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I want to give him what he wants, I want to just agree but it’s not that simple, not when Alexander represents resources I need to find Gio. Not unless I can negotiate a better deal with Ed. “I’ll be careful.”
“Damn it, Aria. If it’s money then—”
I shove on his chest and stare up at him. “Don’t say what you’re about to say. I have to deal with this on my own.”
“Because you think I won’t be here to help you deal with it?”
“I’m not going to just take your money. That’s not who I am or who we are. And you won’t be here forever, Kace. You’ve told me that already. You’re not the forever guy, remember? I’m not the forever girl either.”
He cups my head and presses his forehead to mine. “I’m present, baby. I’m present like I have never been with any other woman.”
My fingers curl on his cheek and I ease back to look at him. “As I am with you, but Alexander is business. I need you to trust me enough to know that I deal with men like Alexander often. I know how to keep them in their lane.”
“If he steps out—”
“I’ll step in, with my knee.”
His lips reluctantly curve. “I believe you would.”
“I would.”
“Good,” he says, but there is still an edge to him, a silent promise he will handle Alexander if I don’t, and I’m not sure if that’s about me or Alexander. Maybe both. For now, we’ve officially moved on when he eyes the bags by the bed. “What’s all that?”
“I took what I need for the weekend.”
He cast me in a keen inspection. “Because you don’t like that stuff?”
My chin lifts. “I have what I need.”
“Which you based on price tag, right?” He doesn’t wait for a reply. He unzips my suitcase, and proceeds the place all the bags inside. Once it’s zipped back up, he says, “Now we’re ready to go.” Already he’s hauling my bag and grabbing his by the door. “Come on, baby. We have a chopper to catch.”
I don’t fight him. He’s won the battle of price tags and done so easily.
Once we’re on the main floor, my gaze shoots to the spot where his Stradivarius had once been and is now missing. “It’s my violin of choice,” Kace tells me, obviously noticing my attention. “It’s going with us.
“That’s an expensive instrument to travel with,” I point out.
“That’s why I pay for security,” he says as we head out into the hallway. “I love the thing too damn much to be without it.”
“Are you auctioning off another instrument at the event like you did at Riptide?”
“I will,” he says, locking up while I help him juggle the bags, “but the donor has handlers for the instrument. I handle my personal instrument and you can finally get a closer look in the Hamptons, if you like. And if you can get past whatever fear you have of it, I’ll even let you touch it.” He says it with a double entendre that has me laughing.
And we’re still laughing about something else when we reach the apartment lobby which has me thinking about just how much I laugh and smile with Kace. Perhaps more than I have in my entire life. But there was truth in his words, too. I didn’t want to touch it last night. Kace brings me closer to my past than I’ve ever been, and for reasons, many that I can easily explain, like danger and my mother’s warnings, I resist going there. But there are other reasons, too, others I can’t explain or quite name.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Our mood is light as we step into the elevator, and then the lobby of Kace’s building, the call from Alexander behind us, at least for now. We’re just exiting the building when a doorman in a blue jacket hands Kace a garment bag. “Exactly what you ordered,” the doorman states. “And your keys are in your car. Plus,” he holds up a finger and walks to the wooden stand where he grabs something and returns with a bag. “For you, from my wife.”
“Oh man,” Kace says. “Is this what I think it is?” He smells the bag. “It is.”
Steven gives a nod. “Banana bread made fresh this morning.”
“Your wife spoils me.” He motions between us. “Steven, this is Aria. And Aria, this is Steven. He’s been here thirty years. His wife needs to have her own bakery. You’re in for a treat.”
“I can smell it,” I say. “It smells delicious. And we haven’t eaten all day.”
Steven beams. “So happy we came through for you then, miss.”
“We’re gone for the weekend,” Kace informs him. “But tell Sharon thank you.”
“Safe travels, you two,” he calls after us as we head for the car.
I wave at him but the “we” in that statement Kace just made is presently doing funny things to my belly and chest. I’ve never been a part of a “we.” Is that what we are now? Have Kace and I become a couple?
