AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you’d asked me that last week, I’d have said no.” She chuckles. “Nina actually gave me forms today to sign up for the same degree I was studying.”
“She did?” I say, frowning.
“That surprises you?”
“A little.” A lot, actually. “I’m not sure about her yet.”
Nina has problems. Money and family. I’ve seen too many women manipulate Mason to let her worm her way in so easily. If he won’t be careful, I will.
“But you’re sure about me. After what? One night…”
“Two nights and two days, technically. But maybe the verdict’s still out on you.”
I feel her smile against my skin. “Whatever. Nina’s lovely. Don’t be so hard on her.”
“Hmm, we’ll see.” I smooth my hand down her back, enjoying the way she fits against me a little more than I should. “So you dowant to go back to uni?”
She nods. “It’s my dream, but honestly, I can’t see it ever being possible.”
“Surely there are people you could pay to stay with your dad while you study?”
“Nina said the same thing.” She chuckles sadly. “He’s a proud man. I could never have someone else care for him. Not when I’m able.”
“What does he think about that?”
“He stopped asking when I told him my decision was final. I needed him to accept that it was my choice and what I wanted.”
Something tells me it wasn’t what she wanted.
Something tells me I shouldn’t care so much.
But knowing shutting her down and ignoring the fact my cock twitched whenever she fucked with me left her thinking I fucking hated her before makes me throw caution to the wind. Consequences be damned. “Do you ever feel like you’re missing out on…”
“Life?” she fills in when I trail off, shaking her head. “No. I honestly couldn’t be happier. The idea of working an actual job is a goal, and I know I will have that one day, but when the time’s right. When I’m ready to. For now, I feel like I’m exactly where I should be.”
“Which is?”
“On the estate. Doing up the house room by room. It will be mine and Mason’s one day, and if he doesn’t want to live there, I’ll keep it for myself.”
She’s telling the truth, I don’t know why I can tell, but I can. “You’d live there alone?”
“I’ll never leave….” She looks up at me. “Did you know my mother’s buried there?”
I shake my head, and she hides her face in my chest again. “I don’t remember her, but from what I do know, the videos and photos and her diaries my dad kept, she loved it as much as I do. I guess I’ve lived out a very different, unconventional relationship with her by falling in love with what she once did. Her garden is beautiful. Maybe one day Mason will invite you out, and I can show you.”
“She has a garden?”
Scarlet beams. “Filled with her favourite flowers.”
I smooth my hand down her side and let the silence settle until something foreign and unstoppable happens. “My dad died when I was sixteen.” She doesn’t say a word, just silently rests her lips against my left pec. “He used to ride, had this Harley Davidson that was his pride and joy. He stopped when we were small, wanting to be around, and I guess work got in the way of time. When he was forty, he was invited to go on a ride through America, but he got into an accident, and he was killed.”
“I’m so sorry, Lance.”
My jaw clenches, not wanting or needing to tell Scarlet the rest.
“Are you close with your mum? I remember Charlie telling me you have sisters.”
Of course that’s what she’d ask. “I have three sisters. Molly, Chloe, and Nessa Anne.”
