Chapter 5
COLE
“Can we talk?”
I look at Frank, Luna’s boss, in surprise. He’s made a point to avoid me, so I’m surprised that he’s now asking to talk to me.
I gesture to the seat across from me.
Luna watches us curiously, but I focus on the man sitting in front of me.
He’s nervous, but he looks me in the eye.
“What are your intentions with Luna?”
Of all the things I thought he’d say, that was not on the list. “Excuse me?”
He shifts in his seat. “Luna is a good girl, and—”
I nod. “She deserves better than me. I get that.”
He holds his hands up. “Look, I’ve heard things about your family, but I also don’t know you. All I’m asking is that you don’t play with her. She’s a good person, and I’m just trying to look out for her, that’s all.”
I tilt my head. “Why?”
His forehead creases. “Why am I looking out for her?”
I nod.
He shrugs. “Because she doesn’t have anyone else to do it. She’s a hard worker. Everyone loves her here, and I just don’t want to see her hurt, so I’m going to ask you again, what are your intentions toward Luna?”
I look over his shoulder at the woman in question. Her hair is in a high ponytail. She’s talking to a child at a table, and the little boy giggles. “I’m going to marry her.”
Frank gasps and looks around. “Marry her?”
I glare at him, daring him to challenge me. “You wanted to know my intentions, and I respect that you’re looking out for her, but she’s going to be my wife.”
Frank shakes his head. “I didn’t know she was seeing anyone.”
I refuse to admit to him that we just met, so I just stare at him.
He nods his head. “Okay, well.” He clears his throat and leans forward. “I know who you are, Cole Kingston. I know who your family is. But I’m telling you right now, if you hurt Luna, I will make sure you regret it.”
Surprised, I ask, “Are you threatening me?”
He lifts his chin. “I’m just stating the facts.”
In any other situation, I would have already had him on the floor with my foot to his throat, but all I can do is stare at the little old man across from me. “I respect that.”
He just stares at me, and I see that he wants some reassurance. I lean forward, and he doesn’t even flinch. “I promise you that I won’t hurt Luna. If I do, I’ll come to your door and let you make me regret it. But I promise you, it won’t happen.”
He nods, satisfied. Without another word, he gets up and walks away. The rest of the night is uneventful. Stone, my driver, has grown bored and went to the car to wait after I insisted. When Luna’s shift is over, I walk with her out the door.
Stone gets out of the car, but I ignore him.
Luna won’t look at me. She’s looking across the street as we walk. “You wanted to talk, talk.”
We cross the street, and she stops outside of the shelter.
I lean against the brick building. “You going to invite me in?”
Even in the darkness, I can see her cheeks turn pink. “Sure.”
She goes to the door next to the shelter and unlocks it.
She turns on the lights as she walks in, and I look around her small apartment.
I notice the lack of a security system and the bare walls and worn carpet.
My hands fist at my sides because my first instinct is to get her outta here.
The small locks on the door are not going to keep her safe.
She sees me looking around and tenses. “Do you want to sit down?”
I sit on the couch and pull her down to sit next to me. “Yes, let’s talk.”
I hold her hand in mine. “Marry me.”
She laughs. “I’m not marrying you.” She holds her hand up. “And before you ask me why, I’ll tell you it’s because I’m not wanting to marry someone because their dad told them to get married.”
She pulls her hand from mine, so I clasp my hands together in my lap. I’ve spent the evening trying to figure her out, and I hope I have.
“What are your plans for the animal shelter?”
She leans back, surprised. “What do you mean?”
I shrug and stand up, needing to put some distance between us because it’s killing me to sit this close and not touch her. “I mean, what are your plans? I see it’s only cats right now. You plan on including dogs? Hiring help? Expanding?”
She shakes her head. “Right now, I’m happy to feed the cats and keep the lights on.”
I nod as Leo comes through the doorway from the kitchen. When he sees me, he comes over, sliding between my feet. I lean down and pick him up, cradling him in my arms. Instantly, he starts to purr.
Luna shakes her head and murmurs, “Traitor.”
I chuckle and sit back down, this time across the room from her in the chair. “What if I told you I could help you?”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “What do you mean?”
“I can invest in your shelter. You would be able to expand, help more animals, and hire more help.”
She looks hopeful but shakes her head. “For what? What would I have to do for this help?”
Leo curls against my chest, looks between Luna and me, and then closes his eyes as if he’s bored with all of it. “Marry me.”
She wants to say yes. For the first time, I have some hope in the situation.
