. I want it all, only, with her.
Turning her attention to me, she cocks a brow. “So, I’m assuming this place is yours?”
“You’d be correct.” I close the distance between us, desire crackling through the air.
“Apart from one minor detail.” I say as I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She shivers under my touch.
“And what would that be?” she playful asks, her pearly white teeth appearing from her grin.
