Chapter 10
DEVON
Istifle a yawn before taking a sip of my too hot coffee. The sun streams in the kitchen window burning my retinas, but I don’t turn away. I welcome the sting.
Better than dealing with the other discomfort rolling through me this morning.
Lizzi is in the shower. Has been for a good twenty minutes now. The second she woke up enough to realize where she was and remember last night, she ran. No other word to describe her departure from my bed.
As soon as her ass left the sheets, dread pooled in my belly. It twisted sideways when the bathroom door slammed closed and kept right on twisting when the click of the lock echoed through the room.
I know she’s having regrets. Second thoughts. Probably freaking too.
She’ll be in there working out how to approach me this morning. How to renege on our deal.
Luckily—or unluckily, depending whose side you’re on—I’m not about to let her.
The only thing stopping me from banging on the door and demanding she let me in is I know she has no way of getting out of here. Not without me knowing.
Her phone is with her friends, and there isn’t a landline here, never mind in the bathroom, so she isn’t able to call a ride. She can’t sneak out without me seeing either. I’ve never been more grateful for the expensive security system I installed the first week I took ownership of the house.
Floorboards creak overhead and my lips curl against my mug.
She’s on the move.
The question is, will she come looking for me or coffee?
To test that theory, I head into the formal living room and check out last night’s demolition.
For a novice, Lizzi did a good job. Once she got the hang of swinging the hammer, her aim was surprisingly accurate. She didn’t tear anything down she hadn’t confirmed was to be removed and when she got close to the other walls, she double checked how far she could go.
And clean up was a breeze. I never would have thought someone who looks as prim and proper as Lizzi would dig in to clear away debris. Especially with her hands.
I’m not sure what her nails looked like yesterday, but they took a beating last night, and I can’t imagine they’re in wedding day condition now.
Footsteps echo on the stairs, then through the hall.
Pausing in the far corner of the newly opened up space, I wait—listen.
She doesn’t enter the kitchen, and I imagine her peering inside.
A breath later her steps head back the way she came and a few seconds after that, she appears in the dining room doorway.
“Hey.” I hold up my mug. “Coffee is hot and fresh. Sugar and creamer are on the counter.”
“Oh.” Glancing over her shoulder, she turns back with a shake of her head. “Listen, about last night…”
I wait her out. I have nothing to say until I know where she’s going to take the conversation.
With a sigh, her shoulders droop and her eyes drift away. “I won’t hold you to anything.”
“Anything being condoms past their use by date, or our marriage of convenience agreement?”
As far as I’m concerned, the first isn’t an issue. I’m happy for nature to take its course. If I’m having a baby, I can’t think of a better woman to have one with.
The second…well, I’m all in on that too.
“The marriage thing. I know things said in the heat of the moment—”
“Lizzi.” I stop talking until she gives me her full attention and that means her eyes on me. When she does, I ask, “Do you need to be married to take control of your family’s company?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to take control of the company?”
“Yes.”
With a nod, I say, “Right, then go grab a coffee. We’ve got a lot of planning to do, and we need to do it sooner than later.”
“Planning?”
“It won’t be as elaborate as yesterday’s event but I’m sure we can pull together something decent and more like what you want in the next couple of days.” I don’t tell her I’ve already looked up a celebrant and have some idea of what we have to do to get married on the beach at sunset.
“Oh.” She stares at me like I’m a glowing green glob in a Petri dish in a science lab.
I can see she’s confused, and I’ll deal with that in a minute, but right now there’s a more immediate issue. “Do you want Livi and Lexi to come over? I’ve messaged my brothers. They’re aware you’re here and safe.”
She can’t hide her wince.
“What? Should I not have told them you’re here?” I ask.
“No, it’s not that.” She’s shaking her head.
I’m the confused one now. I figured she’d want her best friends here today. “Then what?”
“I don’t know if I want to deal with anyone right now.”
“Then you won’t. But we will have to work out how to get you clothes other than the ones you had on yesterday.”
“I can’t go home.” The words rush out of her as she takes a step toward me.
“Didn’t think you’d want to. I doubt your ex is there, but your family might be.” I slowly move toward her. It feels like one wrong step could make her bolt. “You don’t have to worry, I have no intention of kicking you out of here. I told you, you could stay as long as you want.” Or forever.
“My family will be there.” Her body language screamed defeated and I hate it, want to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything will be okay. “Grandfather will be sitting in my living room waiting for me to show up.”
“Will he have anyone looking for you?”
I hadn’t thought too much about her security needs until this morning. Then I did the dumb thing and looked up her grandfather and all but choked on my own spit. He’s worth billions and I can only assume she’s worth millions.
“Maybe.” She grimaces. “Probably.”
“Will that be a problem?” I can keep her safe if I have to, but I need to know if it’s necessary.
“No. I don’t care if he knows where I am as long as he doesn’t come here.”
“Okay. Alarm stays on.”
Her eyes dart around the room. “You have an alarm?”
“Yes. The whole property is protected. I have thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and building supplies in the house and garage. Not to mention the house itself is valuable.”
“Of course, of course. Sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
Her answer is a shrug and a dip of her gaze again.
This woman is not the one who demanded I fuck her last night. This is the one I remember from the few times I’ve hung around her and her friends. Quiet, a bit timid. No, not timid, shy? I can’t get a read on her this morning.
“Lizzi.”
“Hmm…”
“Look at me.”
It takes a few seconds, but she finally does, and I ask. “Want to tear down another wall?”
Her gaze zips around the room again. “In here?”
“No. Upstairs. I’m turning two bedrooms into one with a walk-in closet and connecting bathroom.”
“Another master suite?”
“No, the master suite. The one we’re in will be a guest room.”
“You’re reducing the number of bedrooms?”
“Yes. I think seven is enough for a house this size. And I might convert one into a theater room yet.” Most modern houses have them, although I’m not a fan. It will be the last thing I decide on, which gives me time to work out if I want to sell or keep the house.
She presses a hand to her stomach. “Do you have eggs?”
“You’re hungry?” I stride toward her, don’t let her flinch stop me from placing a hand on her lower back to urge her out of the room. “Let me make you an omelette.”
“I can make—”
“I know. But let me take care of you. I don’t think you let many people do it.”
“Not many people want to do it,” she says before she drops her voice and mumbles, “Unless it benefits them.”
I hate that she feels that way. I hate even more that it’s probably the truth. That shit stops now. She doesn’t know it yet, but I intend to take care of her better than anyone else ever has.
And I don’t care who I piss off to do it.