Chapter 22
twenty-two
Christian.
When I made it to the house, I half expected Scotlyn to be in my study but instead she was curled up on the sofa in the sitting area of my room with her laptop.
She looked comfortable, settled, but more importantly like she belonged there.
The sight of her in my space did something to my chest that I was trying not to analyze too deeply.
I watched her for a while before I spoke and she was so damn caught up in what she was doing, she hadn't noticed.
"You look comfortable."
She looked up and smiled. "I thought that was the point."
I chuckled at her slick ass comment. "It is but you're stubborn as fuck, so I didn't know what to expect."
"Work?" I motioned to the laptop and she shook her head.
"No, just reading about how according to every relevant business blog, I'm a selfish bitch because I refused to show up at my father's funeral simply because he left everything to Alex."
I had seen the headlines circulating. There were pictures of the service showing Alex standing alone, without either of his sisters.
Then there was a report leaked with so-called proof that Valerie and Scotlyn weren't there because Gerald left controlling interest of Whitney International to his son.
They had no fucking idea what was truly going on.
Yes, Gerald had done just that, however, because he was a hateful man who didn't love and respect his daughters, that was why neither Scotlyn nor Valerie were present.
It didn't have a damn thing to do with his will.
"Do you want me to make some calls?"
I already planned to even if she said no, because this was the last thing she needed.
"It doesn't matter, so no. I know who I am.
Val and I have known for years what the terms of our father's will was.
Alex already had the documents drawn up to ensure we all had equal shares as soon as things were officially transferred to his name.
They can think what they want. I truly don't care. "
The things they were saying about her were cruel.
They hurt Scotlyn, and she cared, but she was also choosing not to let it affect her beyond the brief moment she took to acknowledge them.
I was grateful for her strength with this situation because I didn't like seeing her upset about shit she couldn't control.
She closed her laptop and placed it beside her before she lifted and crossed the room, easing her arms around my waist. Scotlyn lifted onto her toes and kissed me before she tilted her head back more to meet my eyes.
"And for the record, I'm not stubborn. I just like to be sure about what I'm doing and why. "
"Says a stubborn ass woman who refuses to admit she's stubborn."
Scotlyn rolled her eyes and kissed me again, but this time, I placed one hand at the back of her neck and the other on her hip, bringing her in closer, taking my time exploring her mouth before I let her go. "Jona say where she was going?"
"Nope, I assumed she was here. She ordered pizza for us and I haven't seen her since."
"Her GWagon is missing from the garage."
"You can't hear anything in this house. I didn't even realize she was gone."
"You can thank my mother for that." I kissed her again. "You ate pizza with Jona?"
Scotlyn shook her head. "No, she ordered it and left it in the kitchen for me after she took her half, but I appreciate the gesture because she at least considered me."
"So you did talk to her?"
Scotlyn frowned and nodded. "Kind of. She pretty much told me your ex-wife was trash, which meant the bar wasn't high for me. She also said that she didn't really care what you did in your personal life because if she stayed out of yours you would return the favor."
I grunted at that thought. "I don't know what the fuck is going on with her."
"She seemed okay."
"I don't mean like that. She's good as far as I can tell but she's just… shit, I don't know…" I brushed a hand over my head. "It's hard to explain. Cress keeps saying give her space to figure her shit out."
"You don't agree?"
"I don't know how I feel, but she's grown, so there's not really much I can say. I just make sure she knows we've got her no matter what and make sure she checks in. She say how long she was here for?"
Scotlyn shook her head. "No, sorry."
"She's only here because I threatened to cut her off if she didn't show her face."
"Well it worked."
"She'll be gone by the time we wake up in the morning. Come take a ride with me."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there."
"Do I need to change?"
I could tell she'd showered. I smelled the body wash and her hair was in a curly ponytail on top of her head. She was in jeans and a loose V-neck tee which was fine with me but I knew she would probably want to do more. I just didn't feel like waiting while she did it.
"Nah, you're good."
Scotlyn studied my face for a moment then nodded. "Okay. Let me grab my shoes."
