Chapter 17 Colten
SEVENTEEN
COLTEN
There are a million things I should be doing instead of standing in my bedroom doorway staring at the sleeping woman in my bed.
It’s strange. I always imagined I would have an aversion to sharing my space, seeing as the list of people I can tolerate spending more than ten minutes with consists of four people and a cat, but perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise Lexi seems to complete it.
I’ve always felt guilty for deceiving her by subscribing to her platform. It felt like a betrayal because I knew from day one who she was, but she still sees me as a nameless, faceless being who pays to see the most intimate parts of her.
God, when I put it like that, I feel like an even bigger creep than usual.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I carefully pull the door closed before moving to the desk I have set up beneath one of the windows.
I drop into the chair and tap the mouse to bring the computer to life.
I pull my phone free and swipe through the notifications waiting for me.
The babysitter I hired for Mr. Whiskers has sent her first report, which I quickly forward to Lexi for her peace of mind when she wakes up.
I reply to a couple of work-related emails, check in with the team reviewing the security footage from Cruz’s place, and then, when I can’t stall anymore, I check the time in Rome and sigh.
Time to call my best friend and break the news to him.
“Hey man, what’s up?” Cruz answers.
“Don’t freak out, because everything is taken care of, but your house was broken into last night. We’re working on the motive, but in the meantime, I’ve moved Lexi in with me…and I may have also manipulated the Mafia Matchmaker system to match us.” It sounds really bad when I say it like that.
“Just so I’m sure I have this straight, you hacked the Mafia Matchmaker algorithm, matched yourself with Lexi, and now you’ve kidnapped her?”
I sigh and brush my hand down my face. Why does he sound so amused by the situation? “I didn’t kidnap her. She got into the car willingly.”
He chuckles. “Is she allowed to leave?”
“Not without me.”
“And does she know you’ve been obsessed with her for years?”
“No.”
“So, she’s there under false pretenses?”
“Yes.”
“I hate to break this to you, bud, but you kinda kidnapped her.”
“Aren’t you in the least bit concerned about the house?”
“Is the demon spawn okay?”
“Yes, I hired him a babysitter.”
Cruz scoffs. “You could have just had the security guys feed him a couple of times a day.”
I scowl. “Lexi was worried about leaving him alone.”
“And you’ll do anything to ease Lexi’s worries.” His tone is part teasing and part gratitude. Most brothers would be losing their shit if they’d just been told everything I just did, and I’m starting to wonder if he’s been doing too much relaxing on this holiday.
“I thought you were going to flip out,” I admit.
He sighs. “Am I worried about the fact someone broke into my house and could have hurt my sister? Yes, of course. But I also know she’s in the best possible hands.
There’s no one I trust with her safety as much as I do you, and if this is what it took to get you to finally make her yours… ” He trails off.
“Married life has made you soft.”
He chuckles. “Speaking of married life, should I have Riley start planning?”
“She doesn’t even know we’ve matched yet,” I point out.
He’s quiet for a moment, and I wonder if the inevitable big brother talk is coming. “Colt, you know you guys would have matched even if you didn’t fuck with the algorithm, right?”
I shake my head. “There’s no way—”
“You’re perfect for each other, Colten. Have been your whole lives. I’m just glad you’re finally at a point where you’ve pulled your head out of your ass.”
I glance toward the bedroom, my heart beating too hard in my chest as I imagine Lexi sleeping soundly between my sheets. “Me too.”
It’s the first time since I made this decision that I’ve actually sat with it for long enough to think about how I feel.
And the only emotion I can confidently pick out from the mess inside my mind is relief.
Because after all these years, after yearning for her, longing to hold her anytime I want, Lexi De Luca is finally mine.
I spend the next few hours making my way through the emails, texts, and calls that have somehow piled up despite only being out of action for three hours in the early hours of the morning, but I want to be available when Lexi wakes up.
By that time, she should have an email from the matchmaker, and I’ll no longer just be her brother’s best friend.
She’s going to have a lot of questions, and I want to be around to answer as many as I can. Although I’ll be keeping some pieces of information to myself, even if it’s just for now.
The last thing Lexi needs after waking up to someone in the house this morning is to find out that her number one subscriber is someone she’s known her whole life.
And to be honest, it’s handy having that extra line of communication for when she needs someone to talk to that isn’t in her immediate circle.
It might make me an asshole, prying into the private parts of her mind under false pretenses, but just like everything I do, I do it with her best interests at heart.
I’m just wrapping up a call with the accountant when the bedroom door flies open, dragging my attention away from my computer immediately.
Lexi stands in the doorway, her hair rumpled from sleep, my shirt still overwhelming her petite frame, but it’s the look on her face that makes it almost impossible to remain seated.
She holds her phone up. “How long have you known?”