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Fuck me.Because I want to see you doing what you love so much. Because I feel like I just lied to Bianca and I want to redeem myself. Because I enjoyed last night, even before you knocked on my door.“Is why the only word in your vocabulary this morning?” I ask instead.
She narrows her eyes. “Charming as ever, Cressard. Let’s go then.”
* * *
“I’m sorry I lashed out last night.” Her shoulders are practically touching her ears as she sits tensely beside me in the back of her car. She’s been watching the traffic outside with ridiculous dedication since we entered the vehicle.
“Understandable.” I don’t mind that she used me to channel her frustration, but her rationale behind it and her stubborn belief she’s done something wrong don’t sit well with me.
“Areyougoing to apologize?” She faces me now.
“Whatever for?” I frown.
“For calling me stupid, holding me hostage, not understanding the words let go, for…” She trails off because there isn’t much she can accuse me of.
I scoot closer and she tries to recoil, but there isn’t enough room. “Listen, baby, I’m happy to give you all the orgasms you need.” My lips brush her ear. “Be your punching bag when you need to release your anger and frustration, or even hold your hand through this difficult time, but I won’t apologize for any of it. I’m a wonderful fake boyfriend.”
Her scent in my nose mingles with the warm air in the car. Her breath is a silent whisper around me. She closes her eyes, and her throat bobs up and down.
She groans. “Okay, don’t apologize, but back off.” Her voice lacks determination. “Please,” she pushes through her teeth.
I chuckle and move away. She glares at me and then turns away. Escaping. Distancing. I lean back into the leather seat and don’t taunt her anymore for the rest of the ride.
As soon as we arrive, I understand the appeal of Warren’s investment in this street. While a bit rundown and in desperate need of revitalization, the street has charm, and some amazing real estate.
One side is lined with low rises, mostly housing mom-and-pop shops with apartments above, though many of them seem abandoned. The other side has brownstones with trees flanking the sidewalk.
I follow Chils up a flight of stairs leading to one of those houses. “How did you end up getting this building?”
“I got it a few years back. Gio helped me find it. I think it belonged to a friend of his who’d inherited it but didn’t want it anymore. It’s sad, this street seems to get less and less traffic, so most of the businesses have closed. Hence the developer’s interest.”
We enter the foyer with a small reception area. Two staff members greet Chils. I was expecting a gloomy place, wrapped in despair and grief, but this place feels… I don’t know… cheerful. Or pleasantly peaceful.
A large staircase with a wooden banister coils up the back of the room and London leads me to it.
“So, are you going to shadow me or do you want to help out?” Her eyes challenge me.
I think my idea of this place was as wrong as my image of London here. I pictured her flowing in like Jackie Kennedy, shaking hands and making people feel more important than they are. I didn’t think she did any actual work.
“What do you want me to do?” I sense it won’t be legal advice this time, but what the hell. I’ve been working pro bono, I might dip my feet into volunteering as well.
We reach the upper landing. The floors are carpeted, and the walls are lined with mahogany wood paneling. Each side of the hallway has mostly open doors.
Classical music pours from the other side of the hallway, interrupting the beeping machines. If I didn’t know better, I would assume we were visiting an elderly uncle. The warmth spreads through the decor.
Chils walks to the library shelves across from the landing and takes a book and a chess set. She leads me to a room.
“London, darling, how are you today?” an old man rasps, and starts coughing.
“Ralph, I see you’re better than ever,” London chirps, and I stare, wondering where my angry, bitter Chils disappeared to. “This is Dominic, and he knows how to play chess. I thought you two could give it a try while I’m with Maddie.”
Ralph coughs again and points to a table and two wingback chairs in the corner by the door. London drops the chess box on it.
“Be good.” She walks out.
“I’m always good,” he calls out, only to catch another bout of coughing. Fuck. I hope he’s not contagious.
“I was talking to Dominic.” London sticks her head back into the door and winks at him. She fucking winks.