Forty minutes later I pulled into the driveway of a three-level townhome in Chandler Heights. This section was new and had two rows of townhomes that were nice as hell but overpriced because of the area.
Scotlyn followed me to the front door without asking questions which I appreciated. I keyed in the access code and stepped aside to let her enter first.
"It's empty."
"Go look around."
I knew she was confused as hell but we would get to the reason I'd brought her here.
On the way back to the house, my mind was heavy with so many damn thoughts, but the most relevant was that I liked the idea of coming home to Scotlyn.
Unfortunately what I liked and wanted didn't mean a damn thing if she wasn't in the same space and mindset.
I watched her move through the place, smiling and exploring while she tested the light switches, ran her fingers over the walls, doors, and black hardware like she was trying to make a connection.
I watched as Scotlyn did her thing, and when she made it back to the kitchen where I was waiting, I asked her opinion.
"You like it?"
"It's beautiful but why are we here?" She leaned against the opposite counter.
I studied her face, taking time to choose my words carefully. "Development will start soon. You'll need a more permanent residence. First stages can take six months to a year minimum."
She looked confused, which likely had to do with her assumption that she was staying with me. That was exactly what I wanted but I needed her to understand she had choices.
"You have two options. Stay with me, which is my preference and where I want you, or you can stay here."
"You're giving me the option?"
I kept my eyes on her and nodded.
"It has to be your choice but I'm being clear about what I want."
Scotlyn was quiet for a minute. "If I stay with you, it's sending a very clear message about what we are. Not just to me, but to the world."
"I agree."
"And you're okay with that?"
"More than okay with it."
"What are we, Christian?"
"We're whatever we decide to be but I know what I want us to be."
"Which is?"
I moved toward Scotlyn and dropped my hands on the counter so my arms caged her in. "Everything."
"Everything?" She smiled sexily.
"Real. Permanent. Mine and yours. All in. No more contracts, timelines, or bullshit arrangements. Just us, figuring it out as we go."
Her smile expanded. "You're asking me to move in with you officially and not just implying that's what you want by having my things brought to your room."
"I'm asking you to build something with me."
"And if I choose the townhouse?"
"Then I'll respect your decision and probably spend a lot of fucking time here trying to change your mind."
"Probably?"
"Definitely. I can be very persuasive when I want something."
"I've noticed," she groaned and I lowered my mouth to hers for a kiss.
"I choose you."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I think I kinda like the idea of us."
I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her for real this time, sealing the deal. When I pulled back, she smiled big as hell. "So we're really doing this?"
"We're really doing this."
"Official couple status?"
"Official as fuck."
She looked around and pouted. "I kinda like the townhouse."
"I own it."
"You do?"
I grinned and kissed her temple. "Investment property. You never know when you might need a backup plan. If you'd chosen this, I own it, which means I have access."
"So you're saying I didn't really have a choice?"
"You had a choice, but whatever choice you made meant I had the advantage."
Scotlyn could have easily told me fuck me and my plans, I just wasn't easily accepting that.
Now that there was no confusion about what was going on between me and Scotlyn, I decided to lighten the mood with something that would give her a sense of our city.
I drove us to The Metropolitan, let valet take my car, and headed to the elevator.
It opened directly onto the rooftop and Scotlyn smiled big as hell when we stepped out of the elevator.
They had the entire thing completely transformed for Taste of the City. String lights hung over our heads and pop-up stations for the city's most frequented restaurants were arranged around the perimeter of the space.
"It's pretty up here."
"Yeah, they did their thing. They always have something going on up here."
"Come on." We headed to the set up Divine Vines had for a wine tasting booth.
"Is Niama here?"
"No, she's actually the one who told me about this. She has a wedding tonight at the vineyard, so it's just her staff."
I flagged down the server and lifted two miniature tumblers of the signature blend Scotlyn liked. "I figured we should start with something familiar."
Scotlyn accepted her cup and took a sip, closing her eyes briefly. "So perfect. I think this has crack in it because I'm addicted."
"Good to know my taste in wine meets your approval."
"My taste in wine but your taste in everything else seems to meet my approval lately."