Chapter 73
“Didyou have an informative conversation with Vivian?” I watched her walk toward the shore. Her black hair swayed in the cool breeze, making me remember how soft it was and how it fanned out around her face when she was under me.
As though she sensed my gaze, she turned and winked. God, I loved her so much. If wine improved with time, I was a better man every second I was with her.
“You’re a lucky man,” Calvin said. “I appreciate her generosity.”
Vivian didn’t want the bad karma associated with The Triad money. Her mother probably saved it for her grandfather. The reason didn’t matter anymore. She had returned it.
“What’s your plan?” I asked, knowing he had eliminated everyone who was linked to Ghost. “You’ve been keeping the farm animals busy, huh?”
He arched an eyebrow. “If you ever need someone or something to disappear, you’re welcome to use the farm.”
I was sitting on a bench chatting with the current triad tycoon for The Taipans as though we were friends.
As though he had the same thoughts, he extended his hand. “Despite our different circles,if you ever need help—you know, like getting rid of someone—you can depend on me, your new friend.”
Smirking, I shook his hand. “I might take you up on that offer.”
He dwelled in the crime world, and I lived in my worldwhere the lines between right and wrong were so blurred that they created their own color, their own patterns—their own definition.
Villains against the villains.
I supposed that was our fluctuating, morally gray color.
I didn’t have a problem stepping over that line to protect those I loved or when something didn’t sit well with me.
The man sitting next to me may be a crime lord, but he had tried to help Aimee. He was against hurting children, whereas people with eminent authority like a Supreme Court judge, a governor, and a prince—who were supposed to protect the vulnerable—were abusing them.
The world was a major paradox.
Calvin got a call and rose from the bench. “See you around.”
“Likewise. Don’t hesitate if you ever need my assistance too.” He nodded with appreciation and left, offering Vivian a goodbye wave.
After he left, I strode down to Vivian. She walked into my arms, giving me a big hug.
She drew back, looking up at me. “In the mood for some ph?? We can grab some ingredients at the store or pick up an order at a restaurant?”
“That can be on tomorrow’s agenda. I have something for you in the car.”
“What are you up to now?” She touched my face. “Creating some secret strategy to get me to do something?”
I grinned at how much she knew me. “Something like that.” My fingers intertwined with hers. “Get in the car and find out.”
When she settled in the car, I pulled a black bag from the back seat and gave it to her.
She arched an eyebrow. “What are you trying to do?”
“Just trying to make you smile. That’s my mission from now on.”
Her face softened as she opened the bag and pulled out the new bottle of wine called Vivian with the tagline: The love of a lifetime.
She sucked in a breath, stared at the bottle for a moment as though it had a face on it. Then she looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”
When I first met Vivian, she was like a rare wine that hadn’t been created yet. A dream that hadn’t been experienced yet. A song that hadn’t been sung yet and a magical creation that hadn’t come to fruition yet.
But now, all those things were real to me. She was the dream sitting beside me, holding the magical creation that only existed because of her. And joy was the song singing to my heart and soul.
“Just say what comes to your mind right now,” I told her. “I don’t want a well-crafted statement. I want the raw and real.”
“I’m happy. I’m surprised. I’m elated.” She placed the bottle on her lap, cupped my face with both hands and kissed me. “And I love you. I love you for your ironclad persistence. For how you make me feel worthy. For how you helped me remember joy. Thank you for making me feel so special.”
“That’s the plan. And you are special.” I smiled. “Vivian debuts next week worldwide. The world will know how important you are to me. It’s one way for me to show you how I feel.”
Joy radiated from her as she traced her fingers over the yellow tulip design on the label.
“What are you smiling about?” I asked.
“I’m envisioning our wounds transforming into unique beings. Like they’re holding hands and walking off into the sunset with their own happily ever after.”
I laughed. “Like two molars wearing crowns with arms and legs?”
Smiling, she patted my cheek. “Look at you. You went from a guy avoiding the dentist to now making jokes.”
“All because of you.” I kissed her forehead. “One more thing.” I reached into my pocket and placed a silver key in her hand.
“What’s this for?”
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the building beside Whiz Kidz. With Governor Fenner in custody, no one else opposed the sale of the property.
“I just bought this building. It’s still being renovated.” I gestured to the brick fa?ade with the ugly blue awning that had to go. “This could be your expanded dental office. You have the space to do whatever you want. I know you like helping the low-income community, and Whiz Kidz also does that. We can do it together.”
She placed a hand over her heart, closed her eyes, and smiled. Opening her eyes, she threw her arms around me. “Thank you! Just what I’ve been thinking.”
“Since when?” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Why haven’t you told me?”
“Things have been crazy, remember?”
“Tell me. NOW.” I trapped her in my arms, preventing her from escaping.
She tilted her chin and beamed. “How about you show me the inside of this new building that would soon be my new office, and I’ll tell you what I plan to do for each room?”
“It’s not in its best condition right now. There’s stuff everywhere.”
“I don’t care. That’s just life, right? Things are scattered everywhere. When we first met, things weren’t perfect either. But we saw something in each other.” She went on her tippy toes and kissed me. “I like this working phase because I get to see the before and after.” She took my hand in hers. “My charger for all things.”
Grinning, I swung our joined hands and stepped up to the entrance.
She squeezed my hand. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Really? You’re hiding a lot from me today, Tulip.”
“I’ll tell you if you give me a piggyback ride around the building.”
A laugh burst out of me as I opened the door and stepped inside. “Get on!”
As I showed her around the property, she kissed my cheek. “I love you.” Another kiss. “The secret project has to do with Bullseye.”
“Now I’ll have to seduce you into telling me everything.”
She laughed. “That’ll work.”
And that was exactly what I did.
I seduced and loved her that day and all the days to come.