I’m not sure when it clicked. When my father first said I had to get married, I wanted to refuse.
Mostly because I hate for anyone to tell me what to do.
But one evening of watching Luna, being close to her, I know I don’t have a choice. I want to be with her.
She lifts her hand. “How long would we have to be married?”
My forehead creases, and she asks, “I mean, I know you’re not asking for forever. So what? Three months? Six months?”
“Forever,” I tell her.
Her eyebrows skyrocket, and she chokes out the word. “Forever?”
I nod. “Kingstons don’t get divorced.”
She nods. “But your mom—”
I cut her off. “They’re separated. She needed a break. My dad can be… difficult. Living this life can be difficult. But there’s never been any doubt they would get back together.”
Luna processes the information and nods. “Okay, but I’m trying to make sense of all this. Why me?”
I tell her the truth. “Because when my dad said he wanted us to get married, you were the woman that came to mind.”
She blurts out a laugh. “Do you know how crazy this is?”
I shrug. “You can keep saying that, but I don’t think it’s crazy at all.”
“Why do you think we would be good together?”
I lift my chin. “Honestly?” She nods, and I answer her. “Because I have a good feeling about us.” She looks as if she doesn’t believe me. “I want you.”
She laughs again. “If you want to go out with me, why not just ask me on a date?”
I stand up and move to the couch, putting Leo on the cushions between us. I look into Luna’s eyes. “Because I want you to be my wife.”
Before she can say no again, I put it all out there. “Luna, imagine a life where you could have anything you want.”
She scrunches up her nose. “I don’t care about your money, Cole.”
I shrug. I want to believe that, but there are a lot of women that would do anything to be with me just because of the money I have in the bank. “Think about the difference you can make next door. Think of the animals.”
She’s wavering. “Cole, what does us being married look like?”
Not understanding, I ask, “What do you mean?”
She shrugs and avoids my gaze. “I mean, would we live together?”
I chuckle. “Honey, our marriage would be a real one. We would live together. Sleep in the same bed. We’d make love and—”
She whimpers, and her eyes fly to mine. “So uh, you’re talking about a real marriage?”
I nod.
She lifts her chin. “And would there be other women for you?”
I put my hand on her wrist and slide my fingers down to hold hers.
I feel her pulse against my thumb, and it’s beating erratically.
“No. I don’t cheat, Luna. There are things you should know about me and my family.
We do a lot of things, things you may not approve of, but I will never hurt you.
I will protect you with my life. And I will be honest and true to you. ”
She lifts her shoulders. “Do you hurt other people?”
I tense and tell her honestly, “Yes, but it’s people that deserve it. We don’t hurt people for the fun of it.”
She sucks in a breath and blows it out. “When do you need an answer?”
My dad gave us six months, but I’m not willing to wait. The sooner I get a ring on her finger, the better I’m going to feel about it. “Tomorrow.”
She gasps. “Tomorrow?”
I nod.
She pulls her hand away and then lifts Leo into her arms, stands up, and walks across the room. “I need to think about this.” She laughs. “And I can’t believe I’m thinking about it. I just told you today that I can’t be bought.”
I follow her across the room, lift a strand of hair off her face, and tuck it behind her ear. “I’m not trying to buy you.”
She laughs. “Okay… but I think you are.”
I don’t know why I feel guilty about this, but I do. I put my hands on her shoulders. “I’m going to help you with the shelter no matter what your answer is.”
She looks at me in surprise.
I put my hand on the side of her neck. “Can I kiss you, Luna?”
She bites her lip. “Do you want to?”
I nod, my eyes glued to hers. “Yes, since I saw you standing on the curb earlier.”
She sets Leo down at her feet. He meows loudly and walks away. I gently pull Luna closer, and I’m surprised when she melts against me. Her body trembles, and she smiles up at me. “You smell good.”
Unable to hold back, I lean down and press my lips to hers. I intended to give her a small peck and give her time to adjust to me, but the feel of her lips against mine overpowers any restraint I have left.
I tilt her head, giving me better access to deepen the kiss.
My tongue slides along hers, and she whimpers.
I can’t get enough of her. The kiss is hot, heavy, and seals the deal for me. Luna is going to be mine.
I break the kiss even though it’s the last thing I wanna do. I wish I could pick her up, carry her to her bedroom, and not come out for a week. But this is too important to fuck up.
Panting, I lean my head against hers. “I’ll be by tomorrow for your answer, sweet Luna.”
Before I can change my mind, I pull back and walk away.
That kiss will get me through tonight. But tomorrow, I’m going to want more.