I walked in behind her and crouched next to the First Edition Collector’s Millennium Falcon, flicking at a loose piece. “Limited-edition collectibles,” I corrected. “The good ones are on the bottom shelf. You’ll have to get on your knees for those.”
She shot me a glare sharp enough to kill a weaker man.
I stood and got behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing my mouth to her neck. “I know what you thought, my kinky girl. And trust me, I’ve never wished harder that this room had something to tie you up with, something that would make you scream so loud I’d have to soundproof the walls.” My lips brushed her ear. “But I’m not that guy. You’ve been reading too many romance novels. Or maybe you just picked the wrong billionaire.”
Her body shivered against mine, even as I smiled against her skin. “The one you married loves Legos. And I keep them locked up so no one messes with them. Not that a lot of people come in here, but still. This might as well be my office. I come in here and build when I need to think. Hell, sometimes it’s practically my vision board.”
She turned in my arms, eyes gleaming, her voice soft but teasing. “First of all, I didn’t pick you, you found me. Second, Ididn’t even know what I was willing to let you do to me until about thirty seconds before I walked into this room, so maybe we both need to unpack that. And third…” she grinned, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I freaking love Legos. And I want to build something.”
I nodded toward the bins of loose pieces. “Have at it. I’ll call Gramps and Grams, let them know we’re not making it for dinner and explain what happened. Then I’ll join you.”
But she shook her head, that stubborn little smile pulling at her lips. “I don’t want to miss dinner tonight.”
I paused, surprised. “I assumed you’d want to stay here with your dad.”
“I’m going to see him in a couple of hours. Lisa’s in town, and she wants to visit too. I figured you and I could take the chopper to dinner. Maybe swing by Dad’s house afterward so I can grab his slippers and a few things.”
“Are you sure?”
“I mean… if it’s okay. We could drive. I just thought that quicker is better, right?”
“Taking the chopper is never a problem. I just have to let Hugo know.”
Her lips curved with that soft southern accent she slipped into when she was being extra sweet. “Only if you don’t mind.”
I didn’t bother telling her Hugo never minded. I paid him enough, and I’d bought his apartment in the building to make sure he was always close.
So I just nodded and took her hand, leading her farther into the room. I pulled out a stool at the large white table in the center and pressed a button that lit up the tabletop. The pieces glowed under the light as we rummaged through bins, each of us pulling out parts and clicking them together.
“Do it like I do,” I told her. “Picture what you want. Then build it.”
“I can do that.”
A few minutes later, I looked over and laughed. “Is that supposed to be Fiddlers?”
She grinned proudly. “Maybe.”
“You’re on the right track. It’s already yours. Look at mine.” I turned my blocky creation around for her to see.
“What is that supposed to be?” She squinted.
“A sex swing,” I winked. “I want one of those now.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
BLUE
I hatedhow relieved I was that the locked room wasn’t full of sex toys. I was also a little disappointed.
But mostly, I was just embarrassed that I had been so willing and ready to accept that side of West if it had been true.
Instead, we sat at his lit-up Lego table, our shoulders brushing as we pieced together little versions of our worlds. We laughed, teased, and it felt like we had somehow deepened a connection that was never even supposed to happen.
After a while, we had to get ready to go see my dad and then have dinner in Harmony Haven. I pulled on a pair of jeans Connie had left in his closet and a blouse I never would’ve chosen for myself. It wasn’t my style, but it made me feel pretty. Different. I twisted my hair up with pins, caught my reflection, and barely recognized the girl in the mirror. She looked stronger, more confident. A little like me, but a version I didn’t know I could be. And I think I liked her.
West was already waiting, sharp in one of his signature suits, his hair slicked back, his watch gleaming. It probably cost more than my house. He took my hand without hesitation and led me down to the SUV. Marcus opened the door, and we slid in.He already knew the destination, of course. West had told him everything and knowing it was all taken care of allowed me to relax.
At the hospital, West opened the door for me himself, steadying me as we walked inside. When his phone buzzed in the elevator, I told him to answer, but he glanced at the screen and slid it back into his pocket.
