Chapter 22
twenty-two
EDEN
It’s almost nine in the evening and the house is silent save for the huge television currently playing an eighties movie, complete with big hair and designer clothes. Bennett went upstairs an hour ago, and I’m in the living room, avoiding my sister’s calls.
My phone is warm in my hand. I scroll past Autumn’s missed calls, past the family group chat, and send a message to West.
I’m watching a romcom. All the best marriage-of-convenience movies have the heroine blowing thousands on the hero’s black Amex. Why haven’t you given me a credit card to splurge with? – Eden
The response is almost immediate.
What would you spend my money on? Building a llama sanctuary in Peru?- West
I snort.
No. A red Ferrari. – Eden
Liar. - West
Fine. A really expensive vibrator with heated side panels and Bluetooth speakers. Happy? – Eden
I’ll allow it. But only to keep you company when I’m not with you. – West
So now you’re regulating my fake sex life? That’s a little possessive. - Eden
You’re fake splurging on my fake black Amex card. I feel like we’re even here. – West
I grin.
Are you coming home soon? – Eden
No. – West
I blink, trying to push down the disappointment. But then another message quickly pops up.
I’m already home. Look out of the window. – West.
I walk over to the living room window that overlooks the driveway. Sure enough, there are headlights moving along the gravel path. My heart immediately starts to hammer against my ribcage.
Oh god, he’s early. And I’m not ready.
I shoot a panicked look at the chaos I’ve created. A half-empty popcorn bowl and a twisted blanket on the sofa, along with some smears of mascara on the white leather where I cried my way through the third act break up.
I was planning to tidy the house – and myself – up before he got home.
But instead, I’m wearing nothing but his oversized t-shirt.
My hair’s in a top knot that could get me arrested in four states.
There’s popcorn stuck on my thigh. And my legs are unshaven because I was planning to shower and get myself ready for him.
I’m supposed to be the wife of a rich, successful businessman, not his teenage babysitter who accidentally sat on a Snickers bar and forgot how razors work.
But there’s no time to do any of the things I’d planned. Because the front door is opening.
“Hi honey,” he calls out. “I’m home.”
I bite down a laugh.
“You’re early,” I shout back. “I haven’t even showered yet.”
His voice drifts down the hallway, low and rough. “That’s because I couldn’t stay away.”
Oh that smooth, smooth talker.
“Well, you’ll have to wait. I need ten minutes. Maybe twenty. I’m gross. I need to shave my legs and put on something sexy and—”
“Eden.” He walks in the room and looks at me, making everything inside of me melt until I’m stupidly gooey.
“Come here,” he murmurs.
My heart skips. My legs move before I can think. I cross the room in a rush, throwing myself straight into his arms.
He catches me like he’s been waiting all day to do it.
And for the first time all night, everything feels exactly right.
“How was your day, darling?” I ask throatily, his fingers caressing my legs.
“Long. Busy. Too much work.”
“And you left early.”
He lifts a brow. “Wanted to make sure you weren’t cheating on me with that vibrator.”
I laugh. “Why buy hamburger when a hunk of steak is driving home to you in his Aston Martin?”
“I thought you didn’t eat meat.”
I bat my eyelashes at him. “I did last night.”
A flash of desire crosses his face. And for a minute I think about dragging him upstairs to show him just how much of a carnivore I can be. But then his stomach growls loudly.
I gently extricate myself from his hold, my bare feet landing on the wooden floor. “Have you eaten anything today?” I ask him.
“Not tonight.” He shakes his head. “Food truck leaves at six. And I didn’t have time to stop at the hotel.”
Because he wanted to see me. My throat tightens. “We have some vegan tamales left over. I’ll get you some.”
“Vegan?”
“They’re good, I promise.” I take his hand and lead him to the kitchen. God, I like this. Way too much.
“Where’s Bennett?” he asks.
“Upstairs. He said something about reading some business book you recommended to him. I think he’s in love with you, he kept telling me what a great man you are,” I tell him.
“That’s funny, he spent most of the day telling me how amazing you are,” West murmurs, as we walk into the kitchen.
“I guess he loves us both. Let’s adopt him.”
“Yeah, well I wish I could,” West says, as I let go of his hand to grab the food. I point at the stool in front of the breakfast bar and he sits. He looks beat.
