Say You’re Mine (Falling in Love #2)

Chapter 11

11

LEV

O uch.

But he’s not wrong. If I flipped this and it was Gabriella with nowhere to go without a penny to her name when she had someone like Caleb or Eros to call, I’d throttle her. I suppose I sometimes let my own pride get in the way. I hate being vulnerable.

“I’m not trying to be an asshole.” Eros's hand comes down on my knee. “I?—”

“You’re right.” Eros glances over at me. “I can put my ego away for two seconds to say those two words.” A sexy smile spreads across his handsome face. “Don’t get used to it.” I point at him in a playful warning gesture.

“Wouldn't dream of it.” He gives my knee a squeeze. Eros goes to lift his hand, and I grab it, placing it in my lap between both of mine. I find that his touch brings me comfort and makes me feel safe. Something I haven’t felt in a very long time. Maybe ever, if I’m being honest.

“I was so relieved when I saw you. I had no idea what I was going to do.”

“Good.”

“Good? Don’t get cocky on me.”

“I’m not, darling. I’m saying good because I'm over the fucking moon you were relieved to see me. Best compliment I’ve ever gotten.” He really is one of the good guys. I might be a dumbass trying to put him in the friendzone. Not that he is moving over there.

“Wait, why were you there?” I hadn’t even thought of that. I’m sure he had my address on file. He evidently provided Royce with it.

“I missed you today.” This man is going to melt me into a pile of goo.

“I missed you too. You avoided me.”

“If I’m avoiding you, it’s because you want me to. It can get tricky with you.”

“How so?” What does that mean?

“I’m stuck between wanting to give you what you asked for and what I want for myself.”

“I think I need time, you know.” I swear, one good thing leads to two bad ones. Today has been both shitty and awesome. I fit in way more than I thought I would at the office. And I got a killer kiss from the man I’m pretty sure I’m falling for, then all the bullshit with my family on top of being kicked out and robbed.

“I’ll be patient the best I can, but know that any time I do something, it’s with you in mind, darling. That sound fair? We work with each other.”

“I like the sound of that,” I agree.

“Now will you tell me what happened at home?” Eros's eyes are on the road. I want to tell him. All those normal doubts pull at me, but I push them aside.

I don't want this to be ruined by them. I should tell him about my life if I want him to be a part of it. It’s not going to change, so he might as well know. So I lay it all out for him.

“Jesus.” Eros shakes his head. “No wonder you run from relationships if that’s what you grew up with.”

“I don’t understand them.”

“It’s not your job to. They’re supposed to take care of you. Not the other way around.” Eros is shaking his head. I can sense he’s pissed, but he’s trying to hide it. “How much did she take from you?”

“Almost everything I had saved. It wasn’t much, but it was for me to get a place of my own and start a new life away from them.” I haven’t even really had time to sit with what my mom had done. She stole more than just money from me. She took away my out. The new beginning I had been dreaming of.

Eros is silent for a few moments. When I look over at him, I can see the tic in his jaw. He’s angry, but not at me, for me. I know I shouldn’t take pleasure in that, but it shows me that he cares. One of those impenetrable walls I have up begins to crumble.

“I’m playing endgame with you, Lev.”

“Endgame?” My stomach dips.

"You and I can do whatever we want in life together."

“Oh, I?—”

“Let me finish,” he cuts in. “I’m telling you that even though it might scare the shit out of you, I don’t want you worrying day in and day out about where you’ll be laying your head every night. I want you to know you’re safe. I got you.”

People break up all the time. There are no guarantees in life. Having parents like mine taught me that at an early age.

“But what if we?—”

“This is going to piss you off too.” Again he cuts me off. I’m not too mad about it, though, because I’m not really sure what to say to any of this. “I’m going to open an account for you tomorrow.”

“No, Eros.”

“Touch it, don’t touch it. Do what you want. But it will have money in it, so you don't have to be obligated to anyone. Over my dead body will you ever have to worry again about not having the means to pay for something.”

Wow. I swallow. I feel that irritating lump attempting to form in my throat once more. How could this man that I met merely days ago want to do something so incredible for me?

“What if I take it and run? You know I hate love,” I try to tease. Humor is the way that I tend to deal with heavier situations in my life. Sometimes it’s either laugh or cry.

“You hate what you think love is. That shit your parents have isn’t fucking love.” He shakes his head. "Lev, if I'm not willing to pursue you, then I'm not worthy of having you."

“I think your mom nailed it when she had you, Eros.” From what he’s told me about his mom, she’s the type of mom every child wishes they had.

“That woman doesn’t get a damn thing wrong. I can tell you that.” That lightens the mood in the car and makes me laugh out loud.

“I think I’d like your mom.”

“You will; she's going to love you.”

Right, I’m not so sure about that one. His mom sounds sweet, but I’m not the country girl next door. What would his parents think of me if Eros and I really became something? Even his friends. Eros is down to earth, but the world he plays in isn’t. I already experienced a taste of it at Gabriella and Caleb's wedding.

“Wait, did you forget something?” I ask when we turn on the same street as the office. I hadn’t thought to ask where he lives.

“I live here.”

“At the office?”

“Top floor.” Eros pulls around back. A white garage door opens, and he pulls inside. The light flicks on to reveal a row of about five stalls. He drives past them. Another garage door opens, and he pulls into it. The door closes behind us.

“Holy crap, Batman!” I gasp as we begin to rise. “You have a car elevator?”

“I couldn’t help myself.” I burst into laughter. If you have an abundance of money, what else would you do with it? As soon as I sense a halt, a door unexpectedly opens before us.

“Am I looking into your living room?”

“I call it the sitting room.”

“Shut up.” I smack his arm.

“I’ll get your bags.” I get out of the car, walking into his place. Eros is right behind me. “Close the lift door, Alectrona.” I watch as the door closes and then seals. It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Holy crap. You can’t even really see that it’s a door once it's closed.” I run my fingers along the wall. “This place is definitely a step up from mine. I mean, I bet you don’t have Pop-Tarts and all, but?—"

“ There are two remaining boxes of strawberry Pop-Tarts and one of S'mores.” I stop moving and glance around. The fuck? I mouth to Eros.

“That’s Alectrona.”

“The goddess of the sun is Siri 2.0 in your home?”

“Alectrona, this is Lev Valentina. She’ll have full access to the building to come and go as she pleases. Make sure she is added. You’ll find any additional information you need on her in her company file.”

“I will get it added. Welcome, Ms. Valentina.”

“Thanks, ah, just call me Lev.”

“Lev it is. Is there anything else you require?”

“No, Alectrona. Sleep mode,” Eros says. “Now she won’t answer random questions. It’s only ever me here, so I leave it on most of the time.” I swear I’ve been transported to a different universe.

“That’s insane, you know.”

“It is. I did some work for a tech genius. We traded skills, and now I have Alectrona.” That is pretty cool but also a reminder that we come from two different worlds. Hell, even if Eros was still only a cowboy who lived on a ranch his whole life and roped cattle, we still would be miles apart socially.

“Why Alectrona?”

“Alectrona brings the sun each morning when she opens the curtains and blinds.”

“Oh, we’re by the river. I bet the view is killer.”

“The main reason I bought this place.” I glance around. While everything is new and shiny, there is still a warmth to Eros’s place.

"I was imagining your place would be decorated with all leather and have gray walls." This is definitely not what I was expecting.

"It probably would have been if not for my mom. Come on. Let's get you settled in, and I’ll give you a tour.”

I like the sound of that. A lot… but I can’t help but remind myself that with every good always comes two bads.