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I don’t care how perfect he thinks we are. I don’t care if he thinks I’m the most beautiful woman on Earth. I care about the way this city mesmerizes me and almost pulls me into another dimension with its beauty.
I don’t believe for a second that Ty feels that when he looks at me.
He runs his nose across the base of my neck. My coat is pushed down by his neck, and a chilly wind wraps around us. I’m glad for my gloves, which are keeping my fingers warm, and even gladder for Tyler’s breath on my neck. He’s keeping me warm.
“What did you mean when you said you don’t abuse your money?” I say suddenly, my attention shifting fully from the view to the man behind me.
He smiles against my skin. “Why don’t we head to the restaurant for a drink?”
I nod my agreement and allow him to lead me into the elevator and then into the restaurant. It gives incredible views of Paris, and I settle onto a plush chair by a window. Tyler orders us both a cup of coffee. I raise my eyebrow to his laughter.
“I’m tired,” he offers as a pathetic explanation.
“Coming from the man who demanded round three at two a.m. I’d imagine you are tired.”
He grins across the table. “I love being inside you and having you scratch at my back while you scream my name. What can I say? Sue me, baby girl.”
Believe me, suing him is something I have no intention of doing. Especially not for sexual reasons.
I lean the side of my head against the window with a smile tugging my lips. “You can answer my question now.”
“Fine.” He nudges my feet with his beneath the table. “I mean I’m the enigma in my family. I don’t live in suits or jeans that cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. My shirts aren’t tailored and I don’t get driven somewhere like some fucking incapable prick.” He smirks when I raise my eyebrows. “I like nice things. I love my car and I like having decent clothes, but decent doesn’t have to mean break-the-bank expensive. I’d rather Levi’s over Armani any day of the week.”
I study him for a moment. He’s really telling the truth. “Wow. You’re nothing like Aaron, are you? This”—I wave my hand— “aside.”
“I have money, Liv, and I have a lot of it. Like I said, I sold my share of my parents’ back to them. I don’t have to work if I don’t want to. I could live very comfortably for the rest of my life.”
The waiter two mugs of coffee in front of us. I lift mine.
“How rich is rich?” I ask. “Out of curiosity. You talk about it like it’s…nothing.”
His smirk is evident even over his cup of coffee. “I’m a millionaire. Several times over.”
I choke on the hot liquid in my mouth. Holy fucking Batman shit. “Seriously?”
“As serious as I’m sitting here right now. Like I said, I have money, I just choose not to use it a lot. My job pays for my apartment and my car and your underwear.” His lips tug up. “The rest of it is…just there. It’s a trust fund. Untouched for the most part.”
I set my cup down on the mat in front of me. I drop my eyes from his and run my finger around the rim of it. “Is that why you don’t have relationships? Because you’re afraid they’ll use you for your money?”
“I’m not afraid of relationships. I have an addiction to sex, not a phobia of commitment.”
His words sting. They do. Right from my head to my toes.
“But yes. That’s the main reason I never pursued a relationship in London. Everyone there knew who I was and what I was worth. Here in Seattle, well. I guess I just never found someone worth having a relationship for.”
His gaze burns into me.
“Until now,” he finishes.
“I wish I could be that girl.” My words are so quiet that they’re practically a whisper.
It’s true.
I wish I weren’t afraid. I wish I could tackle him with the impulsiveness I tackled Aaron’s new bar with. I wish I could throw every piece of bullshit away and give him the thing he wants, because godfuckingdammit! He deserves it.
He deserves happiness. He deserves smiles and security and certainty. Something I can’t offer.
Tyler reaches across the table and links his fingers through mine. He lifts our hands from the table and stares at me. Just stares, his gaze intense and shiver-inducing. And constant—until I finally give in to the buzz from his hand and look up.