“Why?” I ask. “Did something happen?” I moisten some paper towels and wrap them around six of the tamales and slide them into the microwave for a quick steam.
“Nah, I just don’t like the way Vin’s digging his claws into him.”
I look at him. I don’t like the sound of that either. “He is?”
“He agreed to put him through college. Getting him internships. A job at the end of it all. But he’s not doing it from the goodness of his heart.”
“But Bennett’s his family.”
West clears his throat as I pour him a glass of wine. “I know. That’s probably why he’s actually putting the effort into him. He can use somebody close to help build his empire.”
“His dodgy empire?” I ask.
“I guess.”
The microwave beeps and I take the plate out. “I don’t get why you let him invest, if you don’t like him.” I pass him the tamales, and he lifts one to his lips and takes a bite, letting out a groan as he swallows it down.
“That’s so good. Are you sure there’s no meat?”
I bite down a smile. “Maybe we’ll convert you to the dark side yet.”
He takes a long drink of wine, like he’s considering my question from a moment ago.
“Project management is ninety-nine percent trying to figure out how to pay everybody and when,” he murmurs when he puts his glass down.
“You must know this. There are contingencies, schedules of releasing money, and the banks nowadays don’t screw around.
They pretty much only want to loan you money when the job is completed.
I needed Vin’s money to pay contractors and suppliers before the bank loans come in. Once they come in, I pay him back.”
“With interest?” I ask.
“Oh yeah, a whole lot of it. And in the meantime, because he’s an investor, he thinks he can call the shots. I seem to be his pet project.”
I pull my lip between my teeth, because my next question is more loaded. “Doesn’t it feel… dirty, knowing where the money comes from?”
He doesn’t miss a beat. “I’m used to feeling dirty.”
The way he says it, almost resigned, makes my heart clench. Like he doesn’t like it, but it’s a necessary evil.
“I thought you were known as the cleaner. Isn’t that what you used to do, clean L.A. up?”
“I got a lot of clients out of their problems, yes. But at the end of the day, I was still wallowing in the muck with them. That’s why I want to leave it behind.”
“But you haven’t, have you?” I say, trying to understand. “Not if you’ve gotten into bed with Vin.”
He lifts a brow as well as another tamale to his mouth. “Well that sounds like my idea of hell.”
I laugh softly. “You really think Bennett will end up working for Vin?” I ask.
“It’s that or he ends up in jail,” West murmurs, looking more concerned than I expected him to be. “I’m not sure which is worse.”
“Can’t you offer him a job at the resort?”
He blinks at me. “As what? A bartender?”
“I don’t know. I’m just making things up here. He’s just… I don’t like the idea of him being caught up in this either.”
“Because you’re dating him?” West asks. He finishes another tamale, as well as his wine.
“You know I’m not.” I roll my eyes at him, but I can’t stop smiling. Even tired, and looking like the world is weighing on his shoulders, there’s a magnetism to him that can’t be denied. “Are you still hungry?” I ask when he’s finished the plate.
“Not for food.” His eyes catch mine. But I’m not done taking care of him. Even if he isn’t used to it.
“Good.” I put his plate into the dishwasher, along with his wine glass. “I’m going upstairs. Don’t come up until I send you a message that I’m ready.”
If the old Eden could see me now, she’d laugh. Yes, this might be a bit too Stepford wife, but I’m actually enjoying it. It’s my choice, not my duty. Maybe that’s the difference.
And tomorrow I’ll be back to my messy ways, that’s for sure.
West blinks at me, like he’s trying to figure me out. “What are you planning on doing up there?”
“It’s a surprise. For my husband.” I lower my voice, until it’s just a little bit breathy. And I’m rewarded with a spark of desire in his eyes.
“Let me come up with you,” he murmurs, reaching for my hand.
But I shake my head. “It will be worth the wait. I promise.”
“Does it involve feeling you come on my fingers again?” he asks.
I bite down a smile. “Possibly.”
“Okay. You’ve got five minutes. No more. I’m not a patient man.” He lifts my hand up, kissing my wrist, right where there’s a crisscross of blue veins. “And Eden?” he murmurs, his breath against my tender skin sending a shiver down my spine.
“Yes?”
“If I catch you with that vibrator, I’m going to shove it up—”
But I start to laugh.
And god help me, I’ve never wanted something more.