Chapter 19 #2
“I understand,” Mikko said. “But having you in my life has never been a burden. If anything, I feel like I can never repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”
When I looked up, his eyes were on me. “I don’t need anything in return. I like Leena. I don’t even hate you.”
He grinned, eyes twinkling in the low light. “That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“Don’t get used to it. This pizza is good, okay?”
“Got it. Good food makes you emotional.”
I shoved another slice of pizza in my mouth. “This is better than sex.”
Mikko chuckled. “Sounds to me like you need to experience better sex, then.”
I choked on my bite, face flaming. But unlike before, Mikko didn’t look the least bit bothered by his words. No, he was smirking and confident, the same way he’d been in the kitchen this morning when he said you let your husband take care of you.
“Is that an offer?”
He raised a golden brow. “Do you want it to be?”
My mouth opened and closed, not sure why I’d even said it. “I don’t know.”
Mikko closed the pizza boxes, then carried them over to the mini fridge and put them inside.
I chewed on my lip, holding my knees to my chest as my heart refused to settle.
“Is that what you want?” I asked quietly. “To have sex with me?”
Mikko was still for a moment before leaning back against the dresser.
“I think you’re beautiful,” he said simply. “And yes, I’m attracted to you. I have been since the moment I saw you in February.” His eyes found mine, searching my face before settling on my mouth. “I want you to be as happy as you make me. Whatever that looks like.”
I swallowed, the sincerity in his voice stealing every sarcastic response I’d been about to make.
“If one day that’s sex, okay.” He shrugged. “If it’s pizza and exploring a new city with Leena...” Another shrug. “Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
Before I could think of anything to say, he disappeared into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
A few minutes later, we climbed into bed from opposite sides, careful not to wake Leena in the next room. I rolled onto my side, facing the window while my mind replayed everything that happened today.
But before I could give in to my anxiety, the pillows shifted behind me.
“Can I hold you?”
The question was so quiet I almost wondered if I’d imagined it. Instead of answering, I scooted backward until my back rested against his chest. His arm settled around my waist, warm and steady, and his lips brushed against my temple.
“I’m sorry life has been so hard for you,” he whispered. “But I’m not sorry it led you here.”
My throat tightened. I’d spent my whole life keeping people at an arm’s length, but Mikko Laaksonen was making it dangerously hard to remember why.
Light filtered through the curtains the next morning, pulling me awake. I turned to watch Mikko pull a hoodie on over his Yeti tee, bag ready for morning practice.
“Good morning, rakas.”
“When are you going to tell me what that means?”
His blue eyes glittered with amusement. “Keep doing your Finnish lessons and you’ll figure it out.”
I rolled my eyes, but he only grinned harder as he walked toward the bed.
“I arranged a car service for you and Leena. They’ll take you anywhere you want to go today.”
My eyebrows lifted. “You did?”
“I left the number on the desk.” He reached into his pocket and held out a black credit card.
“What’s this?”
“A card with your name on it.”
I flipped the card over, and sure enough, my name was printed on the back. “What if I spend too much?”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “I don’t think a second Diet Coke will break the bank.”
“But what about twelve Diet Cokes?”
He leaned over the bed, close enough that I caught the clean scent of his aftershave. But instead of kissing me, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Whatever you want. Just spoil my girls today.”
My heart did something profoundly unhelpful at the sound of my girls.
“I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will.”
He smiled again before grabbing his bag on the way out. The door clicked shut behind him, and I looked at the credit card for another long moment before Leena stirred in the other room.
I hopped out of bed, already grinning when I saw Leena standing at the side of her crib for me, arms outstretched.
“Good morning, sweet girl.” I kissed her cheek, then did it again until she giggled around her pacifier.
She loosened her bite enough that I pulled it from her mouth, leaving it in the crib in hopes she’d try to talk more today. Instantly, she started saying, mo, what I took to mean good morning.
Together, we pulled back the curtains, looking down at the bustling city below us. “What do you think? Should we go explore today?”
She looked at me when I talked to her, smiling wide enough to show her little teeth.
“Should we go look for books?”
She nodded.
“That’s right. I love books. And you love books. And Daddy loves books.”
She nodded again, this time shaking her whole body she was so excited. I squeezed her one more time, then hurried to get us dressed and ready for the day.
George waited for us in the lobby wearing a black suit and a hat, looking the part of a chauffer. “Good morning, Mrs. Laaksonen, and Miss Laaksonen. Can I take your stroller for you?”
I unbuckled Leena, folded it up, then handed it over, following him outside to the curb where a black Town Car waited. In the back was a car seat that looked an awful lot like the one Mikko and I had, making me wonder how far ahead he’d been thinking.
Once we were buckled, George pulled into traffic, cars honking and merging faster than I could keep track. People walked along the sidewalks everywhere I looked, steam rising from manholes in the street, the city halfway between fall and winter.
George looked in the rearview mirror at me. “Mr. Laaksonen mentioned you like bagels?”
His comment caught me off-guard, wondering when Mikko had even noticed that.
I had found a local shop within walking distance of the penthouse and went twice this week, but I hadn’t mentioned it yet.
I had, however, brought home a bag of frozen bagels on our last trip.
“There’s only one right answer here. I love them, obviously. ”
He turned on his blinker. “I know a place.”
We drove for a few more minutes, George pointing out landmarks as we went. I leaned over Leena’s car seat and pointed it all out for her, too. As if sensing my excitement, Leena clapped her hands and grinned, the baby talk only getting faster.
Soon enough, George pulled up in front of a cafe on the Upper West Side.
Brownstones lined both sides of the street framed by trees that were halfway through shedding their red and orange leaves, looking straight out of a postcard.
It was so different from Linwood, I couldn’t help but gasp as I turned in a circle.
“You picked the right time of year to tour New York.” George pulled the stroller from the trunk. “The city is beautiful in November.”
“I can see that.”
The air was crisp enough for a lightweight jacket. I put Leena’s on her, then tugged a beanie down over her hair, buckling her in the seat.
“You have my number?” George said before I walked toward the bagel shop.
“I do, yes.” I held up the business card Mikko had left in the hotel room.